Discovering Music in Rome

Overview and purpose

This programme offers an immersive and experiential journey into the world of sound, music, and listening, using the city of Rome as a dynamic learning environment.

Participants explore how sound shapes perception, communication, and interaction with the surrounding space. Through a combination of urban exploration, creative and collaborative music activities, they develop awareness of how sound is produced, perceived, and transformed across different environments.

The programme encourages participants to move from listening and observation to creation and expression, fostering curiosity, creativity, and confidence. Activities are designed using non formal education methods, making them adaptable to different age groups (6–14 years) and learning styles.

Learning Outcome

By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:

Develop attentive listening skills and awareness of different sound environments
Recognize and classify different characteristics and types of sounds
Understand basic principles of how sound travels, reflects, and changes in space
Explore sound and music as forms of communication and expression
Use voice, body, and simple instruments to create and reproduce sounds
Collaborate with others in simple group music activities
Reflect on the relationship between sound, silence, and environment
Express ideas and experiences through creative sound activities

Admission information

Language: English
Target Group: Schools, youth groups, learning organizations working with children aged 6–15
Requirements: No prior musical experience is required. Participants should be open to active participation, movement, listening exercises, and creative collaboration.
Number of participants: From 10 to 20 students + accompanying persons

location

Rome, Italy

The programme takes place across selected urban, natural, and indoor spaces including Piazza del Popolo, Villa Borghese, Piazza Navona, Campo de’ Fiori, the Vatican area, the Tiber river, Castel Sant’Angelo, and dedicated indoor learning spaces offered by Alfa Edu.

Rome serves as a dynamic environment to explore sound, listening, and expression through diverse acoustic settings, from lively public squares to quiet monumental and natural spaces.

Duration and Daily Schedule

4 days
Each day includes approximately 4 hours of structured activities.

Day 1: Listening to the City

Location: Piazza del Popolo – Villa Borghese
Duration: 4 hours

Activities:

Introduction to urban listening through observation of the sound environment in Piazza del Popolo
Exploration of acoustic phenomena through the “whispering wall” activity, followed by a simple explanation of how sound travels and reflects
Sound mapping activity: participants represent the sounds they perceive using drawing or symbols
Guided listening moments (“listening stops”) inside Villa Borghese to recognize different layers of natural and urban sounds
Rhythm and body sound exploration to reproduce and interpret environmental sounds
Group reflection on how sound changes across spaces and environments

Day 2: Music & People

Location: Piazza Navona – Campo de’ Fiori
Duration: 3 hours

Activities:

Observation of public space in Piazza Navona focusing on how people produce and respond to sound
Guided discussion introducing basic distinctions and classifications of sounds
Exploration of sound as expression through movement, voice, and interaction
Transition to Campo de’ Fiori with focused listening to the sound environment of the market
“Collecting sounds” activity: identifying objects in the market environment that can produce different and creative types of sounds
Group activity to recreate or reinterpret collected sounds using voice, body, or found objects
Reflection on how sound relates to daily life, communication, and social environments

Day 3: Playing Instruments (Indoor)

Location: Classroom Alfa Edu
Duration: 4 hours

Activities:

Explanation and discovery of different instruments and sound production methods
Rotation activities to experience a variety of sound sources (percussion, melody, voice)
Guided group exercises to understand basic musical elements such as rhythm, tempo, and dynamics
Collaborative music activities in small groups
Development of a simple collective musical circle combining different roles and sounds
Reflection on preferences, coordination, and group interaction in music

Day 4: Sound, Silence & Expression

Location: Vatican – Tevere river – Castel Sant’Angelo
Duration: 4 hours

Activities:

Introduction outside the Vatican on silence, echo, and how sound behaves in large architectural spaces
Guided listening experience inside the Vatican focusing on quiet, resonance, and subtle sounds
Reflection on the perception of silence and its role in communication and awareness
Visual exploration activity: drawing shapes, spaces, and architectural elements that influence how sound moves and changes
Transition toward the Tevere with attention to changing sound environments
Final group movement and sound activity combining space, rhythm, silence, and expression into a shared output
Closing reflection at Castel Sant’Angelo on the overall experience of sound, space, and expression

Why Choose Us

Our learning experiences combine education, creativity, and real world exploration.

Our approach is based on:

Experiential learning: participants learn through direct interaction with their environment
Tailored design: activities are adaptable to different ages, needs, and group profiles
Creative methodologies: integration of music, movement, and visual expression
Context based learning: the city becomes an active learning tool
Safe and inclusive environment: fostering participation, confidence, and collaboration

Through this approach, participants engage in meaningful experiences that support both personal development and creative expression.