The Learning Curve

Meet Julien Dupont, a passionate violinist and educator at Mougins School. From Australia to the French Riviera, Julien has brought his innovative teaching methods to young musicians, making learning fun and interactive. With a career as a professional violinist, including performances with prestigious orchestras, and a passion for nurturing talent, Julien is now dedicated to developing the next generation of musicians at Mougins. Learn more about his story, his greatest achievements, and how your child can explore the joy of music! 

Tell us about yourself

Hello to the Mougins School community. My name is Julien Dupont, and I am a violin and viola teacher at Mougins School. I lived in Australia for 18 years, where I developed an innovative method for teaching violin to young beginners. Inspired by the Colourstrings approach, my method is based on creative and interactive learning, making it fun to learn music theory while playing the instrument. My method includes learning materials such as a workbook, games, and visual tools such as "colour circles" and "stuffed animals" specifically designed to engage young children.

My website, Violinopedia, offers my students free online resources to supplement their learning. Thanks to this platform, I’ve had the opportunity to give lectures around the world and share my method with other teachers. I take great pride in seeing my students over the years attend prestigious music institutions such as the universities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and the Royal College of London.

Alongside teaching, I continue my career as a professional violinist. I had the honour of playing for many years with the Melbourne Opera, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and since returning to France, I’ve been regularly invited to play with the Nice Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Orchestra of Cannes. Today, I am delighted to continue sharing my passion at Mougins School.

Tell us about your greatest achievement

One of my greatest achievements was creating the music festival 'Des Cimes et des Notes'. I had the opportunity to lead a group of young Australian musicians, aged 10 to 15, who performed at 2,000 metres altitude on Mont Blanc. In partnership with the Ligue contre le Cancer (Cancer League) of the Alpes-Maritimes, the festival also had a charitable aspect, allowing cancer patients to attend a concert in the village of Gourdon.
The festival continued with concerts in the Vercors and concluded in Chamonix, at the foot of the glaciers. Seeing my students perform in such a setting, while bringing joy to the audience, was an unforgettable experience.

And of course, another one of my great achievements... is my daughter! Although she didn’t participate in the festival that year, she is definitely one of my greatest sources of pride.

What has been your steepest learning curve?

My biggest challenge has been making the initial learning of music fun. Classical teaching, especially for violin, can sometimes feel a bit 'rigid'. So, I chose to adopt an approach based on play and creativity to motivate my students. When children have fun, they are more willing to work and make progress.

I stay in touch with many of my former students, and each time I return to Australia, I organise several concerts with them. Many of them have now become violin teachers themselves, which is a huge source of satisfaction for me.

Mougins School is a great place because...

Mougins School offers an exceptional environment for learning. The school’s schedule is well-structured, and the teachers are truly dedicated to supporting their students. I particularly appreciate the Anglo-Saxon atmosphere, the warm welcome, and the open teaching methods that foster a nurturing environment for student development.

I am fortunate to teach in a large music room with facilities specifically designed for the performing arts. This environment is ideal for nurturing the talent and creativity of the students.

Anything to share with the community?

I am available for your children to come and try out the violin or viola. My dream is to create concerts throughout the year and develop a full string orchestra at Mougins School. There are only a few days left to sign up!