What does the world of young people who discover classical music not in concert halls, but right in their school desks look like? And how can an ordinary music education class turn into a true space of discovery? Today, the answers come from teacher Alina Dulgheru, who brings the project "Listen to 5 Minutes of Classical Music" to the students of the 7th grade E at the "Horia Hulubei" Theoretical High School in Măgurele, Ilfov, during their music education lessons.

"The Listen to 5 Minutes of Classical Music project is a very useful tool for the music education class. The extremely rigorous and inspired musical selection takes us on a journey through the history of humanity. At the same time, the explanations we find at the end of the listening sessions-about composers, musical genres, or the mastery of a performer, sometimes sprinkled with little-known facts about them-transform a simple listening activity into a complete cultural experience. Those five minutes become a journey through time.

When students come to class tired after a test or still affected by the excitement of the break, I begin the lesson with this project. The effect is almost immediate. Silence sets in and an atmosphere suitable for learning is created. Classical music regulates the students' mood and prepares the mental ground on which we, teachers, can then build.

The students receive the Listen to 5 Minutes of Classical Music project with great enthusiasm. It is undoubtedly their favorite moment of the class, when they can relax and sincerely enjoy the music. In some classes, I am greeted with the project page already opened on the interactive board. It's a small gesture, but one that says everything about their eagerness to discover what we will listen to today."

But how did the students experience their first encounter with classical music within this project?

"I was really drawn to classical music because it isn't a genre that people listen to very often, and it truly deserves to be heard."

"I've liked classical music for a long time. It seems like a totally different genre from what people listen to today, and I really liked the idea of the project."

"I think it's a very calming type of music, and every child our age should hear it at least once in their life."

"I liked it very much. It was beautiful-a different kind of experience."

"I felt very relaxed. It's not a genre I usually listen to, but it calms me."

"I felt a sense of peace, and whenever I listen to classical music I feel very good."

"I felt relaxed. I liked it a lot. It's not something people usually listen to nowadays, and it made me feel calm."

"When I listened to classical music, I felt relaxed and peaceful. Even if it's not a genre that many people listen to today, it deserves to be heard."

I then asked them what they thought about the selection of works proposed for listening and to what extent the explanations at the end helped them discover the story behind the music.

"I think the person who chose the pieces did a very good job. The works were beautiful, and the description offered enough information about the music."

"The selection is quite good and varied, and the explanations are very clear and easy for us to understand."

"The selection is very interesting, and the explanations helped me better understand what I had listened to."

"The selections were very good and easy to understand for many children who don't usually listen to this type of music."

"I think the selection was varied, and the explanations at the end were very good and well organized."

"I find them very interesting, and the explanations after the listening sessions helped me a lot to understand what the music conveys."

"I thought the selections were very varied, and the explanations at the end were clear and helped me understand what I had listened to."

Curious to discover the real impact of the project, I wanted to find out from my young conversation partners what new things they had discovered through this experience, both about classical music and about themselves.

"I realized that regardless of the musical genre, we can convey a message or a feeling even without using words."

"I learned that we should listen to other genres of music as well."

"I learned that classical music can suit anyone and can help you relax at any moment."

"I learned more about classical music, which I don't usually listen to, and that we should give every genre of music a chance."

"Classical music helps us relax and calm down."

"I learned more about the artists who were performing, but I also realized that every piece of classical music conveys an important message. It's a bit harder to see sometimes, but it has a powerful meaning."

I also wanted to know how students themselves view classical music-whether it can be a true friend for young people today.

"Yes, it can be a friend, because it mainly helps you relax and also understand the past, not just the present."

"Yes, of course it can, because it's very relaxing and it can calm children down or make them happy."

"Yes, because it teaches us many things about ourselves and it's a genre of music that deserves to be listened to."

"Yes, because it can distract you from certain activities and give you more energy."

"It can be a friend because it really helps you understand the past and allows you to compare today's music with the music from back then."

"In my opinion, yes, because it can improve concentration, relax you, and many other things that could help children my age."

"Yes, it can-even if it's not in our comfort zone and it's not what young people usually listen to nowadays, it can help us develop feelings and gain knowledge."

Running since 2014, the project "Listen to 5 Minutes of Classical Music" has brought entire generations of children closer to the beauty of the classical repertoire, and student involvement goes beyond simply listening.

Antonia Necula, an 8th grade B student, took part weekly in the competition associated with the project and was among the winners.

"I was very surprised because I didn't expect it, and it's a wonderful experience. I received a participant diploma from the Listen to 5 Minutes of Classical Music competition and a CD with music. I will definitely listen to it!"

Today we discovered what the world of classical music looks like through the eyes of the students of the 7th grade E, taught by teacher Alina Dulgheru at the "Horia Hulubei" Theoretical High School in Măgurele, Ilfov County.

I am Ioana Țintea, and I will be back in two weeks with new stories from our laboratory of ideas.