The Paris Conservatoire dominated musical education
in France, and in much of the developed world, from
about 1860-1950. Rather than receiving individual tuition,
instrumentalists were taught in a class, to which entrance
was by competition. Students played in public examinations
called Concours (competitions), which included
a set piece and accompanied sight-reading, and were
awarded grades designated First Prize (Premier prix),
Second Prize, and First or Second Certificate of Merit
(Accessit). A student graduated on attaining
a First Prize, or earlier if satisfied with a lower
grade.
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The Conservatoire's official adoption of the French-modified
Boehm flute in 1860 laid the foundation for the standard
modern instrument