Let's talk about music exams. If you are learning the piano or another musical instrument then your teacher may have talked to you about taking music grades. Music grades can be a good idea because they offer a framework to your learning. They also give you a standard to aspire to.
There are several exam boards that can award music grades. The first board is called Trinity College London. The second board is called London College of Music. The third board is called the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. This is usually shortened to ABSRM. This exam board is the largest and most popular of the three. This board is renowned for offering excellent standards in the musicianship.
You can take more than just a practical exam in the instrument you are learning. The ABSRM also offers jazz exams, theory exams and exams in practical musicianship. Nevertheless most people want to take grades in their chosen instrument. These exams will start at grade one. Grade eight is the top grade that you can achieve.
So now it's time to look at what happens in a practical exam. The structure of these exams remains the same regardless of what instrument you are learning. There are four main parts to these exams. To begin with you have the set pieces section. Set pieces involves playing three pieces of music. The student will have pre-prepared for these pieces of music from the course syllabus. They are allowed to bring the sheet music into the exam room with them. The course syllabus changes every two years. This means the student will have different music to choose from every two years. The set pieces carries a total of 30 marks. The student must score at least 20 marks to pass this part of the exam.
This scales and arpeggios section is relatively easy in comparison. This tests the student's ability to play scales on their instrument from memory. The examiner will ask them to play a series of scales or arpeggios. He will then mark them out of 21 on how well they did this. They must score at least 14 to pass this section.
Some find the aural section of the exam quite difficult. This is designed to test the student's musical ear. The examiner will play the instrument. He will then ask a number of questions about the piece of music that he played. The answer to these questions may have required the student to sing or clap. They will need to get a minimum of 12 marks out of a potential 18 to pass this section.
The sight-reading section is usually the last part on the exam. Many students get nervous about sight reading. This is because they will have to play from sheet music that they are given on the spot. However they are given 30 seconds rehearsal time. They can use this time to play a short section of the piece. The pass mark for sight-reading is 14 out of 21 marks.
Any budding mathematician will have seen that these exams are marked out of a total of 150. You must therefore score at least 100 marks to pass your music grade. Students that are particularly gifted will be awarded a pass with merit for scoring over 120. The best students will be awarded a pass with distinction. They you must score at least 130 marks to achieve this.
There are several exam boards that can award music grades. The first board is called Trinity College London. The second board is called London College of Music. The third board is called the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. This is usually shortened to ABSRM. This exam board is the largest and most popular of the three. This board is renowned for offering excellent standards in the musicianship.
You can take more than just a practical exam in the instrument you are learning. The ABSRM also offers jazz exams, theory exams and exams in practical musicianship. Nevertheless most people want to take grades in their chosen instrument. These exams will start at grade one. Grade eight is the top grade that you can achieve.
So now it's time to look at what happens in a practical exam. The structure of these exams remains the same regardless of what instrument you are learning. There are four main parts to these exams. To begin with you have the set pieces section. Set pieces involves playing three pieces of music. The student will have pre-prepared for these pieces of music from the course syllabus. They are allowed to bring the sheet music into the exam room with them. The course syllabus changes every two years. This means the student will have different music to choose from every two years. The set pieces carries a total of 30 marks. The student must score at least 20 marks to pass this part of the exam.
This scales and arpeggios section is relatively easy in comparison. This tests the student's ability to play scales on their instrument from memory. The examiner will ask them to play a series of scales or arpeggios. He will then mark them out of 21 on how well they did this. They must score at least 14 to pass this section.
Some find the aural section of the exam quite difficult. This is designed to test the student's musical ear. The examiner will play the instrument. He will then ask a number of questions about the piece of music that he played. The answer to these questions may have required the student to sing or clap. They will need to get a minimum of 12 marks out of a potential 18 to pass this section.
The sight-reading section is usually the last part on the exam. Many students get nervous about sight reading. This is because they will have to play from sheet music that they are given on the spot. However they are given 30 seconds rehearsal time. They can use this time to play a short section of the piece. The pass mark for sight-reading is 14 out of 21 marks.
Any budding mathematician will have seen that these exams are marked out of a total of 150. You must therefore score at least 100 marks to pass your music grade. Students that are particularly gifted will be awarded a pass with merit for scoring over 120. The best students will be awarded a pass with distinction. They you must score at least 130 marks to achieve this.
