You've probably heard your friends that play musical instruments refer to the "grade" they are currently on. This means a standard they have reached on that instrument. It is assessed via an exam. Three different currently award these exam grades and qualifications in music. London College of Music and Trinity College London are two of them. But the ABSRM is by far the biggest of the three. ABSRM stands for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. It offers music exams in over 35 different instruments. The aim of their exams is to offer inspiration to musicians while setting a benchmark of musical standards for them.
Through ABRSM one can take jazz exams, practical musicianship exams and musical theory exams. However, most take the graded practical exams in their specific instrument. Each instrument has its own course syllabus which structures the student's learning. The exams begin at grade one and advance up to grade eight.
Now let's have a look at what goes on during the actual exam. To begin with, every candidate will have come prepared with three pieces of sheet music. This is for the set pieces element of the exam. These pieces are chosen by the candidate from the course syllabus well in advance of the exam. every two years the syllabus gets updated with new pieces of music to choose from. In the exam the candidate will bring in the sheet music for these pieces and play them to the best of their ability. This component carries a maximum score of 30 with 20 needed for a pass.
Scales and arpeggios form the next part of the exam. This is where the examiner will request a number of scales or arpeggios. The student will then have to play these from memory. The maximum mark for this section is twenty-one. The minimum mark to pass is fourteen.
The aural component is based on listening and testing the student's ear for music. Here the examiner will play the instrument and then issue instructions or ask questions. A spoken, clapped or sung response will be required. To pass the aural section the student must get at least 12 marks out of 18.
The last part of the exam is sight-reading. This is regarded as a particularly tricky section of the exam because the candidate must play from a piece of music that they haven't seen before. They are allowed a thirty second preparation period to study the music and practice it during this time. Then they must play the piece to the best of their ability. This section carries a total of 21 marks with 14 needed for a pass.
Adding up all the sections you will see that a practical exam carries a total of 150 marks. You will be awarded your grade as long as you score at least 100 marks. However, you will also get a pass with merit for scoring 120 marks and a pass with distinction for scoring 130.
Through ABRSM one can take jazz exams, practical musicianship exams and musical theory exams. However, most take the graded practical exams in their specific instrument. Each instrument has its own course syllabus which structures the student's learning. The exams begin at grade one and advance up to grade eight.
Now let's have a look at what goes on during the actual exam. To begin with, every candidate will have come prepared with three pieces of sheet music. This is for the set pieces element of the exam. These pieces are chosen by the candidate from the course syllabus well in advance of the exam. every two years the syllabus gets updated with new pieces of music to choose from. In the exam the candidate will bring in the sheet music for these pieces and play them to the best of their ability. This component carries a maximum score of 30 with 20 needed for a pass.
Scales and arpeggios form the next part of the exam. This is where the examiner will request a number of scales or arpeggios. The student will then have to play these from memory. The maximum mark for this section is twenty-one. The minimum mark to pass is fourteen.
The aural component is based on listening and testing the student's ear for music. Here the examiner will play the instrument and then issue instructions or ask questions. A spoken, clapped or sung response will be required. To pass the aural section the student must get at least 12 marks out of 18.
The last part of the exam is sight-reading. This is regarded as a particularly tricky section of the exam because the candidate must play from a piece of music that they haven't seen before. They are allowed a thirty second preparation period to study the music and practice it during this time. Then they must play the piece to the best of their ability. This section carries a total of 21 marks with 14 needed for a pass.
Adding up all the sections you will see that a practical exam carries a total of 150 marks. You will be awarded your grade as long as you score at least 100 marks. However, you will also get a pass with merit for scoring 120 marks and a pass with distinction for scoring 130.
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