The Nigerian Mvies

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Friday 12 July 2013

How Do Music Grades Work?

By Anita Hale


If you have recently taken up a musical instrument your teacher may have mentioned taking music exams. These music exams are referred to as grades. Many students find learning grades advantageous because it gives them a structured approach to learning of their instrument.

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 here is what you can expect when taking the practical music grade. It does not matter whether you are taking an exam for piano, flute or even the trombone. The structure of these music exams will always be similar. That means you can expect four separate sections to each exam. The set pieces section carries the highest number of marks. This is why many students put most of their preparation into their set pieces. They begin by choosing three pieces of music from the course syllabus. They will have practiced these pieces endlessly before the exam. However they are allowed to take the sheet music into the exam room with them. The set pieces section is designed to test how well the student can play their instrument from sheet music. Each piece of music is scored out of a total of 30 marks. The student must get at least 20 marks on each piece to pass the set pieces section.

The scales and arpeggios section is much less daunting than by comparison. This tests how well the student can play the scale from memory. The examiner will request a number of scales or arpeggios and the student must play them back to him. This section carries a total of 21 marks. The student must get at least 14 to pass.

The aural section of the exam is all to do with how well students can listen and understand music. The examiner will play a short piece of music on the instrument that is being taken. He will then question the student over on what was being played. Sometimes they will have to clap out the answer. Other times they might be required to sing their response. This section carries a total of 18 marks. The pass mark is set at 12.

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.

If you have been adding up as we go along you will realise that music exams are marked out of a total of 150 marks. The pass mark for all music grades is 100 marks. You will be awarded a pass with merit if you are good enough to score at least 120. You could even be awarded a pass with distinction if you are good enough to achieve 130 marks. Understandably this is far less common.




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