Kamis, 30 Mei 2013

Music Education and Exams

By Anita Hale


Many people hate taking exams and only do so at school when they have little say in the matter. However, for the millions of people learning a musical instrument, exams are welcomed. This is because it provides a structured way of learning and assessing their progress. Learning the ukulele from youtube videos will only get you so far. For some, it is the thrill of being awarded a music "grade" that continues to motivate and inspire them.

There are currently three different examination boards in the UK that offer music grades. The smaller boards are Trinity College London and London college of Music. The main examination board is the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. This is the one that most pupils learning their instrument in school will use. It offers a framework for mastering a wide variety of instruments.

Students don't just sit music grades for their chosen musical instruments. ABRSM also offers music theory exams and jazz exams. But the practical exams for instruments are definitely the most popular. These begin at grade one for beginners and move all the way up to grade eight for experts.

Now let's have a look at what occurs during the practical exam. The first thing you need to know is that the exam is comprised of 4 different sections. Section one is the set pieces section. A lot of students worry about this one because it carries the most marks out of all the sections. You must score at least 20 out of 30 to pass the set pieces section. The student is required to play three set pieces that they have chosen from the course syllabus. They will bring along the sheet music for these pieces to the exam.

Next up is scales and arpeggios. This is where the student must play a number of scales and arpeggios in turn. The examiner will request each one individually. The total number of marks for the scales section is 21 and you must score a minimum of 14 to pass it.

The third component of the exam is the aural. This is all based around listening and testing the musical ear. In order to do this, the examiner will play the instrument and then ask a series of questions about what he's just played. A spoken, clapped or sung response will be required. Twelve marks out of eighteen is the minimum score needed to pass the aural section.

Sight-Reading is the final component of an ABRSM graded exam. Some might argue that it is also the hardest part. This is due to the fact that students are required to play a piece of music that they have no prior knowledge of. The examiner will present them with some sheet music during the exam and give them thirty seconds rehearsal time. After this, the student must play the piece of music as best they can. They need fourteen marks out of twenty-one to pass sight-reading.

All of these sections add up to a total of 150 marks. The lowest pass mark is set at 100. However, a pass with merit is awarded to students who manage to score 120 marks. In addition, a pass with distinction is awarded to any student who manages to score 130 marks. As you can imagine, this is not an easy thing to do!




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