Which test or qualification in music can provide a degree which is equivalent to a Bachelor's degree?

Question

I have heard about ABRSM levels which the level 8 is equal to music diploma.

But I want to know if there is any higher test levels which equals to a bachelor of music

Thanks

Answer 1

The ABRSM offers a number of diplomas beyond the usual grade 8: ABRSM dilpomas FAQ.

Whether these equate to a bachelors degree is another matter. They aren't going to be anything like a music degree, but more of a certificate for advanced level musicians.

Answer 2

You are confusing certain concepts in regards to music qualifications. Let me take the chance to help. In a broader sense there are two types of musical education provided by tertiary institutions in the West. You have conserve training and you have musicology training.

Conserve training was for many years focused on training performers. In England the big conserve is the RCM in the US it is Juilliard. You do music history and theory but only in the specific ways in which it interact with the performing of your instrument. These places tended not to concern itself with the academic pursuit of music. It housed the top performers that trained the most promising young performers.

You then had music schools that enjoyed the academic pursuit of music. These were places like Oxford and Cambridge in the UK or Berkley and the Peabody Institute in the US. Here you could study performance if you wanted to, but generally they had a more academic interest in the profession.

In many countries you also had nationally accredited NGOs that developed musical curricula that promoted the study of music trough standardized testing. Many nations in the world had them. These ideas are not totally absent from the US as the AP Music Theory course is something in that vein.

Diplomas in music was the highest qualifications these NGOs offered. They where typically split into two types, a performance one and a teaching one. You typically had a process where you applied for admission to the diploma. You had to give a letter of motivation describing your qualifications, your achievements and your goals. They would then decide if you passed the admission.

If you were accepted as a diploma candidate you where then given a certain amount of time to achieve the required theory grade if you had not achieved it already. If you did a performance diploma you where then given details about a performance that you had to prepare. You then basically had to prepare a professional concert to be judged on.

The teaching diploma was different albeit in no way easier. Here you had to teach in front of a panel. You teaching acumen was tested along with your technical grasp of the instrument and your ability to articulate your ideas on teaching.

These diplomas have always been in many ways harder than a degree. They really are tremendous qualifications and requires years of dedication and hard work.

Answer 3

Grade 8 is pre-diploma.

Many universities offer a Bachelor of Music degree. There really should be more to a Bachelors or Masters degree than just vocational training, but I believe some colleges dignify their performer courses with such labels.