Questions tagged [exam-grades]

For questions related to the graded exams by the ABRSM, LCM, VCM, Rockschool, or other reputable music examination board. For question related to the grading of the difficulty of individual pieces, use the tag [grading].

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Can the prerequisite for RCM ARCT Piano (Performer) fulfilled through ABRSM certificates?

I have the ABRSM Grade 8 Piano and Theory certificates from more than 10 years ago. Can I use this to fulfill the prerequisite to take the RCM ARCT Piano Performer exam, or do I have to first obtain ...
7 votes
3 answers
25k views

Comparison between different exam boards

In Britain, many people learning instruments (especially classical ones) do grades in them. The most common organisation to do with grades with is ABRSM, but there are others, e.g. Trinity Guildhall, ...
2 votes
0 answers
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How do you trinity grades align with RCM grades

I have been doing Trinity piano grades for the past 5 years. I am currently in grade 5. I want to learn a piece called "Waltz in C-Sharp Minor"(op. 64, no. 2) by Chopin. However, as it is ...
3 votes
1 answer
180 views

RCM Exam Popular Selection Note Modifications

For a piano RCM exam (let's say level 8), would an examiner likely reduce your score for making small adjustments to a "popular" piece to make the piece slightly easier to play? For example,...
0 votes
1 answer
142 views

Comparison between different Ukulele exam boards / certifications

I am looking for Ukulele exam boards and I can find LCM and RockSchool. I wonder if I am missing any of if because Ukulele is quite a niche instrument there aren't any others in Europe? Thanks.
0 votes
0 answers
45 views

How to prepare for trinity's aural exam

I am going to give my trinity piano grade 5 classical and jazz exam later this year in October, one of my supporting tests is aural. Now, there are websites and apps that I found online which can help ...
2 votes
4 answers
12k views

Which diploma, ATCL or dipABRSM

I've just completed my grade 8 piano ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in the United Kingdom) exam with distinction. Which diploma should I take next, Trinity's ATCL (Associate, ...
2 votes
1 answer
3k views

Is Moonlight (first movement) suitable for grade 7?

Can I play Sonata No. 14 “Moonlight” (first movement) by L. Van Beethoven for ABRSM digital Performance Grade 7 for piano as my own choice? As per Performance Grades - FAQs: For the exam candidates ...
1 vote
2 answers
708 views

Skipping ABRSM grades to grade 5 theory?

TL;DR I have decent experience in playing a number of instruments and am wondering if I can take grade 5 theory without having taken any theory exam before. Basically I've been on and off about music ...
7 votes
3 answers
4k views

ABRSM Exams: Repeating of bars

I am a grade three pianist, and I am taking my exam soon. I am playing the piece Allegro by Muzio Clementi (A:1 , ABRSM Grade 3 Piano Exam Pieces 2015 & 2016), and there are two repeat signs. I am ...
3 votes
4 answers
1k views

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

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
28 votes
12 answers
11k views

What does play with feeling mean?

When I used to take music exams I'd pass them but it often says "could have played with more feeling". Now, I played all the notes in the right order. Made them louder when it says ff. And quieter ...
3 votes
5 answers
225 views

World-Wide Standard Music Certification

Are there any world-wide known Music Certification tests that you can take to use in your resume: for example, to demonstrate basic musical abilities? I used to work in IT, where it is very common for ...
1 vote
3 answers
333 views

practical exam ATCL ABRSM Diploma

I've finished the Performance certificate from Trinity College London, and now I would like to continue with the ATCL Diploma from ABRSM. Does it include any theory parts that I need to pass before I ...
2 votes
3 answers
226 views

Which exam board should we use? (UK)

My children both play instruments. My 11 year old plays the clarinet and did grades 3 and 4 with ABRSM and then moved to Trinity for grades 5 and 6. She got a distinction in grade 6 just after her ...
2 votes
5 answers
36k views

Music Practical Grades: Average time it takes to reach Grade 8 [duplicate]

This question is mostly for teachers. From your experiences, how long does it take on average to reach Grade 8 from Grade 1 using the Exam Board ABRSM? I have now been playing for five years, and am ...
2 votes
3 answers
3k views

Can you skip the first ten RCM grades?

I play piano, but I’ve never been actively involved in all of these "piano breeding systems", even though I want to be a part of them. So I put my eye on RCM. But I play at about an RCM 10/ ARCT level....
2 votes
2 answers
159 views

Is this an example of III7 augmented chord?

I seem to have come across a III7 chord in A harmonic minor, and I'm not quite sure about its function. I initially thought it might have been V7, but there is a leap of a third between the C and E in ...
0 votes
2 answers
179 views

(REVISED): Roman Numeral Analysis of Fuchs- 'Mother Tells a Story'

On the back of seeing the score, I have filled in the missing harmony. I am still stuck on the harmonic analysis in a few areas. The Roman numerals I have put in thus far are all relative to G major, ...
1 vote
2 answers
287 views

How long would it take to learn grade 6 music theory?

My teacher wants me to go in for my grade six piano. However, I have only ever done grade one, so my theory is somewhat inferior to my playing. I want to then carry on to do my grade seven and eight. ...
0 votes
1 answer
167 views

Roman numeral analysis of exam practice exercise: "Polish Song" by Hiller

The piece in question is 'Polish Song' by Hiller. I have labelled the bars from 1 to 11. The piece is in A minor, and we seem to have A minor leading to V7 in the opening measures (I'm putting the C ...
1 vote
3 answers
280 views

Is this a harmonic sequence?

Currently working on this keyboard piece, came across something that I think looks like a harmonic sequence. We are newly in D minor, and the bars in question are labelled 1 and 2 (squint and you'll ...
2 votes
1 answer
98 views

Is this a deceptive cadence?

i was wondering if someone could clear up whether this is some sort of deceptive cadence or not. We are recently back to Bflat Major. The very last beat of the previous bar is F7 (labelled here ...
0 votes
2 answers
116 views

Have I successfully/legitimately modulated?

Hi guys! Just wondering if I've done this properly. We are newly in Csharp minor from the relative major E major, and we need to finish in the home key- F sharp minor. As it stands, I have written the ...
2 votes
4 answers
190 views

Is this a Neapolitan 6?

I have a couple of questions regarding this passage. Have labelled the bars in question ''1'', ''2'' and ''3''. The stave in question is second from bottom (directly above ''N6??''). We are in G minor,...
0 votes
2 answers
258 views

Who knows whats happening in this score?

Ran into some confusion when trying to work out the harmony of this keyboard piece, I have labelled the problem bars, '3, 4 and 5'. In the second half of this piece, we seem to rolling through the ...
0 votes
1 answer
85 views

Is this some sort of suspension? If so, how do I write it in?

Hi guys, We are in F sharp minor. There is a G sharp being held over V7 (Csharp7), the second inversion tonic chord (Fsharp minor), and then the ii7 chord that follows. The G sharp is a chord tone of ...
2 votes
1 answer
117 views

Which modulation is correct? (amongst other things!)

Hi guys. I’ll try and be as concise as possible. Forgive the messy score, its just a product of the confusion! I have a few query areas, but please feel free to correct me in any other areas. 

 Bar 1-...
1 vote
3 answers
666 views

How do people become proficient at sight-reading in keys where there is no material in those keys suitable for their sight-reading level?

On a mission to improve my piano sight-reading, I've been systematically working my way through all major and minor keys, 'living' in a given key for a few weeks before moving to the next. Whilst ...
1 vote
3 answers
122 views

Where to practice for vocal examinations?

I always wonder where do sopranos, alto, and tenor practice their vocal, so that there do not disturb their neighbours? Especially those who are taking examinations like the ABRSM, Trinity, etc. I ...
0 votes
3 answers
701 views

Taking up piano exams

I have started learning Piano myself, using my keyboard. I wanted to take up exams (trinity guildhall) . When I checked the trinity site it says two different courses for piano and keyboard . Which ...
3 votes
1 answer
544 views

What is "Piano Accompanying Exam" in Trinity?

I was going through Trinity Piano Syllabus and saw that they have exams in Piano from Grades 1-8 and "Piano Accompanying" exam from Grades 5-8. How does it work? Everyone taking Grade 5-8 will also ...
3 votes
0 answers
75 views

Want to know the process to pursue diploma in piano [closed]

I am a grade 6 student in piano from LCM. I want to pursue a career in music. All I know so far is, after grade 8 I need to have a diploma. Can anyone elaborate on the career path? Is there a ...
1 vote
1 answer
181 views

Skipping grades and the more advanced grades: [closed]

So at the moment, I am about to do my grade 4 piano exam. I am a very musical person and on the side I challenge myself to do grade 6 pieces, etc... I only have 2 and a half years left until I leave ...
1 vote
1 answer
277 views

Skipping AMEB Music of Theory grades?

I understand that each grade teaches musical terminology, etc.that will be incorporated into the next grade, but I was wondering if skipping AMEB Music of Theory grades was possible or is there a ...
-1 votes
4 answers
16k views

ABRSM: Skipping grades

I was going to do my Grade 3 piano, until the pieces I had learned had gone past the deadline for when I was going to take my examination. Therefore, I had got frustrated, so my Piano teacher asked me ...
8 votes
4 answers
10k views

Does it make sense to do exam grades as an adult learner?

I'm in my thirties; I've played acoustic guitar for about a decade, but recently took up "proper instruments" flute and piano as a beginner - playing from score, learning scales, etc rather than just ...
1 vote
2 answers
222 views

Grade 1 Music Theory

I have 2 questions: I have learned some topics of grade 1 but I think there are a lot of topics in it. Can anyone provide a list of topic which come under the Grade 1 syllabus and which I must go ...
0 votes
1 answer
524 views

Grade 8 ABRSM Theory - weaknesses

I have taken the grade 8 ABRSM theory exam twice now and have failed by a couple of marks. My main weakness is question 2: completing the piano extract. Has anyone got any tips on how to complete this ...
4 votes
2 answers
316 views

Music Education in the UK: skipping all grades?

I live and work in the UK as an engineer. In the past, aroudn 10 years ago, I got a diploma in piano with 10/10 cum laude in an Italian Conservatory. After a hiatus of several years, I started playing ...
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

Piano Grade 2 Aural test - Triple or double time

Part of the ABRSM Grade 2 piano exam involves the examiner playing a piece, with the student required to start clapping along when they sense the rhythm, and to then identify whether or not the piece ...
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

If I'm grade X, how close to X-standard pieces should I be able to sight read?

When you take a grade exam you have pieces you have to prepare, and you are also expected to sight-read... but the sight-read pieces for each grade will be easier than the pieces you prepare. I ...
2 votes
2 answers
5k views

How long does Grade 6 music theory take?

I did Grade 5 theory back in 2013. And did A-level music in 2012-2014. My attendance wasn't great, for various reasons, and my memory is patchy but I've retained my Grade 5 theory skills and then some....
2 votes
1 answer
2k views

How does Rockschool Vocals compare against ABRSM or similar?

I came across Rockschool recently and to be honest the name alone put me off. But looking a little at the material for vocalists at it sounds OK. How does it compare with more traditional exam ...
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

Do I need to take the ABRSM practical exams to do the theory exams?

I've been learning theory for many years. I'm self taught using lots of great books (many from ABRSM). My reasons for learning theory wasn't to become good at playing an instrument. I'm a software ...
6 votes
5 answers
2k views

Enharmonic equivalents to Ab besides G#

I'm current studying RSL Music Theory grades and I'm stuck on a grade 6 question. The question asks to write out two enharmonic equivalent notes to the note provided using sharps, flats, double-...
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

What's it like to sit a music theory grade exam?

I've been looking at the content of the ABRSM theory grade syllabus. It looks like with minimal work I could know all the Grade 5 content (you can skip grades up to G5 but beyond that you must have G5 ...
-1 votes
1 answer
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How do vocal exam syllabi handle singers' ranges?

How do exam boards (ABRSM, rock school, etc) supply set pieces for vocalists given that individual singers' rangers vary so much? In my experience for instrument gradings you get a list of pieces in ...
1 vote
3 answers
4k views

How to learn ABRSM music theory

I'm sorry if this is not the correct place to post this question, I use many stack exchanges but this is the first time I have used the Music SE. I would like to learn music theory (ABRSM), with the ...
3 votes
3 answers
13k views

Any pointers on how to convert 4/4 to 3/4?

I'm currently studying Music Theory using the RSA grades (formerly known as RockSchool). I'm trying to get through on my own at the moment but I'm half-way through G6 and I'm increasingly feeling the ...