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My ds has been having piano lessons inschool for about 9 months, he was previously with a private teacher. He loves playing it and has really improved but his teacher hasn't entered him for the prep test yet.

He does violin as well as is doing much better at piano than violin yet he's having his initial test after the half term.

I'm going to request a meeting with her but I just want to know if there could be any reason for this. Also do all kids have to start with the prep test or can they just go straight to grade 1.

We got the trinity guildhall initial piano and he learnt the 1st 3 pieces on his own (he used some videos on YouTube)

I'm convinced if she starts to actively prepare him for it, he'll be able to do it.

Thanks

Not all piano teachers think the prep test is a good idea. How old's your DS?

My DD's friend has done the prep test, but when I asked DD's teacher about it she said that, while DD (6.5) is ready for the test and could be entered for it if I wanted, she'd prefer to take her on, past Grade I level and then enter her for Grade I when she knows she'll sail through easy peasy. That way her first exam won't be a worry at all and will set her up nicely for GdII. In effect, she was saying that the prep test is a waste of time as GdI is easy enough!

Maybe that's the situation. DD has been playing for 5 months - so if your DS has been playing for 9 maybe he's heading straight for GdI?

DS2 went straight to Piano Grade 1. (ABRSM). His second instrument the teacher is leaving him until Grade 3.

DS1 hasn't done any yet - he did all the work for Piano Grade 2 then he decided not to enter. He did a mock exam with his teacher and has carried on. On another instrument he has going straight to Grade 5 this week. His first instrument he did Grades 1, 3, 4 and 5.

ABRSM will only let you proceed past Grade 5 on any instrument if you pass Grade 5 theory or musicianship, otherwise it is up to the teacher and the student to decide.

ABRSM Prep eszt & Trinity Guildhall Initial test are two completely differnet things.

Prep test isn't an exam at all. Its a non examined (no pass or fail) constructive assessment of progress.

Initial Level is a level just below Grade 1 and is a proper exam in that you can fail it.

If your dd can play the Initial level pieces then she is probably above the level of Prep test.

My dd is doing Grade 1 ABRSM this term. She never did Prep test as we couldn't see the point as Ihad been teaching her for 12 months before passing her on to a teacher.

Back in my day Prep Test never existed.

Also dh used to teach singing in schools and he never used to enter children for exams as in the areas he worked in the parents refused to pay for the music and exam fee. Maybe the piano teacher has had problems in the past.

I'll speak to his teacher then. Perhaps she wants him to go straight to grade 1. I hardly get to see her but I'll book an appointment asap. Thanks.

Prep test can be useful to gain exam experience. My ds2 was very worried about doing an exam, and yet wanted to do it at the same time, so he found the prep test a relaxed introduction to exams.

I'd have thought if he's doing prep test in violin it wouldn't be worth the money to do it in piano. I thought it was basically to get you used to the style of the exams and raise a bit of extra money for the examiners

I always thought you HAD to go through all the levels including the prep for each instrument. I might as well tell the piano teacher not to enter him for the prep test then since he'd have gained the experience from the violin initial test.

There is absolutely no requirement to do all the exams, and in years of teaching I have only entered four children for the Prep Test. Most others have started with Grade 1, but when teaching young teens, Grade 2 has often been their first exam. Others miss out exams on the way through (one girl did Grades 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8), so there really is no cast iron rule.

The only rule is if you are doing ABRSM exams, you can't go beyond Grade 5 unless you have have passed Grade 5 theory or musicianship.

Mine did piano for fun for a couple of years before going for the exams.... does the piano teacher know you WANT them to do the tests?

She does. Initially I didn't want him to take the tests, but we had a chat not long after he started with her and she explained it to me and we agreed he'll take them. I'm meeting with her after half term anyway so I'll discuss with her.

Thanks

Dd's first piano exam was gr 1 and her first violin exam was gr 5. There's no need to waste time on the early grade exams if you're moving along quickly.

my DD has no piano at school and I am considering private lessons now. How does the system work- does she enter an exam even though she doesn't have it at school? Sorry to ask something obvious, my mum and sister are both pianists, but I come from another country and haven't had a chance to crack the music system yet!

Any music teacher should be able to enter their pupils for exams, the exam centres are usually separate from schools.

Do you mean your mother/sister are going to teach her? They would also be able to enter her, you can do it yourself if you wish.

I can't do links but if you google ABRSM grade exams and Trinity Guildhall Music Grade exams you should see the information you need.