AB music exam results

[roisin]

How fast do the results come through these days? I know it's much faster than it used to be.

So from taking the exam to the teacher having the overall pass/merit/fail - how long does it take?

[kazmus]

practical results should be back with the teacher in about a fortnight, theory still takes 5 or 6 weeks.

[kazmus]

ever thought of entering Trinity/Guildhall, their results come back within 2 days!

[roisin]

Is there any reason not to do Trinity Grade 5 Theory?
ds2 has been using Trinity theory books, because they are better presented, more appealing, more fun, than AB. He's doing the Grade 4 book now.

Teacher has said when he's done this one, he should switch and do the AB grade 5 book, ready for the exam in November.

I was just wondering, why not stick with Trinity and do the Trinity exam?

[roisin]

Thanks for the reply on timings btw.

[kazmus]

trinity does not require grade 5 theory as a condition for entering 6,7, or 8 practical exams, whereas AB require a pass at grade 5 theory before you can enter. Don't know if AB accept trinity grade 5 theory as this entry requirement so probably doing the ab grade 5 in case he wants to take AB practical at higher grades.

[roisin]

Oh, I thought they both recognised each other.
Probably not.

[kazmus]

they should do! Certainly both exam boards are recognised on an equal footing with acreditting points towards university entrance requirements at the higher levels, but AB can be a bit precious about their standards! I usedAB for many years for my pupils but now favour Trinity where the choice of supporting tests is fairer and the scale lists not so arduous.

[roisin]

What instrument do you teach kazmus?
I've been surprised by the AB piano scales lists. I'm fairly certain I never had to play so many when I was learning (a LONG time ago).

[kazmus]

Piano, and keyboard, started using Trinity for my keyboard pupils as AB were too sniffy to include keyboard as a 'proper' instrument (they do now!) The scale list for example at grade 6 is just based on 4 different scales, but you may be asked to play with varying dynamics, articulation etc. You also have a set of exercises as part of the scale section, but even then the total point value is only 14 out of 100. At below grade 5 if you have someone really worried by sightreading they can opt to do musical knowledge instead, either way it's only worth 10 marks. I can remember a few years back adding up all the variations required at Grade 8 in the scale list for AB and it was over 300!!

[roisin]

Have you had any experience of the AB Jazz piano syllabus?

[kazmus]

A couple of my lads who were good grade 8's and very interested in Jazz went through the grade 5 exam and passed with flying colours but were both exceptional at improvisation. It's not really my strong point and i feel its an area where the teacher has to be very comfortable with the genre. I suggested to both lads to get a specialist jazz teacher, and both are now at uni doing jazz courses!

[quirrelquarrel]

My old teacher waxed lyrical about the jazz syllabus- thought it was great and entered her pupils for it instead of usual ones (apart from me, the pupil with the musicality of an amoeba), but she did say it was a lot more difficult and that she'd had to work harder for her Grade 1.
There's an Oscar Peterson book which is great for getting you used to the style. Exercises to improvise around etc.

[BrigitBigKnickers]

The jazz syllabus is fab! But much harder than classical IMHO- (especially rhythmically). The improv stuff really sorts the sheep from the goats musically speaking.

I passed grade 6 classical ABRSM ( many years ago!) and have spent the last 6 months working my way through the jazz grades. I can play the grade three stuff to a reasonable standard and just getting to grips with the bits of the music where there are no dots and squiggles to read (very scary for someone who finds it hard to improvise). It's like learning a new language but SOOOO much more fun to play.

An alternative syllbus to try if you don't like classical is the Trinity Rockschool.
Also technically tricky and easily as difficult if not more so than ABRSM classical- the aural tests are fearsome!

[roisin]

That's fascinating BBK and was my assumption from the little I'd read of the syllabus.

I think the focus on improv and so on is more likely to produce real musicianship. He's happy doing AB exams atm, but jazz might give him a bit of a challenge in a few years' time.

[snorkie]

circa 2 weeks usually roisin, but it can be longer if they decide to audit them.

You can do a grade 5 jazz exam instead of grade 5 theory, but it's not an easy option. I've heard good things of the jazz syllabus though but not so many teachers do it (round here at least).

Ds did Trinity for grade 8 piano because there were way less scales and at the time he liked the pieces much better. It was really nice to have the results same day!