Trinity vr ABRSM

[drummersmum]

I know there are several threads about this but they're out of date... so I thought I'd ask for updated opinions!
DS would be doing Trinity for his Grade 8 piano to avoid having to wait for Abrsm's new syllabus this summer. He has done Abrsm all the way till now but Abrsm allows for so little overlap they're giving us little option.
Still discussing with teacher.
Anyone thinks of any reason NOT to do this?

[drummersmum]

vs not vr...
My question reads like Trinity verbal reasoning Abrsm!

[ShellingPeasAgain]

None at all. I have had students take both boards and there is very little difference in difficulty of pieces or supporting tests. Marking is different and my opinion is that, due to the nature of Trinity's marking scheme (out of 100 rather than 150, and with marks divided into specific categories) it is harder to get a distinction at higher grade with Trinity than ABRSM.

As far as accreditation goes both boards have equivalent ratings with OFQUAL and UCAS points.

The current ABRSM syllabus doesn't expire until March 2017 - does he really need over a year to prepare? Trinity does give a longer overlap (12 months) so more leeway but I'd be reluctant to have one of my pupils working on a grade exam for longer than two terms.

[drummersmum]

Thanks Shelling.
re preparation time, do you have students taking Grade 8 piano after two terms? I don't see DS doing this. He won't sit an exam unless he feels absolutely ready for it. And the pressure would be too much. He plays other instruments. Our thoughts are that Trinity would at least give us the option to stake it in summer 2017 and be able to have some fun on the way with other stuff...

[ShellingPeasAgain]

I do have students who learn the pieces in two terms but I work by the principle of exams are taken when the student is consistently working at that level rather than used as a target - I've had transfer students in the past who come saying "I'm grade 5" or whatever having passed a grade 5 exam but they've only ever played 3 pieces at that level and really aren't a solid grade 5 player. I also cover the supporting tests (scales, sight reading, aural etc) on a weekly basis in lessons regardless of whether students are sitting exams so there's less to pick up on these for exam purposes.

I think it's great to cover lots of other repertoire outside the exam syllabus - it makes a refreshing change from the exam treadmill that many students embark on. And yes, to avoiding pressure!

If your DS was my student I'd be advising him to play through the grade 8 repertoire from either board (or LCM), find pieces he really enjoys playing and then work with a possible date in sight with no pressure. Is there a need for him to get his grade 8 by a particular time?

Personally I prefer Trinity as the scale requirements are reduced but countered by the technical exercises. I also think the repertoire choices are more flexible, so I'd be voting Trinity regardless of timescales.

[Worriedandlost]

My understanding is that ABRSM exams give higher UCAS points

ABRSM
gb.abrsm.org/de/our-exams/information-and-regulations/exam-accreditation-and-ucas-points/

Trinity
www.trinitycollege.com/site/?id=2875

[drummersmum]

But here it seems to indicate that Abrsm, Trinity and Rockschool give the same number:
www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/entry-requirements/tariff/tariff-tables/1086

So what's right?

[ShellingPeasAgain]

Worriedandlosr - you are linking to speech and drama, not music. This link www.trinitycollege.com/resource/?id=5648 is for music exam awards.

[Worriedandlost]

ShellingPeasAgain, yes, you are right, sorry for confusion. Just found another link with the same figures as abrsm, cannot insert a link but it is the forth link from this search, page 6
www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=trinity+music+qcf+level

However, I think it used to be different, I finally found the link but it says "page is not found" on Trinity page. I may be wrong though

[Icouldbeknitting]

The tariff points for Trinity, ABRSM and LCM exams are the same, the whole tariff system is changing but they will still be equivalent.

Many students switch to Trinity after G5 as there isn't the requirement for D% theory, you just need to make sure that you are familiar with the format of the exam. DS did Trinity all the way through, there was never any discussion about it, it's just what his teacher did.

[Helenluvsrob]

Don't get too het up in UCAS points. My 2 uni applicants couldn't find anything that they actually would have been relevant for that applied to them ( though these were applications for very academic courses) and I can't see that thry would carry weight for conservatoire applicants as surely they set grade requirements ?