Piano Tuition in England - could someone explain to me?

[SofaQueen]

How is piano tuition structured in England? In the US, one simply signs up one's child with a teacher and that is the end of it - no structure, exams. Here, I hear terms like grading and tests and don't quite understand.

DS just started piano, and it is a much gentler approach than the one I had - more fun and much more gradual easing into things like scales. When I asked the same question regarding structure to his teacher, he mentioned something about a grading exam probably towards Christmas which took me aback. What are the different grades, how often are the children graded, and what does it mean? He also mentioned a point where DS could choose the direction of his piano tuition (jazz v classical) and this really confused me. The way I was taught was a mishmash of different styles with a heavy emphasis on classical. Why would you branch out so early into jazz without a strong background in classical? Who knows if DS will last that long, but he is currently enjoying piano so we may very well continue for a while and I just want to understand how he will be taught.

A good teacher will let your DS continue with a mishmash for as long as he wants to!
He'll also listen to you (and your DS) about whether you want to take exams or not.

Alot of kids do follow the "grades" system. Most popular (AFAIK... was in my day... maybe not now) are the ones from Associated Board (RCM and RAM) and Trinity College of Music.

Grades usually run from 1 to 8, you play a set number of pieces (used to be 3... is it now?... someone with more recent experience will tell you), play some scales, and do some musicianship tests. All things that will help your child progress and will give you some kind of "measure" of his "success"(??!!)

But they're not compulsary. And you can do all these things anyway without being examined on them.

I was the sort of 'orrid, competitive kid that thrived on doing these exams from a young age, but there's no reason why you shouldhave to do them.

If he's enjoying playing, that's the main thing.

And if he just enjoys playing for now, but asks to do grades later, that's also fine. He doesn't have to start from grade 1. Can start at grade 5, if that's the level he's got to or.. whatever...

Most important thing is the enjoyment

(sorry for huge essay!!)

In the UK there are 8 grades and are a way of testing progress in music. Iirc (this was for clarinet, not piano) you would play at least 2 compositions, a few scales and arpeggios, plus oral and sight reading tests.

I don't know about choosing direction, it's not something I've heard of before.

The grades aren't compulsory though so if you want ds to enjoy the piano for a while you can.

hth

x-posts! Though picc explained it much better than me!!

Thank you both for the explanations. I think I'll skip out of the exams for now - he has enough exams to worry about. Just out of curiousity - who grades these exams and where are they held?

There are examiners who grade them, so not the teachers, and are held all over the country. If ds does do the exams, the teacher will be able to tell you but he should be able to do them local to you.

I teach piano and violin. The ABRSM (Associated Board) exams are the most widely used and the pieces you have to play for exams vary in style quite deliberately so you can't pick, eg 3 slow pieces and you have to demonstrate ability in different styles. It's quite a good way of measuring the standard you've reached on an instrument and ensuring progress is being made, though they're not by any means compulsory.

I don't know why the teacher is saying he has to branch out in a particular direction, unless he wants to play just for fun and would much rather just play jazz pieces. I suspect that if you don't go down the exam route, the style of pieces your child plays for fun will vary a lot depending on the teacher.

With the ABRSM exams you have to pass either Grade 5 theory or Grade 5 musicianship exams in order to take Grades 6,7 or 8, which, whilst a pain in the neck does mean you learn more of the theoretical side and have a much better musical understanding than if you didn't study some music theory.

I think it's far better for children to enjoy playing and only take grades if THEY want to rather than feeling pressured into doing exams and attaining certain standards.

How stressful! Has it always been structured this way? If my son is not aiming to go to music school, which he probably won't, I really don't see the point of doing grading exams. I think that I will skip over them and just let him enjoy playing the piano.

It is common to do a 'prep test' about a year after starting lessons, and then numbered grades once or twice a year. If keen, they should pick up Music Theory as well (which also has grades).

In each grade they play standard and voluntary pieces, and do things like clapping back a rythm,

You don't have to do every grade.

IME, children enjoy getting their grades, and getting their certificates in school. It is a bit of a pain getting them to their exams though, unless the school is an exam centre.

I did exams up to grade 5 as a child, and did find it pretty stressful - however DS has just done grade 1 on the clarinet, and has really enjoyed doing it - was a bit nervous for the hour or so before the exam, but he enjoyed focusing on practicing for the exam, getting the pieces to a really good standard, and he enjoyed the success of passing

you know your own child and whether he will want to take exams or not

They get UCAS points from grade 6

I think the exams are good preparation for other (possibly more impt) tests they encounter later in life - driving test, aural/oral part of academic exams etc and also makes them less nervous of performing/speaking in public so while they are certainly not the be all and end all they do serve a purpose. Also for an orchestral instrument they are a good measure of where someone is up to and whether they are up to joining a particular orchestra/group

Exams are often good because they give you something to aim for - and if you realise you've got an exam coming up soon, it tends to make you practise a lot more.....

I think it really depends on the child tbh. Both of my DDs are very musical (it missed a generation ) but their approach is totally different.

DD1 (16) has had lessions for 7 years and is really extrinsically motivated by the exams. She'll play for hours for her own pleasure but loves the satisfaction of passing each grade. She has done grade 5 theory and has just passed her grade 6 practical with distinction. Her plan is to try and get the same at grade 8 for the UCAS points.

DD2 (13) however, has no interest in having lessions or doing grades. She had about 10 lessons when she was about 6 or 7 but didn't like being told what to play. She will now quite happily sit and play a piece either by ear or will work it out from DD1's music books.

So I'd say be guided by your DS and let him follow his own motivation. If the teacher tries to put on any pressure then I'd question whether he's the right one for your DS.

What is a good age to start piano?

Hi there, I'm a piano teacher, and everything your teacher has said to you makes sense to me - but I can see why it would be confusing!

Firstly, unless your son is very much against it, I'd go for the exams. It doesn't have to be stressful. The examiners are trained to be good with children and the early exams (particularly if the teacher is talking about an introductory exam which they almost certainly will be at this early stage) are very low key. Exams build confidence in children and you find that they tackle the important exams such as GCSEs, driving tests, and interviews, with much more assurance as a result of having taken music exams. Also, exams provide a structure to the learning that it is hard to cover otherwise (not impossible, but harder). Some of the aspects of exams, such as scales and baroque music, tend to be less popular with pupils and exams give them the incentive to work on these things. I do have quite a few pupils who don't do exams - I would never push or force a child against their will - but I find these pupils tend to live on a diet of pop and jazz music, and are therefore much less well-rounded pianists as a result.

An exam will only be stressful if you, the parent, presents it as such. A parent who presents it as a bit of fun, a lovely opportunity to perform to someone else, and who puts no pressure on over results, but who praises the child enthusiatically when they pass, will find their children are not stressed at all.

As regards classical/ jazz, he certainly shouldn't be thinking yet about which direction he will go in, but later on he may want to look at this. Jazz piano exams are a fairly recent addition (last 10 years ish) but are really gaining in popularity and are enormous fun, especially for teenagers. You need a really good classical grounding first, so this is why I say you won't need to worry yet. But you may find (and boys more often prefer jazz) that later on your son would like to go the jazz route. By then, he will be well old enough to have his own views on what music he likes.

DD1 has really got into playing the piano in the past 12 months, and apart from learning the scales during her music lesson at school, has basically taught herself by ear. She hasnt had any other formal teaching, but has chosen GCSE music for September and will then have piano lessons alongside this.

How does GCSE music compare to the traditional grades? Piano will be her instrument.

hi I teach GCSE Music and teach piano. The performance element of the exam (the GCSE) is only worth up to 30% of the overall GCSE - for this your daughter would have to do one solo piece and one ensemble piece (where she could play a piano duet for example). If your daughter plays a grade 2/3 piece well it is quite possible to get very high marks and better marks in fact than if your daughter was to play a grade 4/5/ etc piece and make enough mistakes to compromise fluency.

My advice is ALWAYS for GCSE to play a piece well that is within your ability range. I have known kids go against my advice and play pieces which are too hard for them and they get less than others who have chosen pieces 2 or 3 grades lower but can play them well.

Thanks stillenacht. In DDs school they will only allow you to take GCSE music if they feel you have a good ability in your instrument. DDs teacher had actually approached her, and asked her to consider taking music GCSE and couldnt believe that she did not have lessons already.

She told me at parents evening that they work closely with the music tutors and DD will work on improving her theory in her private lessons.

Being tone deaf with the inability to clap in time to a beat myself, DD knows not to ask me for any help

So does say, grade A GCSE not equal grade 5/6 piano for example. I havent got a clue how good either one would be if I was to listen to them. (does that make sense?)

No a grade 5/6 is not equal to a grade A.

A grade 2/3 piece if played well could get an A in that part of the GCSE.

However, a grade 5/6 piece, if played badly, could achieve a MUCH lower mark than a grade 2/3 piece.

The performance part only makes up 30% of the OVERALL GCSE grade - the rest is composition, listening exam, integrated assignments or appraisals (depending on board - I have taught AQA and OCR but am familiar with Edexcel board too). Hope that makes sense.

I have got pupils through to 'A' grade in GCSE who are singers and have never had formal individual musical training and who are not particularly good readers (of musical notes that is!). there is a big misconception that you have to be such and such a grade at GCSE to do well - of course technical skill helps but a musical ear, perseverance and understanding of musical concepts and devices are more important for GCSE.

Right that makes sense. Thank you for explaining. I wondered if music grades matched up to GCSE grades but I can see now that they are completly different.

To be honest as far as DD is concerned, doing GCSE music is a bonus/extention to her hobby. She has no clue what she wants for a career apart from maybe teaching, but is also aware that music is very academic and she will have to study hard. She will be following the Edexcel course.