Recorder exams??? DD would like to do the grade 1 exam...

[Diamondsarentforever]

DD has been doing the recorder for a couple of years now (just learning by herself) and is really good! She worked so hard over the holidays, she is allowed to play in the school recorder group (they play the hymns in assembly) and it's normally only for year 6 and she is year 4, I know it doesn't sound like much as lots of kids pick it up quick but it's not so much about that, it's about how much time and effort she has put in. I've finally saved up enough for her to begin lessons and she has chosen something completely unrelated but I know she'll work just as hard at it.

She is curious and has been asking about recorder exams as she has been hearing about exams because of her new instrument and I looked and they do indeed have them. She is desperate to 'get a certificate' for it... It's also good practise, right?

Can anyone advise?

You can take exams on the recorder. Look up both ABRSM and Trinity Guildhall as they both have descant recorder on their syllabus. However, the exams themselves are not cheap and for recorder, you would need an accompanist, so you would not get much change out of £50 for grade 1.

If your DD wants a certificate, what about the performing arts festivals? I think they are much cheaper to enter and the ones round here give every entrant a certificate. They also have festival accompanists who would be willing to play for your child. My older DD was entered for one of these about 12 years ago by her then cello teacher. DD played ok, (her teacher accompanied her) and she was placed 3rd in the class (out of 3). She was quite upset by this, but I was proud of her just for having a go. When we got back to school, her teacher asked how she got on, and she replied "I came 3rd." He was ecstatic and showed off her certificate to the class etc. She kept quiet about the size of the class

Could she progress onto a wind instrument- flute oboe etc. This would give her more scope going forward for orchestras.

Ideally, it would be good to get a term of lessons to prepare for Grade 1. I will do my best to help if you are in the south west. Applications are due in imminently, for exams in November/ December.

They're worth doing. But they aren't cheap.

Could you speak to your local music service (assuminh one still exists in some format in your county) as they will often have days of exams as a centre and can provide accompanists for the day for a cheaper rate than getting someone yourself.