Music grades exam preparation in Berlin

[MeeMinnie]

Hi!
I post it from Berlin :-). We are planning to move to London next summer and now organising schools etc. Our DD ist already 19 and DS is now 15.
The DS is playing cello and at the moment visiting a local school which offer brilliant music lessons and playing at a youth orchestra.
He wants to carry on his music but he hasn't got any music grades. We must prepare him soon, so that we can apply his place. I found already ABRSM offers exam in Berlin.
What I don't know is, does he need extra preparation for ABRSM exam? Both parents don't play any instrument and also music teacher in Berlin don't know much about it.
I appreciate any input! Thank you in advance.

Good luck with your preparations for moving. There's loads of information about the Abram exams on their website, you can even watch a whole exam through and have a go at marking. There are criteria for all the elements which you can read. The teacher will need to be familiar with these to help prepare. There's a music thread you can join too, lots of parents with children at all stages.

For most orchestras and schools he doesn't need to have actually done a graded exam. If you post a list of the pieces he is currently playing we can give you an idea of what sort of grade these pieces would fit into.

Many orchestras and schools will ask for players to be 'Grade 8 standard' for example but as long as you are playing and sight-reading at this standard, that will be sufficient.

If he does want to do a graded exam, you just need to make sure that he can fulfil all of the requirements of the syllabus for that grade (so for a face-to-face exam, play one piece from each of the three lists, the ability to play the scales for that grade from memory and the ability to sight-read. He would need some specific preparation for the aural tests as the vast majority of students need to practise these).

The scales and sight test need to be prepared for as well as the pieces. There's lots on info on their website. What exam is he doing? Grade 6 and up requires grade 5 theory to be taken

Thank you for quick response!
Yes I will look up their website. I did indeed but the amount of information was so overwhelming...

By the way now he is playing with his private tutor:

• Bach Suite Nr.3 Prelude
• Gabriel Feure, Elegie

I don't know what this indicate...

I think I get someone to explain all to him. I've really no idea.
I will have a look at music thread too :-)

I think in your place I'd just say he's ABRSM grade 8 standard on applications, anything that's serious about music will audition anyway. They won't expect him to have ABRSM exams coming from a different system, not everyone does them in the UK either.
Think G8, the faure is something I've seen g8 or post g8 players play. If you/he/teacher have a look at the syllabus lists I expect you'll spot other pieces he knows.

If you wanted to though - pieces fine, scales he probably plays already you just need to read instructions carefully for bowings and rhythms expected, sight reading you can get a book to practice the sort of length/styles they use, aural tests you can get a book and CD to practice (or maybe there's an app too?). There's also performance grades where you just play 4 pieces from the syllabus as a kind of recital, that may be easier for a student and teacher unfamiliar with the system.

Thanks @thirdfiddle!
Wow good to know that he is actually doing very good!! I like listing him practicing, but I never know where his level is. Recently he's getting into music more seriously and I would like support him. Music can bridge any boundaries!

You won't need any exam grades.

My DD is on a music scholarship at school and does a lot of music things outside school. She plays 4 instruments and only ever took a couple of grades in one (not her first or second instruments).

We have never been asked for exam certificates, only for an approximation of what grade level she is at. They have always been much more interested in what she can actually do at audition.

The only thing I would recommend - especially if your DS is planning to study music at school - is doing the ABRSM G5 Music Theory. There are loads of online courses available and the exam can be sat online.

@OhCrumbsWhereNow that's assuring to hear. Meantime I got in touch with a person from ABRSM in Berlin. She also recommended the ABRSM G5 Music.

@MeeMinnie do you mind if I pm you a question about Berlin please?

@houselikeashed sure, anytime!

Most groups/ensembles will not demand an exam certificate. The exam grades give an indication of the level expected - it's a really useful measure, but some people don't do the exams but still have an idea of roughly what grade they are. That may be more the case since covid - certainly my DD gave up on exams then and didn't bother returning.

The Faure is currently set for grade 8, and I think that cello suite movement has been previously - currently cello grade 8 lists the prelude from the first suite, and viola grade 8 has the prelude from the second suite.

It may be best to contact whoever runs the local youth music ensembles, but you'll probably find that either they hold auditions, or they'll be happy to run with "he's about grade 8".

You can do Grade 8 ABRSM in person (that is scales, 3 pieces, aural and sightreading) OR you can do Grade 8 ABRSM performance exam (that is 4 pieces from the syllabus videoed all in 1 take with an accompanist if they are accompanied pieces).
The first 1 I strongly suggest practice in Aural - there is an ABRSM aural app you can download.

If he has never done ABRSM exams, maybe the performance video is easier? How good are his scales?

Finally, you cannot do Grade 6 ABRSM and above unless you have already done Grade 5 Music Theory ABRSM. This is now an online exam. I do not know if is is just in English, you would have to check. You can order the books with answer books online. The series is called “Discovering Music Theory” (available Grade 1-5).

There is also an alternative exam board called Trinity that also does Grade 8 and there is no requirement to do Music Theory.

Where will your children go to university? Have you checked out what fees are payable?!