ABRSM Initial Grade Piano

HiJan23 · 2023-01-28T22:50:23+00:00

Hi all Has anyone/DC taken the ABRSM "Initial Grade" in piano? Is this a new thing? I played piano to grade 5 as a child (>25yrs ago) and don't remember hearing about this grade. DC is learning now, started with online during lockdown, now on F2F and I've had a look at the grade 1 pieces and DC will not be ready for these for some time I don't think...they seem a lot harder than I remember grade 1 being! Is this new "initial grade" basically like the old grade 1? I am thinking of entering DC for initial grade but is it worth it? It would be nice from an "achievement" point of view but welcome everyone's thoughts/experiences with this....

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StillWantingADog · 28/01/2023 22:52

hi
its been around since I was a child as I did it age 6 or so (I’m now 44!)
thwre are two pre-grade one levels for Abrsm, prep test and initial. My son did prep test which is a good intro (and not possible to fail!) then went straight to grade 1 missing out the initial. Look at
both prep test and initial, I think it would probably be unusual to do both but agree that grade 1 is actually quite hard.

StillWantingADog · 28/01/2023 22:54

ps my dad has taught piano for years and he doesn’t feel that grade 1 is any harder than it used to be. Prep test is newish but initial is not.

Original poster

HiJan23 · 28/01/2023 23:06

Hi @StillWantingADog
Thanks so much for your message!
That's really useful info. Funny how I hadn't heard of it! I went straight to grade 1 but I was a lot older than DC when I started...will defo look into prep test too and make a decision between the two. Prep test to grade 1 sounds like it could be good for DC. Thanks! :)

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Mumnemumm · 30/01/2023 00:25

Initial grade is actually a new exam and was introduced only couple of years back. It's a good introduction to exams if your child would like to take it.

Original poster

HiJan23 · 31/01/2023 06:48

Mumnemumm · 30/01/2023 00:25

Initial grade is actually a new exam and was introduced only couple of years back. It's a good introduction to exams if your child would like to take it.

Hiya,
Thank you! I just did a google search (no idea why I didn't do that first LOL!) and managed to find that it started in 2021, so pretty new afterall! Still undecided as to whether DC should sit it or aim straight for grade 1 but will have a chat with the music teacher for their opinion. I think it would be a nice little boost of confidence to pass it and then work towards Grade 1.

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Simplelobsterhat · 31/01/2023 06:58

My daughter did initial grade last year and got a merit, which was a real boost to her confidence and enthusiasm. She is now preparing for grade 1.

I was a bit worried about letting her do exams at all as back in the day I failed grade 1 after finding doing the exam terrifying and it ended up putting me off piano. But she wanted to do exams so I was glad there was an easier first step.

StillWantingADog · 31/01/2023 07:22

thinking about it further I must have done the trinity exam board one c 1984. So the concept has been around a while but Abrsm version is new.

Original poster

HiJan23 · 31/01/2023 16:52

Simplelobsterhat · 31/01/2023 06:58

My daughter did initial grade last year and got a merit, which was a real boost to her confidence and enthusiasm. She is now preparing for grade 1.

I was a bit worried about letting her do exams at all as back in the day I failed grade 1 after finding doing the exam terrifying and it ended up putting me off piano. But she wanted to do exams so I was glad there was an easier first step.

Thanks for this.
How old is your DC if you don't mind me asking? I do worry about the pressure being too much at such a young age!!! It's great if they pass...
I guess it's all part of the journey as I would like for DC to do grades so have to start somewhere.

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Original poster

HiJan23 · 31/01/2023 16:53

StillWantingADog · 31/01/2023 07:22

thinking about it further I must have done the trinity exam board one c 1984. So the concept has been around a while but Abrsm version is new.

Ah ok...I don't know much about the trinity exam board...abrsm seems to be the more popular one (we are in London) but I could be wrong...

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Simplelobsterhat · 31/01/2023 16:59

HiJan23 · 31/01/2023 16:52

Thanks for this.
How old is your DC if you don't mind me asking? I do worry about the pressure being too much at such a young age!!! It's great if they pass...
I guess it's all part of the journey as I would like for DC to do grades so have to start somewhere.

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She's just turned 13, was 12 when she did the first exam, so relatively old to be starting out I think. Older than I was anyway which again I think was a good thing in her case.

I do think grades give them something to aim for and focus on, as long as there isn't too much pressure, and they can just play for fun if they prefer.

Original poster

HiJan23 · 31/01/2023 17:47

Simplelobsterhat · 31/01/2023 16:59

She's just turned 13, was 12 when she did the first exam, so relatively old to be starting out I think. Older than I was anyway which again I think was a good thing in her case.

I do think grades give them something to aim for and focus on, as long as there isn't too much pressure, and they can just play for fun if they prefer.

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That's actually a great age. I started at 10 and think the maturity really helped with exams. I also think it's easier to progress quickly when a bit older. I agree grades are great to keep the focus. I'll try to make it as stress-free as possible though.

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KittyWithStripes · 01/02/2023 10:18

HiJan23 · 31/01/2023 17:47

That's actually a great age. I started at 10 and think the maturity really helped with exams. I also think it's easier to progress quickly when a bit older. I agree grades are great to keep the focus. I'll try to make it as stress-free as possible though.

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My DD has just turned 9, and did the Initial exam last term, after 3 years of piano lessons and a previously very half-hearted attitude towards practicing... it was wonderful for giving her a focus and a goal to work towards, it really motivated her in a good way to practice more, and massively built her confidence when she passed with merit. It was transformational for her. It's WAY easier than Grade 1 which she's now about to embark on. I would highly recommend it as a gentle introduction to managing exam pressure.

Original poster

HiJan23 · 01/02/2023 12:16

KittyWithStripes · 01/02/2023 10:18

My DD has just turned 9, and did the Initial exam last term, after 3 years of piano lessons and a previously very half-hearted attitude towards practicing... it was wonderful for giving her a focus and a goal to work towards, it really motivated her in a good way to practice more, and massively built her confidence when she passed with merit. It was transformational for her. It's WAY easier than Grade 1 which she's now about to embark on. I would highly recommend it as a gentle introduction to managing exam pressure.

Show quote history

Thanks so much for this! It's so reassuring to hear, as my DC isn't terribly enthused about practising but when given the option of stopping lessons....refuses to stop!!! I think having a goal to work towards will help. Grade 1 seems so much trickier than when I took it, so I'm glad there's a gentler first step into the exams.

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Original poster

HiJan23 · 01/02/2023 12:19

Did your DC use the piano for young beginner Primer A and Primer B books? Would you say after primer B is a good time to start working on initial grade level pieces?

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Dynamix · 01/02/2023 12:24

It's definitely new (last few years) for ABRSM. In all honesty, I wouldn't bother with it unless your child is very young (5 or 6yo) or particularly nervous. Probably an unpopular opinion on here, but if it takes 2/3 years before doing a prep / initial test then your child should be practicing more regularly if they want to take exams / make any progress on the piano at all.

KittyWithStripes · 01/02/2023 13:24

Dynamix · 01/02/2023 12:24

It's definitely new (last few years) for ABRSM. In all honesty, I wouldn't bother with it unless your child is very young (5 or 6yo) or particularly nervous. Probably an unpopular opinion on here, but if it takes 2/3 years before doing a prep / initial test then your child should be practicing more regularly if they want to take exams / make any progress on the piano at all.

I get what you're saying, but at my DD's school - small, non-hothouse, non-pushy London prep - nearly everyone does an instrument from Y1, lessons are 1-to-1 during school hours, and she was getting a bit lost and left behind, compared to other kids with more drive (or pushier parents).

If you're starting at a later age then that's different, I'm just describing the reality for her school.

Having the Initial grade exam really changed how she felt about piano, it gave just the right amount of impetus without being overwhelmingly too hard. She's now in the right frame of mind to start Grade 1 prep.

Her teacher entered her for the exam and just emailed us to day "DD's exam is on X day, here are the pieces she's going to do etc". We had no say in it at all, but was just the push that was needed :) and we are all much more focused on regular practice, now that she knows the rewards that come from actually progressing and passing tests and how good it made her feel.