Hello there, I hope you are well!
The Piano ABRSM examinations was held in June and we are pleased to know that everyone did well in the examinations and received the certification they aimed to obtain.
Examinations are not the only route to take during the course of instrument learning, but for those who do, it is a sizable challenge for children and their families as there is a lot of aspects covered in the examination, which meant that the children and their families persevered with practice and perfecting the things that they needed to do. ABRSM examiners are also known to be strict, and it is an achievement to receive certification for this.
Minim Music Academy Piano teachers are trained in the certification and only offer them to start the preparations when we see that the child may be ready to take it.
What is ABRSM Certification?
ABRSM stands for the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music, and it is the UK's largest music body and the world's leading provider of music exams.
They offer instrument and music theory certification from Grades 1 - 8, and these certification are accepted for entry in to music schools and universities. Music universities and music teaching facilities usually look to see if the person applying for this position has a ABRSM Grade 5 and above.
More information can be found here: https://jp.abrsm.org/en/about-us/
Minim's stance on ABRSM exams
At Minim, all our piano instructors have gone through the ABRSM examinations and we know the difficulty of obtaining this certification, as well as the benefits this certification can bring.
We understand that the learning journey for all our music students are different, and we encourage students to pursue their respective interests and routes.
We give the children the option to take ABRSM certification only when parents request it, or they have advanced naturally to be ready for a higher grade certification.
For example, the child has learnt piano for a while and seems ready to take on a Grade 3 certification, but has never taken piano exams before. We would offer this to parents for them to consider.
We usually first offer an ABRSM grade option when the child is ready to take on a Grade 3 examination. This usually means that they have learnt the piano for about 5-7 years with us and has practiced consistently.
If we do get the green light to proceed with preparation, we have a timetable of learning ready for the child to start.
From our experience, we have seen that children who embarked on the piano certification journey do see a significant improvement in their instrument skills, as they have to perfect a large range of syllabus, and there is a lot to memorise as well. This pushes them to set foundation on the instrument and come out of the experience playing the piano at a higher standard.
Exam preparation can get frustrating at times, and Minim is extremely careful to make the preparation process as smooth and manageable for the children and their families. Constant communication is essential throughout the process.
Details of exam preparation
It takes 8 - 18 months to prepare for an exam.
The syllabus for all grade covers:
- Scales played with hands separately and hands together (Major and Minor scales, Arpeggios, Contrary Motion)
- 3 song pieces from the examination book (this book changes every 2 years)
- Aural examination (4 different sections)
- Sight reading to 1 song chosen at random
We have a timetable to help families visualise the process and what is needed to be done. We then proceed to slowly introduce the syllabus according to the timetable and families do their best to ensure that children can achieve the lesson goals.
Once again, congratulations to the children and families for obtaining the certification this year! We took on the challenge together, and we conquered.
We look forward to our next music challenge!
Till next time!
Love from all of us in Minim
