All About ABRSM Grades & Support

[Serendipity]

Good for you too, i3mum! :celebrate:

[vapourlife]

Serendipity, just in case you are interested, ABRSM offers 'Prep Test' for those who would like to have an experience, and Grade 1 seems overwhelming.


URL: http://www.abrsm.org/exams/prepTest/index.html

There is no pass or fail, no marks awarded, just positive comments written on the cert.

[Serendipity]

Wow, that's interesting! Thanks for sharing, vapourlife!

[i3mum]

Same to you too!

Serendipity:

Good for you too, i3mum! :celebrate:

[metz]

My child is currently under a foreign music system. We have plans for her to take the ABRSM exam when we return to SG next year. However, the system here does not follow ABRSM. The following are her two recent pieces (before a 2-months break). Can somebody please advise me on the equivalent ABRSM level of these piano pieces? ABRSM Grade 2? Thanks.



http://i55.tinypic.com/i1fspk.jpg\"> http://i56.tinypic.com/160u3yr.jpg\">


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The Entertainer
http://i53.tinypic.com/21d1ogx.jpg\"> http://i53.tinypic.com/iw5c1k.jpg\">http://i54.tinypic.com/2hec20i.jpg\">

[metz]

Can any music teacher help?

[pumpkin_pie]

Hi Chamonix,


This piece seems like grade 3 standard.

[peanut_butter]

1st piece: I am assuming it’s around Grade 2-3 level.


Entertainer: Since both hands are playing the same thing an octave apart, plus it’s a familiar tune, the pianist could read from the lower stave and duplicate. A late Grade 1 student could manage it.

Hi chamonix, may I know which system is your child doing?

[metz]

Hi, pumpkin-pie and peanut_butter, your responses are very much appreciated. Thank you.


Hi peanut_butter,

The Entertainer piece is a 4-hands performance piece with her brother. It's relatively simple for her since the notes duplicate in both staves. (The teacher required her to practise separate hands initially, so she learnt to read both staves when working on the first page. Subsequently, she realised the two staves are duplicates, she just relied on the upper stave.) The difficult part is getting my two kids playing together without hiccups and in time.

Erm, how do you classify a late Grade 1?

My kids are following the French system. There are no books for them to work on. Instead, their teacher will find pieces from her music books for them. So, it's rather difficult for me to guage the level they are at or if they are progressing.


Peanut_butter/Pumpkin-pie,

Another question, at what grade are students required to play octaves together? My son is currently working on this short piece - Petite Sonate by G.F. Haendel. Very often, he needs to stretch his fingers to reach both octave notes together in Bass clef. Because of his small palm, I see his pinky and thumb resting at the edge of the white keys. Is that the normal practice?

[peanut_butter]

chamonix:

Erm, how do you classify a late Grade 1?

Someone who could pick up grade 1 exam pieces rather independently and decently within 7 months or someone who had completed books like John Thompson at Grade 1 level.

I wouldn't worry about the grading part if they are following the Europe system. I give some of my late beginners-intermediate students the same set of etudes, to work on different problems, when they are not rushing for exams. How well the student plays a simple piece could determine their level. Check out on youtube for Für Elise from different players. You will hear the differences.

chamonix:

Another question, at what grade are students required to play octaves together? My son is currently working on this short piece - Petite Sonate by G.F. Haendel. Very often, he needs to stretch his fingers to reach both octave notes together in Bass clef. Because of his small palm, I see his pinky and thumb resting at the edge of the white keys. Is that the normal practice?

This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHSC6lHzRIQ)? Nice piece.

If the practice is not causing strain on his wrist and up onwards, I think it should be OK. His hands (not wrist) may hurt but he will get used to the pain and the left hand will grow bigger.