All About ABRSM Grades & Support

[phankao]

ngl2010:

The teacher did not want us to buy scales book because she wants DS to memorise all scales.
.

I thought scales supposed to memorise anyway? Or has criteria changed?

[phankao]

Dreamaurora:

I spoke to a Trinity examiner last time and he said whenever he examined ATCL or LTCL there would be definitely be quite a few trainwrecks as there is no prerequisites and anyone can take the exams. I think ATCL or LTCL are useful for students who just wish to focus on acquiring repertoire and enjoy performing. Though personally I am not sure if ignoring sight-reading or aural while preparing the diplomas is a good idea because it may lead to certificate holders who just know how to play diploma exam pieces. I think too often we hear complains about pianists who cannot improvise Happy Birthday but could play stuff such as Beethoven's Appasionata. Last time ATCL used to have ATCL(Performance) which by the way I think was an excellent certificate because it assessed more than just performance. But Trinity scraped it; I guess the lure of commercialism was too strong.

Well, ngl2010 and quite a number of parents say they prefer their kids to enjoy the music-making, right? So just master and play the pieces very well for a ATCL and then they can explore as they wish later on, lor.

The ones I know who did ATCL at 10 or 11yrs old are not the \"trainwrecks\" lah. All got distinction. hehe. If they want to develop aural, improvisation, accompaniment, they still have quite a number of years to do so, and only if they have the interest, right?

[ngl2010]

phankao:

ngl2010:

The teacher did not want us to buy scales book because she wants DS to memorise all scales.
.

I thought scales supposed to memorise anyway? Or has criteria changed?

Yup. Have to memorise. But the teacher did not want us to own scales books because she said there are patterns on the scales for the fingering. If we buy the books, DS will depend on the books and cannot see the groupings of the patterns. So she told us not to buy.

[phankao]

Dreamaurora:

ngl2010:

Btw, anybody knows where the music bookshop at Bras Basah moved to? Their book prices are very competitive.

Wait until you see the diploma prices.

You mean the bookshop at the first floor? They have moved?

I thought the music bookshop still there at the first floor behind the escalator?

Or... are you referring to the Shanghai book company? The one BEHIND the music shop? that one closed down a few years ago.

[sacredmusicals]

phankao:

sacredmusicals:

Whatever happened to one grade per year?

Eh, so tiring to do one grade per year and waste so much money. Every exam book you buy, you are making ABRSM richer and richer! And exam fees are increasing all the time!

Even scale books which were last time combined into 2 books (Grades 1-5 in 1 book and Grades 6-8 in one book) have now been split into one book for each grade... what an expense.

Err, nowadays one single piano lesson is more expensive than the materials for the grade. I still feel nothing wrong with doing one grade per year. I went through the motion every year up to my grade 8 and I never felt tired or bored. My teacher assigned me plenty of songs outside the exam syllabus and I actually liked the exam songs so taking exams were relatively painless for me.

[sunflower]

sacredmusicals:

phankao:

[quote=\"sacredmusicals\"]Whatever happened to one grade per year?

Eh, so tiring to do one grade per year and waste so much money. Every exam book you buy, you are making ABRSM richer and richer! And exam fees are increasing all the time!

Even scale books which were last time combined into 2 books (Grades 1-5 in 1 book and Grades 6-8 in one book) have now been split into one book for each grade... what an expense.

Err, nowadays one single piano lesson is more expensive than the materials for the grade. I still feel nothing wrong with doing one grade per year. I went through the motion every year up to my grade 8 and I never felt tired or bored. My teacher assigned me plenty of songs outside the exam syllabus and I actually liked the exam songs so taking exams were relatively painless for me.[/quote]Your one grade per year means taking exams every year, or just progress a grade a year without necessarily taking the exams? My take is it's quite an acceptable pace for a normal kid, but need not take exams every year. Time can be taken to do other stuff instead of focusing only on exam pieces and requirements.

[sunflower]

phankao:

Dreamaurora:

[quote=\"ngl2010\"]
Btw, anybody knows where the music bookshop at Bras Basah moved to? Their book prices are very competitive.

Wait until you see the diploma prices.

You mean the bookshop at the first floor? They have moved?

I thought the music bookshop still there at the first floor behind the escalator?

Or... are you referring to the Shanghai book company? The one BEHIND the music shop? that one closed down a few years ago.[/quote]Is it Swee Lee, the music shop that sells instruments on the 3rd level? Think it's still there, but not sure whether they sell music books though.

[KKKS]

The music bookshop in Swee Lee had been closed probably 1 - 2 years ago. They used to have a beautiful limited edition Baldwin grand piano on display with the keys in reverse black and white. I could remember that piano cost a bomb!

[sunflower]

phankao:

Dreamaurora:

I spoke to a Trinity examiner last time and he said whenever he examined ATCL or LTCL there would be definitely be quite a few trainwrecks as there is no prerequisites and anyone can take the exams. I think ATCL or LTCL are useful for students who just wish to focus on acquiring repertoire and enjoy performing. Though personally I am not sure if ignoring sight-reading or aural while preparing the diplomas is a good idea because it may lead to certificate holders who just know how to play diploma exam pieces. I think too often we hear complains about pianists who cannot improvise Happy Birthday but could play stuff such as Beethoven's Appasionata. Last time ATCL used to have ATCL(Performance) which by the way I think was an excellent certificate because it assessed more than just performance. But Trinity scraped it; I guess the lure of commercialism was too strong.

Well, ngl2010 and quite a number of parents say they prefer their kids to enjoy the music-making, right? So just master and play the pieces very well for a ATCL and then they can explore as they wish later on, lor.

The ones I know who did ATCL at 10 or 11yrs old are not the \"trainwrecks\" lah. All got distinction. hehe. If they want to develop aural, improvisation, accompaniment, they still have quite a number of years to do so, and only if they have the interest, right?

Sight-reading and improvisation are very important practical skills, which students could carry with them throughout life. With these skills, they’ll enjoy making music and playing the instrument more, than having to struggle to play the music fluently.

I think these skills should be trained concurrently with mastering the techniques for exam pieces. This will make a person a more rounded musician, be it for self-enjoyment, music appreciation or professionally.

[sunflower]

KKKS:

The music bookshop in Swee Lee had been closed probably 1 - 2 years ago. They used to have a beautiful limited edition Baldwin grand piano on display with the keys in reverse black and white. I could remember that piano cost a bomb!

Oh! So Swee Lee used to sell books IN their music shop? It's a pity they close that section.