Flute Teaching Dipabrsm/atcl Options

[margie]

Hello! Sounds ironic, however are there teachers that teach/advise for the teaching DipABRSM? Or is very possible to do it on your own? I've been teaching full time for 2 and a half years.

Also, what are the differences between the DipABRSM and the ATCL - is one seen as better than the other?

Thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[margie]

I did the DipABRSM in Piano Teaching earlier this year - I didn't really have any help with it and I haven't got a piano teacher. It seemed pretty straight forward to me.

Similarly, six years ago I did the CertGSMD(T) in Flute Teaching before it was replaced by the ATCL. Again, no help there.

Theoretically, the DipABRSM and ATCL are acredited at the same level, but there are obvioulsy differences in the syllabi. My feeling is that the ATCL (as was the CertGSMD) is most suited to those with little or no experience of teaching - someone who is really just starting out. To me, although it doesn't say so, the DipABRSM does need some experience of teaching and is much more a test of teaching skills.

In part, it depends what you hope to get out of it. The ATCL seems very relfective to me (observing others etc.) whereas the DipABRSM is more practical. Just my opinion though...

Have you looked at the DipLCM(TD)? Again, that's the same level as the other two, and the syllabus is slightly different.

David

I did the DipABRSM in Piano Teaching earlier this year - I didn't really have any help with it and I haven't got a piano teacher. It seemed pretty straight forward to me.

Similarly, six years ago I did the CertGSMD(T) in Flute Teaching before it was replaced by the ATCL. Again, no help there.

Theoretically, the DipABRSM and ATCL are acredited at the same level, but there are obvioulsy differences in the syllabi. My feeling is that the ATCL (as was the CertGSMD) is most suited to those with little or no experience of teaching - someone who is really just starting out. To me, although it doesn't say so, the DipABRSM does need some experience of teaching and is much more a test of teaching skills.

In part, it depends what you hope to get out of it. The ATCL seems very relfective to me (observing others etc.) whereas the DipABRSM is more practical. Just my opinion though...

Have you looked at the DipLCM(TD)? Again, that's the same level as the other two, and the syllabus is slightly different.

David

Thanks David for your advice. I think I shall probably continue then with the DipABRSM, as I've been teaching for over 2 years and can probably pull on experience. Did you find that they stick to the syllabus quite closely in terms of areas of questions etc?

Lizzie

[margaret]

Hi Margie

Yes, I would agree with dcmbarton that it is possible to prepare these diplomas on your own. I did all of them without help BUT I wish I had had some guidance or support along the way. I think I would have felt a little bit more confident. I would say it is particularly helpful to have support when preparing for the LRSM. My own lack of support was one reason I started to offer progressional guidance for these diplomas. I have probably helped around 30+ people by now - mostly DipABRSM but about half a dozen LRSM diplomas including singing and flute.

Good luck with your preparation.

www.diplomasupport.pianotuition.com if you want more details.

[katyjay]

Hi Margie

I did the DipABRSM with support from my own singing teacher. I think whoever you're currently going to, to keep your own technique fresh, is going to be a good starting point.

What my teacher did was to make me analyse my own technique in my performance repertoire, and the technique of some of his other pupils whose lessons I was allowed to observe, and he also encouraged me to sing through a large proportion of the grade 1-6 repertoire, analysing what features made it a piece for this grade or that.

He was also an excellent sounding-board when I had issues I didn't know how to handle with my own pupils.

The other thing he did was to fire all sorts of difficult questions at me at random throughout my own singing lessons, which was a LOT tougher than anything they asked in the Viva.

My teacher didn't have any input into my essay (although he did recommend some useful books for it) other than to say "Eighteen hundred words, is that all?" while I was saying "Eighteen hundred words! How on earth am I going to write that much?" As you'll have guessed, the essay was my biggest hurdle to overcome in doing the Dip. I think it's important to choose a subject early on, and start the reading as soon as you can. Have you had any thoughts on which one you'll do?

I found that doing the teaching diploma did more to improve my technique and understanding than my performance diplomas did, so it was a very worthwhile exercise.

Best of luck with it