I've just noticed LCM has brought out postal performance exams. I can think of several of my pupils who are too timid to take an actual exam who might be tempted to let me record them.

I think you just need to do the three pieces - see http://www.uwl.ac.uk/lcmexams/performance_Awards.jsp
They're much cheaper than exams in person too.

Does it have to be an auto-run DVD I.e. You put it in the computer or DVD player and it automatically plays or even has a menu, or can it be a DVD disc with a movie file such as .avi or .mov on it that the examiner selects to view? I only ask as making a DVD is quite fiddly and time consuming, but burning a file straight off the camera onto a disc is no bother at all!

If you download the syllabus you will see the notes say the DVD must be capable of being played on a standard DVD player (so not a .avi or .mov etc).

That sounds like a really useful option. I hope that AB start doing this.

I'm sure that'll be a faff the first few times but it's something I'd like to learn how to do anyway. It would be wonderful to be able to send a home-made DVD of my family to some elderly relatives, for example.

I think it's fab. I've already altered my exam entry parent letter. I think for the kids who have lessons in school it will suit the parents to have it all done in lesson time. Plus cheaper, plus as many times as possible to get it right!

Also I'm going to use it myself to test the water on some of my minor instruments and styles! Fab!

Well, half the price of a grade exam so you might not want to do the same one too many times. I agree it looks useful for those who like the idea of an external assessment but don't want to do all the supporting tests and aren't bothered about getting the grade certificate. I'm sure it will suit a lot of adult learners.

It's ok if you have the equipment.
I'd be happy if leisure play was available on all instruments.
I was hoping to suggest this to a clarinet student who has clarinet as a second instrument. He doesn't particularly want to do exam on clarinet but his granddad is keen for him to have reasons to perfect pieces.

I didn't mean enter lots of times, I meant re-record lots of times

I think these are an excellent idea, and I can see that they would definitely appeal to some super-nervous adult candiates. I can also see their value for teachers who want an independent assessment of their skills, for example, on a second instrument. They won't suit everyone, but then no exam will do that. I think that LCM have been quite bold in offering this - I can't see it being anything the AB choose to do anytime soon!

OK, I'm a bit nervous about the technology, but I don't think it's impossible, and would be useful to learn anyway.

I have slight reservations about it at the moment. I'm sure we've all had pupils, and parents, who've found the sight-reading, aural and/or scales tedious and - to them - irrelevant, and have asked "why can't we have an exam which is just for how well you can play your music?"

Since it now seems you can, why would anyone bother to get themselves examined in the supporting tests? Maybe they're a vital part of showing yourself to be a well-rounded musician, but the pupils/parents I mentioned above are quite likely to say "but I don't want to be a well-rounded musician, whatever that is, I just want to be a violinist/clarinettist/pianist"

Particularly in the lower grades, what is to prevent the all-rounder music exam from falling out of favour completely? After all, you get a certificate for this Performance assessment just as you do for the "proper" grade. There may be certain institutions which will only accept the "all-rounder" qualification, but will this soon only be something people bother with if they are wanting to go on to further training?

'Tis the beginning o' the end, I tell ye!

But you have already been able to do this for some time with LCM with their "leisure play" exams.

Totally agree, and for the TG certificates. I'm not really sure where does one start in answering such a question. The simple answer is that all pupils are different, and for whatever reason, these other exams suit them better than others. I think this is particularly the case for adult learners who often have very different aims and aspirations. I think it's fantastic to have such a choice now. If you want to find out more about the Leisure Play exams and why they are so valuable (and I'm sure much of the same would apply to the Performance Awards), then there was an excellent article in a recent edition of LCM's Forte magazine. If it's any consolation to you linda.ff, the majority still opt for the standard graded exams, and those that don't always have a valid and positive reason for choosing something else. All the pupils I've entered for anything other than the standard graded exams have not opted for something else because they don't 'like' the supporting tests.

['Tis the beginning o' the end, I tell ye!
[/quote]


I agree and have visions of, in the future, this being the way forward and no one being required to turn up for exams to save costs. Also - and I know you teachers on this forum would not do this - what is to stop someone else playing the pieces and passing it off as the candidate's. Obviously you can tell a grade 8 player from a grade 1, but I still think there could be problems.

I'm sorry, but I don't agree with this. The leisure play exams and the performance awards will account for a tiny tiny tiny percentage of people taking exams all over the world each year. They will not replace the traditional graded exams in our lifetimes, and I don't think any of us would want them too. They are different, they have a different emphases and they appeal to different people. I think that in some ways, it's not even worth comparing them to the graded exams.

The question of someone turning up and passing themselves off as the candidate could equally apply to the traditional graded exams - certainly with AB, there's nothing to stop this. LCM now ask for photo ID on the day, and this goes for the leisure play exams too... Even with the performance awards you're entry form has to be signed and witnessed.

They ask for photo ID for everyone?
That's bad.
I have a thing about places asking for this sort of ID when having photo ID is not universal in this country.
There are plenty of people with neither photo driving licence nor passport which are the usual forms of photo ID.

Plenty of people seem to do the exams for the UCAS points, even knowing that points offers aren't all that common. As a result, the accredited exams that get you points will probably always remain a more recognised pathway than the alternatives. But, I think it is great that the alternatives are there for those who prefer them - for whatever reason!

Don't apologise, Seer Green. It is nice to have healthy disagreement as that is how one learns from another's point of view.

Totally agree with this - I produce my Readers' Ticket for the National Archives for Photo ID - it's just about the only thing I have!

I might have my first candidate! I have a pupil who was about to enter LCM grade 3 this term - but he's had to miss a few lessons due to work. He's cancelled again tonight. If he doesn't at least pay the exam fee in the next week then I won't enter him (just a policy of mine - I don't pay exam fees. Ever.)

Since his pieces are nearly there, if he doesn't enter for grade 3 then I'll be suggesting going down the DVD route and at least getting some exam feedback before moving on as we've covered all the technical work for the grade and it would be dull to wait until Easter.

When new ideas like this are implemented do people think that whoever first came up with the idea should get some sort of recognition/credit for it?

Well, I have to say I was excited to see this as I have an adult singing pupil who is also a school teacher and therefore can't easily take exams she has to attend. She is also quite unsure about the concept of exams per se. However, I could see this suiting her because it means she could do the final performances when she's ready, in an environment that is comfortable, and most importantly on a day when she doesn't have to be in school teaching maths!

I still make her learn the aural and sight-singing aspects of music, and a good teacher could easily assess these on the same day as making the recording. (I actually have to say, I don't know how I would teach singing without teaching the "well-rounded" skills, but that's beside the point).

So, mostly, thanks to the OP for letting me know about this!

Do they have to record all the pieces in the same sitting? Or is it possible to do them on different days? Maybe learn each one and the record it and go on to the next? They'd know, even if you carefully wore the same clothes all the time, because things lke the light would be different, or what you had lying on the sofa in the background etc.