On an American Piano teachers forum, they've been discussing the ABRSM jazz exams and it's Jazz Piano: the Complete method. Published by Hal Leonard in Association with ABRSM Publishing.

I have to say....I'm gobsmacked. The 'blurb' states

Within each level there are 15 pieces, aural tests, quick studies, scales, arpeggios and a CD.

Similar cover, though stating Level 1 etc instead of Grade 1. All for $12.95 (approx £6.81)

Can't seem to find it over here in the UK.

ABRSM would dream of trying to rip off their loyal subjects here in the UK, by selling each thing seperately yet allowing others abroad to buy a complete version for a fraction of the price...would they??

Blurb and picture of book found here

Anyone else seen them in the UK?

So in the UK to get the complete "Level 1" you'd have to buy the pieces for £4-50, the CD for £6-38, one third of the Aural grades 1-3 @ £5.50/3 = £1.83, one fifth of the quick studies grades 1-5 @ £4.50/5 = £0.90 and one fifth of the scales grades 1-5 @ £3.25/5 = £0.65

So in total £14.26, a little over the dollar price.

Given that it's not unusual for consumer goods to cost the same in $ in the US as £ in the UK, and that there will be limited demand in the US from students taking exams, so the demand will need to be driven more by competitive pricing, the pricing strategy doesn't seem unreasonable.

You could look at it another way, the cost of putting these things together is largely fixed - obtaining the material. By using an existing asset to generate additional revenue the ABRSM could have more money to spend in developing and extending the syllabi, which will largely benefit those in the UK.

Looks interesting - and tidy all in one book - we have some friends in the US, I might ask them to post it.