Hello everyone

As I have said in a previous post, I am thinking in the future of the doing the ABRSM teaching diploma but would really, really like my piano playing to be at a good standard before embarking on that. I just wondered if you all think it is a good idea to do the performance diploma to concentrate on all round musicianship first and whether that will help with my teaching diploma. I just so want to be able to this properly. I'm always full of questions after I have had my piano lesson but am not seeing my teacher for another two weeks so I would be extremely grateful for any advice.

It's not really necessary. However, if you wish to go to on to do the LRSM in teaching, it could be a good idea to do the dipABRSM in piano performance before hand.

Melody Amour - go for it:)

Sometimes I wish more teachers took care of their own playing skills before embarking on making money out of others.

Hi there MA

I understand where you are coming from and I am on the same route.
For what its worth I thought I would try taking a performance/recital diploma from one of the other examining boards to try them for size, and also, frankly because I rather liked the repertoire offered.

Assuming all goes well (fingers crossed for you!) how would it work when you list your accomplishments? i.e would you use Dip ABRSM x2 or would they both be listed with (performance) and (teaching) in the relevant order?
I confess this also had a bearing on my decision to try one of the other boards.

I would also be interested to hear the views of others and how they arrived at their decisions.

Mel.

Thanks for the helpful responses. Mel, I would probably list them with ABRSM with the teaching one first when I become a teacher. I just do not want to have mediocre piano skills and thought that the first of the performance diplomas would help me avoid that because from what I have read on this board diplomas are not easy to pass and I would have to work very hard. As I have no intention of being a concert pianist, I would stop at the first performance diploma but hope to be able to do all three of the teaching diplomas.

Yes, I agree with you JohnS.

I'm a pretty incompetent pianist, so my two-penn'orth is going to be on the basis of my singing experience rather than my piano playing. But there is one thing I have found very interesting and surprising in the last couple of months, and I offer it as a different view on getting teaching and performing diplomas.

Starting to work on my teaching DipABRSM seems to be improving my singing more than working for either my ATCL or LTCL did. Obviously I'm starting from a different standard than I was then, but I'm conscious when listening to the tapes of recent rehearsal/practice sessions compared with a year ago (about to take LTCL) or two years ago (just got ATCL) that the rate of change and rate of improvement in my voice now is greater than it was previously. I think it's down to the fact that I'm having to analyse and understand my technique a lot more, rather than just getting on and singing more stuff.

In terms of hours actually spent physically practising, I'm probably doing less. On the whole, the repertoire I'm tackling is easier - I'm learning grades 1-6 stuff mainly. But I'm progressing further, even with the limited amount of new "performing" repertoire I'm studying as well as "teaching" repertoire.

My conclusion from this? Don't feel that you HAVE to have performing diplomas as well as teaching ones. You may well benefit in terms of your playing ability at least as much from the teaching diplomas.

Hi MA
I have the same plan as you...my current teacher is a technically brilliant pianist and also a really great teacher...best of both worlds

I feel if I want to teach to an equally high standard I need to tighten up on my technique. Then I will go on to the teaching diplomas. Like you I hope to do the DipABRSM in performance and then teaching to Licentiate, but with a different board. The aim is to be the best teacher I can, so my technique needs to be tip top!

As for the letters, I don't think you can use the same ones twice...certainly a friend who has dips in two instrument is purposely using different boards to avail of maximum letters!!! (some are teaching dips, some performing) There is a letters tart in us all....

I can see the point on both sides of the coin that you will still learn a lot by just doing the DipABRSM as you have have the grades 1 to 6 syllabus to concern yourself with and I can also see the other side of the coin of doing a performance dip first. I guess I will have to give it some thought and make the decision with my teacher. Thank you for all the comments