I'm hoping to enter an autistic 10 year old boy for grade 5 next term. It's his first ever exam and he's been having lessons with me for a year. He's an amazing kid, can play the pieces without reading a note of music. I know that he'll get dispensation for the sight-reading, being special needs, and he is excellent at playing back a melody, but what about the sight-singing part of the aural? As he can't read music, he can't do it, doesn't like singing and refuses to try. Has anyone else had a special-needs pupil in a similar situation? If no-one knows I'll write to the Board.

In terms of the sight-singing in the aural, I would just drop a note to the ABRSM Special Needs co-ordinator suggesting that this boy might not be willing to undertake that particular test. OK, so he's not going to get 18 marks if he omits a bit but, if the rest of the tests are good, he's probably not going to fail the aural either.

However, you say he doesn't read music? How's he going to do the sight-reading on the piano? The only dispensation he'll get is 2-3 minutes to look at it, rather than 30 seconds. I am a bit confused by your comments here as to quite what you mean.

I agree with Noodle that TG might be a different option for him.

If in doubt, contact the Special Needs office at ABRSM for clarification.

Hope his exam goes well if he takes it.

I have just entered a 12-year-old boy for Grade 3 violin. He is dyslexic, but will still be expected to undertake all the tests. The Associated Board confirmed that he will get 3 minutes for sight-reading, and he will be allowed replays of scales. He can also take his scale book into the exam with him if I write to them to say that this would help. The examiner (I am told) will also be generally sympathetic......but none of the tests are dispensed with.

If he skips the sight-singing it's only a small part of the aural tests and shouldn't affect his marks much, but the average Grade 5 player would be expected to have a reasonable level of sight-reading ability. The best thing to do would probably be to get in touch with them (the Access Co-ordinator at the AB who deals with special needs is Louise Leigh - very pleasant and helpful) but if they are unable to help with the sight-reading issue, it does seem that the AB may not be the best route for him.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I agree with everyone else. I would seriously consider TG as it has built in flexibility and there is no sight singing in the aural. He could also choose something else instead of sightreading. That is only a temporary
reprieve though as it becomes compulsory at grade 6.

good luck with it!
Kim

He won't have to do sight-reading, he'll do extra aural instead, I know that as I entered another autistic boy for Grade 3 years ago and that's what he did. I'll stick with AB exams for now as he's learnt the G5 pieces, I''ve never used TG but maybe its an option for Grade 6.