Hi all, can any body tell me whether the 'piece' that is to be played from the prep test is to be played from memory or from the written material. If it is from memory i will not enter any students for the prep test i will rather boycot it and work towards grade 1.

No, it's only the short exercises that are played from memory-and they're really easy to memorise-I've never had a student who's had any problems with them. The pieces are to be played with the music.

Don't boycott the prep test - it is really brilliant because there is no pass or fail, so you get a certificate no matter what! It gives a younger person who is taking a long time to get to grade 1 a real sense of purpose and achievement.

I don't bother with it if my pupil would get to grade 1 anyway in a year from starting.

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Don't boycott the prep test

I'm interested you say this, because I find it quite hard to sell the prep test to parents - they seem interested only in getting their kids to the first "proper" exam.

Very few of mine take grade one within the first year, so it might be useful ....... but "grade one" seems to be the magic phrase.

Maybe parents round here are a bit more ...erm ... pushy??

Maggie

I have found that parents of younger children (under 10) think that prep test is a good thing.

I use the Prep test for most of my beginners during their first year of lessons. I have convinced the parents that it is best to enter, and use it as a friendly intro to exam tkaing before the more formal grades.
The pupils love having the certifacate on the day. Many of my adult pupils have taken the test and then decide whether they want to go for the grades or just an assessment.
I would, however like the board to introduce some more set pieces. I have had enough of Boating and Joggin!

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but "grade one" seems to be the magic phrase.

I have never had a problem with parents about the prep test - they seem pleased that their child is doing an "exam" . Actually I wish there were more pre-grade 1 exams in the Associated Board, as I do have a couple of pupils who will be a full three and a half years from starting to grade 1, and I could have done with another "step" for them! With Guildhall there is an Initial and a Prep exam before grade 1.

If you compare with guitar where they have 13 steps before grade 1, and they get a ribbon for each one, they get a lot of satisfaction out of these during the early stages. (I don't know which board or what this is).