I'm sure there'll be a thread on here somewhere about these but I haven't been able to find it. I've been looking into the alternatives that are available to the standard graded exams and wondered if anyone has any experience of AB's Performance Assessment, Trinity's Music Certificate or LCM's strangely named Leisure Play exams. Basically, did you find them useful, do you think they are worth the money to do them? Any thoughts/comments welcome.

I have done AB performance assessments in singing and piano. I found them very helpful with very constructive comments and feedback from the examiners.

In the singing assessment the examiner removed my music from the music stand! He explained afterwards that I knew the piece and therefore didn't need the music!

For adult pupils who are very nervous, who categorically won't do exams, or who want to try something out before a 'proper' exam, then the AB Performance Assessment is very useful. The choice of repertoire is entirely up to you, and I usually reckon you can get in 4-5 pieces in the 15 minute slot. The examiner produces a written report which you take away afterwards. Some like to chat at the beginning to find out what sort of feedback you're looking for, and all are very encouraging. They are certainly worth the money in my opinion. Everyone who I've entered for the Performance Assessment has gone on, of their own choice, to do a 'proper' exam in a future session - for most it was the reassurance of an indpendent person which was needed more than anything else.

I have used the TG Certificate exams once, and it was a disaster. To me, it is still unclear what is expected and what levels they are pitched at, and I know others have found this too. I've always felt with TG that these exams are a bit of an afterthought and despite countless revisions, have not really been thought through.

Like the Peformance Assessment, I have also used the LCM Leisure Play exams a lot, mostly with adult pupils. These are effectively a 'normal' exam, but requiring just the performance of a set number of pieces. Usually, some of these can be from the syllabus, and some can be free choice. They are marked the same as the graded exams, and unlike the the Performance Assessment, it is a pass/merit/distinction/fail assessment. I generally use these exams for pupils where their nerves are OK, and they want an independent assessment of their progress - particularly adult pupils who just learn 'for fun'. Again, all these experiences have been very positive. Obviously, with work on the supporting tests, I would have no hesitation in entering a Grade 8 Leisure Play candidate for a 'normal' Grade 8 exam as the performance standard expected is the same. There was a good article on the Leisure Play exams in a recent issue of the LCM Forte magazine http://www.uwl.ac.uk/files/LCM/lcm_exams/f...orte_2010_3.pdf Again, I think the Leisure Play exams are very good value. Although there has been criticism of the name, I have only ever come across this criticism on these forums, and it has never bothered me or any of my candidates.

In the end, it depends what you want to get out of it. But overall, I'd say the AB and LCM options are useful and good value, and for all my candidates, have been a positive and pivotal experience.

I had a look with a student of mine in mind and Leisure Play is not available for clarinet.

Where did you read that? It is as far as I know - the requirements are in the back of the normal graded exam syllabus - it's 3 pieces from the equivalent grade list (available in the repertoire booklet) and 1 free choice...so far as I'm aware anyway (slightly different for piano and singing).

I looked on the web site and didn't find it listed.
Then again LCM syllabus and regulations information is awful to find your way around. I don't like the way that the syllabus doesn't actually tell you what you have to play for an exam.....

The LP requirements are on p.24 here http://www.uwl.ac.uk/files/LCM/lcm_exams/s...es_syllabus.pdf and the clarinet repertoire lists are here http://www.uwl.ac.uk/files/LCM/lcm_exams/s...arinet_2011.pdf

Thanks. Went back and had another look.

Thanks for the replies, they are greatly appreciated. My main reason for looking into doing one of these is to clarify what level I'm playing at and for something to work towards, I like having a goal to aim for. It will also be very useful to have the opinion of an independent examiner too. I was leaning towards the Trinity certificates and my teacher is looking at the stuff for next lesson, however, maybe another look at the other two is needed.

Although it is very useful to have a fully independent review, remember there are many other opportunities to gauge how you are doing - record yourself playing from the syllabus and grade yourself against the "These Music Exams" descriptors: would you pass? Find playing opportunities anywhere you can so you have something specific to work towards. Stick yourself on Youtube and ask for feedback (but get a flack-jacket ready, some people are nasty for the sheer sake of it, ignore those people). Does your teacher have other pupils at a similar level? Sometimes it can be useful to watch each other play and comment on strengths and weaknesses if you can arrange that.

An exam or performance assessment is a snapshot, if you fluff it on the day and fail it doesn't necessarily mean you are not up to the standard, just that on that day in that moment you fluffed it for whatever reason, so it's a nice external aribter, but not infallible. I had a meltdown in my conservatoire audition (precipitated by the fire alarm going off in the middle and having to leave my instrument behind then stand outside getting frozen fingers for an hour, then being asked to start again immediately mid-bar where I left off!) and turned a simple piece of 3/4 sight reading into an absolute embarassment. It doesn't mean I couldn't have done it another day in another set of circumstances, but sadly that was the day that counted and I didn't succeed. I'm always conscious I could do that again, not that I expect the whole fire alarm thing to come around again, but the sight reading or quick study (diplomas) can either go really well for me or it's tuneless, arhytmic and sounds like I have the instrument upside-down.

I just mention that because you say one of the reasons you'd like the exam is to get a feel for your standard of playing, and it may or may not help you achieve that. I'm tempted to go in for a performance assessment or similar ahead of my diploma exam just to check that after all these years I'm still on the right planet about what passes for good music! Will you feel "properly" certified after this kind of assessment or will you still feel you cannot claim a grade level because you didn't do the actual grade? If so then you may as well sit the full graded examination.

I have decided to go for the Trinity Advanced Certificate mainly because I will be doing the licentiate and fellowship with them eventually some time down the line....well, at least that is my plan.

I have done grade 1 and 5 with ABRSM, I'd like a 'feel' for Trinity now.....thought the Music Certificate would be a good idea, especially as it seems to be set up very similarly to their diplomas in performance where you have to present a recital and recital notes (obviously appropriate to the level you are at and Advanced Certificate is they say approximately at grade 8 level).

This should give me a nice 'introduction' to what I should expect later on when going for my licentiate. obviously the level of skill will be much higher for this and I am not underestimating the 'task' but my teacher has LOADS of experience in helping students through the licentiate with Trinity so when I get nearer to that stage he will be in the position to help me and advise me.

Thanks RoseRodent and jojo

With regards to feeling 'properly certified', for me the graded exams are no good, the aural tests and, in particular, the playing scales from memory are far too stressful and would at the higher grades result in a fail. Yes, it's nice to have a certificate to say Grade x, but I don't need these, I'm not relying on them to get into Uni or a conservatoire. I'm just looking for a challenge that won't reduce me to jelly in the exam room and from what I've read about AB, Trinity and the LCM versions, these seem the obvious things to look at.

I did a performance assessment with AB when I was edging towards a grade and had taken some time since the last grade. I wanted to see how I would do in an semi exam situation and get some pointers on my standard. I found it very positive on the whole. If you don't want to do the graded exams its a good way of confirming where you are, and you can give some pointers into the kind of feedback you would find useful. On the other hand, if you were going to take a grade exam, the experience is similar enough for it to be a good 'dry run'.

Thanks adultlearner

have been listening to recordings of some of the pieces of the Trinity Intermediate Certificate list and now trying to decide which pieces I like the most.....

have been asked if I want to play in a concert in a few weeks time, opportunity to try out one of the pieces

I think you'd enjoy it...

I'm sure I'll get through it, oh OK, enjoy it Don't think I'll be attempting the Brahms though, only one lesson before the concert now and I'm not living that dangerously!!! Will probably stick with the Mendelsohn piece I've been practising, or maybe Georgie

Fair enough...they're both decent pieces

Just waiting to hear from teacher as to how long our slot will be, then we can decide

Cool Will be interested to know what your final decision is

Thanks Barry, will let you know of course

Well, decided to keep things very simple as my teacher won't be at the concert to accompany me. So, in true forum event style there will be one run through then on with the show! As it is approaching Christmas, the decision was made to play Walking in the Air, very straightforward but is actually sounding quite good. Have also chosen a back up piece just in case someone else has chosen the same thing and not told my teacher

Very nice Hope it goes well

This is a really interesting thread, thanks Louise. I too would like to do something like this because the stress of doing aural and scales would just be far too much for me at the moment - it's why I've been putting off taking grade 8 for about 4 years now. I don't *need* the certificates either, I would just like a challenge that doesn't involve panic attacks!

Thanks Barry, will let you know, this time tomorrow it will all be over!

Go for it Floss sounds like the perfect solution for you

Glad it has been of interest Floss I didn't see the point in inflicting the terror that I experienced at Grade 3 again when I don't actually need the certificate, these purely performing alternatives are just what I'm after, a challenge but within my capability Session A is looking likely for my entry.

LCM have recently introduced another type of exam - performance only, and it's postal - you have to send them a video. It sounds like a cross between an ABRSM Performance Assessment and the LCM Leisure Play, but it does come with Pass/Fail etc plus feedback.

Concert went well, me and one other adult learner plus hundreds (well, about twenty) little kids Very pleased with how the piece went

Great news : glad it went so well, Louise

Another 'possible' to add to my ever growing list of pieces for the certificate

Anyone know roughly what grade the Adagio - Mozart Clarinet Concerto is?

This was on the ABRSM grade 6 lists until 2008. Saw this after I posted in Viva Woodwind