So, I live in the United States, and I'm about to start taking piano lessons again. This time
I want to use the ABRSM exams as a tool to evaluate my progress. (Maybe aim at Grade 6).
The last practical ABRSM exam I took was Grade 3 piano several decades ago! (Took lessons
since then at different times).

The thing is, ABRSM exams are almost unknown over here. So, although I can take the exams,
very few teachers have experience of teaching to these. Since it seemed too limiting, I decided not
to choose a teacher who had taught students to take ABRSM exams before. (My priority is to learn
music with a good teacher, not just to take exams).

I wondered if anyone on this board had experience of a similar situation. And, if they did, whether
they had any advice for how I can help my new teacher help me with the exams?!

I've ordered the book of selected grade 6 piano pieces, the example aural tests, sight reading
tests, and the "scales, arpeggios and broken chords" book. Is there anything else I should
get, or will that be enough for a good teacher to be able to help me?

Thanks.

I don't really think that it should be a problem that a teacher doesn't already have experience of ABRSM exams. If they're a good teacher they'll have lots of experience of teaching pieces to a high standard as well as helping people with scales and sightreading practice. Some teachers will neglect aural work, especially in the absence of exams that test it, but if your teacher uses the AB book Aural Training in Practice there's lots of help in there specific to the AB's tests. I think that perhaps the only thing you might lose from having a teacher that's not got experience of the exam is having someone to tell you what to expect on the day but, since you've already done lower grades you'll know that anyway, and there are plenty of people here with experience of ABRSM exams that can tell you what they're like (that's the easy bit to do remotely) and there's These Music Exams too (in the exams section of the website).

I do think that you've made the right decision going for a good teacher rather than just picking one that knows the system: you won't lose much and you'll gain a lot. The AB produces a lot of material to help in preparing for exams, some of which you have already bought. I think though that since your teacher is good at teaching piano the exam requirements should be no problem to them: it's just more of the same in a way!

Good luck.

Spaceman

Great to hear you're planning ABRSM exams and I am sure your teacher will encourage you and help you if you want to go down this route. However, a word of caution. You say you are planning to work on Grade 6. Please may I just gently remind you that you will have needed to pass Grade 5 Theory or Practical Musicianship or Jazz exams before you can be entered for Grade 6 practical exam level. Maybe you already have done so (your message doesn't say I think) but, if you haven't, then ABRSM will only allow you to go to Grade 5 practical exam level without one of these qualifications.

I do hope you find a way forward - presumably you can find an examiner somewhere?

Good luck

QUOTE (oboist @ Jan 29 2005, 06:11 PM)

Please may I just gently remind you that you will have needed to pass Grade 5 Theory or Practical Musicianship or Jazz exams before you can be entered for Grade 6 practical exam level.

Yes - I took that [G5 theory] last October!

As others have said, I too think it's better to find a good teacher, rather than one who simply knows the AB syllabus.

It is important to make sure that the sight-reading and aural are up to standard, but you are aware of this anyway, and can work independently as well as with your teacher in these areas I'm sure.

There had to be a first time for every teacher with any particular exam board - and although many of us put our students in for AB exams, we didn't necessarily take them ourselves as students.

Hope it goes well for you

Maggie

I have almost exactly the same problem! I'm living in germany at the moment and though one can take exams here, there are hardly any teachers (mine included) who know about the abrsm syllabus. as my teacher doesn't even speak english, this is sometimes quite a problem. I've had to prepare by myself, really, except for help on the pieces and scales, of course. I had to get the form, explain to her which parts to fill out, explain about aurals etc. etc. though I definitely want to carry on taking exams, it is sometimes very trying to be the only one familiar with the system. I'm quite worried about my exam in march in case I've forgotten to learn something, fill out something etc.
although my priority would also be to have an excellent teacher, don't forget about all the stuff you will be left alone with! it also depends on how old you are though, and whether you can enter yourself, of course.

aside: that must be doing wonders for your German!

QUOTE (sarah-flute @ Jan 30 2005, 12:33 PM)

aside: that must be doing wonders for your German!

I know all the german terms now!:lol:

lol! cool!

QUOTE (july @ Jan 30 2005, 05:29 AM)

it also depends on how old you are though, and whether you can enter yourself, of course.

Fortunately (or is that unfortunately?!) I'm definitely old enough to enter myself. I entered myself for the theory exam last year with no problems so I'm not worried about completing the forms.

Out of interest, how old do you have to be to enter yourself?
I've always thought it would be fun to do grade 1 and see what mark I get.

QUOTE (Keys @ Feb 1 2005, 02:38 PM)

Out of interest, how old do you have to be to enter yourself?

I believe it's 18.

Yes, it's 18. Only 1 and 1/2 years to go for me!

Spaceman, my son Viohazard took Grade 5 violin here in Japan last year.

His teacher agreed to it, but didn't actually do anything but the 3 performance pieces.

We used the Aurals book and CD at home, which provided VITAL practice and a guess at what the exam might be like. He also worked through the lower grade theory workbooks and we started working on the practical musicanship books. Having the performance CD also helped him guess at what speed and technical level the examination would test....you may take it for granted if you grew up with ABRSM, but for a first-timer, it's a mystery!

It was very hard to judge how much theory would be needed - I think we overdid it because Viohazard was working out the names of keys for evey key change in his performance pieces, and the names of the different chords and intervals, but he wasn't asked any of that.

He was *not* sufficiently prepared for his sightreading. He didn't have enough time to go from minimal note-reading skills to grade 5 sightreading in a month or two. There is an ABRSM book of sightreading test materials, but if you can find more elsewhere, and you think you need to work on your sightreading, then!

Some ABRSM books are available on places like Amazon but you may need to search for them in several different ways to find them. Alternatively, I've had excellent service from any of the mail-order/online sheetmusic services that I have used, so order the preparatory materials if you can.