I know this is ABRSM forum but after reading other posts it seems most people have experience of the different exam boards so here goes.
My 8 year old daughter has been working towards her grade 4 LCM Music Theatre exam since January. The exam is on 25 th June. Last night I decided to look at the syllabus to check she knew everything she should be doing, just to be safe because she's so young, and to my horror discovered that 1 of her songs was not in compliance with grade 4. She should have 2 songs written before 1950 and 1 after. She has chosen, with her singing teacher, lullaby of broadway 1935, wouldn't it be lovely 1956, and castle on a cloud 1980. I really don't know what to do because she is easily grade 4 standard and although she is capable of learning a new song very quickly I don't think it is very fair to do this to her. If I cancel the exam I lose money, but also all my daughters hard work goes to waste. Parents are criticised for getting too involved, but I took a stand off approach until now and could kick myself.
If anyone has any advise it would be much appreciated.

Contact the exam board. They might well be very understanding and let her continue with the chosen program.

I agree, contact the exam board and see what they say. It seems to me it's the teacher who's at fault; if you have to cancel or withdraw because of this, then I'm not sure it shouldn't be the teacher who refunds the exam fee!

Thanks. I'll try this first. I don't think she should do the exam if she can't.

Well, after a chat with her singing teacher my daughter decided she would go for the exam and learn a new song with 3 days to go! I was quite shocked at her decision, as not many 8 year olds would have the bottle to do something so risky, but I had faith in her ability. She chose over the rainbow as she was reasonably familiar with the story and context of song and knew most of the words as most children do. Then she just went for it!
Two and a bit weeks later we got the results. She passed with merit getting 80/100 which under the circumstances is brilliant! She dropped a few marks in discussion as she hesitated when asked about styles and program choice, but I think that's understandable! She's not so happy with her result as she has only ever had distinctions but I'm so proud of her on so many levels. Mostly of how she handled this tricky situation with maturity and confidence.

Congratulations! You really did turn a difficult situation around in time she will realise how well she did.

Yes, very well done! That sounds like a great result. But you've got me worried now..

My daughter (almost 16) intends to take her first musical theatre exam soon - maybe next term. I was already feeling rather anxious about this as, although she has done singing exams before, she has done no previous musical theatre exams, and tells me that she and teacher have decided she will go straight for grade 7. Eek! I'd been intending to research syllabuses, rules and regs etc eventually, but thanks for alerting me to the possibility that I should do this sooner rather than later.

The music theatre exams are somewhat of a different kettle of fish to the ordinary singing exams but they are very useful and ideally suited to those pupils who's primary interest is in music theatre. All I usually advise is that in order to do well in the music theatre exams you do need to be able to act. I know this sounds terribly obvious, but it's worth a reminder! People are often surprised at the difference between singing music theatre songs say as an ABRSM List C piece, and singing them in a music theatre exam.

But yes, checking the syllabus on a constant basis is very useful because it's not always immediately clear what's expected. She's definitely brave to go in at Grade 7! The discussion element is, like the AB aural tests, rather seen as the songs' 'poor relation'; often handled at the very last moment! It needs practice though and the candidates that do well overall are usually able to hold their own in this section so that rather than being a question and answer session, it's a true discussion.

Thanks for these helpful comments. It is partly the acting that worries me. We are talking about a girl who, when given a very tiny part in the school production of Oliver had a major flap because she was expected to scream on stage! She couldn't bring herself to do it. In the end someone else did the scream for her, and she spoke the rest of her line !! Otherwise, it is just our almost complete ignorance of how these exams work that concerns me. Her teacher has told her that she should do grade 7 because she "sings so much better than my Grade 6s" and she did very well in straightforward grade 6 singing a couple of years ago, so maybe starting at grade 6 wouldn't feel like progress. Nevertheless, I worry that this may be the exam where she hits the ground with a very big and painful bump. We'll see!

Yes, it's a tricky one. I think the thing about the music theatre exams is that to a certain extent, the singing is only half the marks - this is usually the thing which comes as a bit of a shock to singers!

Anyway, PM if you've got any questions. I won't take over this thread anymore

What singing exams has she done? Pop or classical? Were they LCM? My eldest daughter 10 yrs got grade 5 music theatre distinction (94/100) then took grade 4 pop vocals, just to try a different genre, and got 76/100 merit. She has just taken grade 5 pop and got 93/100 distinction. What I'm trying to say is you might find is she's used to one style of exam so the first Music theatre exam she takes will be a learning curve, and there is acting involved but if she chooses the right songs that suit her style she should do well. Put your fears to one side and have faith! And of course, check the syllabus!!!

Thank you! I shouldn't take it over either.



Her singing exams to date were all ABRSM, so the exam board is an unknown quantity too. But you're right! I should have faith in her and her teacher. I'll keep my fingers well crossed too though!