Hello
I'm wondering if you have any ideas for me and can point me in the right direction.

Two years ago I sent off for an application form to become an examiner but I found out I was too young to apply. Therefore I have continued to take music exams to improve my chances of success until I reached the golden '30' years of age. I turned 30 in November.

I now have another obstacle though; the form has to be signed by an examiner or an employee of any of the royal schools. This person also has to act as a referee. Can anyone suggest how I can meet someone who could do this? Anyone out there willing to give me advice would be greatly appreciated as I don't really know where to start.
I really want to do this job so please help.

Have you tried asking around in the area where you work to see if there are any local examiners who you could meet and get to know? They might then be willing to sponsor you? As you have posted this in the jazz forum, I presume you are keen to be a jazz examiner in particular?

ABRSM likes its examiners to be professionally active in music (teaching, lecturing, playing etc) so presumably you have local contacts in this respect?

If not, how about booking some lessons for yourself with a college professor at one of the Royal Schools and try that avenue?

I assume you have the relevant details and paperwork from ABRSM but you could also refer to
http://www.abrsm.org/?page=about/examiners.html

which gives some insight to what's looked for.

Good Luck and hope you are successful!

Hi there,

I think the form says that the referee can be an AB examiner or someone of similar standing. I think I got a past colleague of mine who examines GCSE and A Level to do my main reference along with a current Head of Music (I am an instrumental teacher in a number of schools).

Do you have any local colleges/universities near you with music depts? Some music lecturers examine as do some school Heads of Music. It might also be worth contacting your local LEA Music service as some instrumental teachers examine too. They may be able to put you in touch with a suitable person.

Best of luck with your application. I sent off an application to be an ABRSM examiner in May 04. They sent me an official acknowledgement but also said that they were not actively recruiting at the moment so after references were received it would go in "the pile"and processed in turn. They also said that there were a lot of people ahead of me in the queue so it is a question of being patient! I am still waiting to hear from them further at the moment.

I do, however, have an interview with Trinity Guildhall on Monday, so wish me luck!

Wishing you every success with your efforts,

Bigsymusic.

Thank you ever so much for your advice, you've given me some ideas of who to ask.

Good luck and hope the interview went well.Let me know, I could be asking you to sign my form!!!!