Hello Everyone,
I was going through the Diploma requirements and procedures. I was wondering how exactly Quick Study is taken. I mean, i know the question is silly, but i wanted to ask what the level is like. I know that it has been specified as Grade 6 repertoire, that too especially from the C group, but is it very difficult? Do they generally give jazzy pieces?
Thanks
Tanmoy

Hello Tanmoy,

For the Quick Study at the diploma level, the candidate will be given 5 minutes to study a piece of music, which is in the style of 20th century music and of Grade 6 standard. It is not overly difficult, but does present reasonable challenges since one only has 5 minutes to work out the details. I have taken diploma exams 4 times and haven't encountered any jazzy piece. Hope this helps!

Tanmoy,

Do a search through this forum - there's a LOT of discussion about the Quick Study!
I've done two exams, pieces weren't 'jazzy' but definitely contemporary in terms of irregular time signatures and rhythmic ideas.
Thing to remember is that it's not sightreading as you've experienced in the grade exams.

good luck
Fen

u can buy the grade 6 exam piece to see that how the level in

The piece is written in 'a modern accessible' style, to grade 6 standard. It's two pages long for pianists and one for everyone else.

For practice material I used the AB's romantic pieces books of around grade 6 or 7 level. The quick study piece I was presented with was similar to the style of pieces in those books so I'd recommend them.

i use the spectrum 2 book to practice.
the pieces may not be that crazy, but i guess i'll find out in December

I agree with all the advice given above, except may I ask where in the syllabus does it specifically say the quick study is from "contemporary" works?

I was given a "gavotte" in baroque period for my DipABRSM, and a nocturne for LRSM (which was in contemporary style). My students have been given contemporary works.... I think GENERALLY they give contemporary works , but not ALWAYS.

I think practicing to read ALL kinds of music is the best way to prepare for the Quick Study.

Yes, I agree with pianokc. None of my quick study pieces have been what I would classed as typically 20th century, although obviously they have been specially written for the exam. One was fairly romantic in style I remember. What I was faced with though was changing time signatures 3/4 4/4 5/4 kind of thing. 6 or 7 sharps and flats in the key signature and lots of leger lines - Not all at once I'm pleased to say.
The pieces get progressively longer the harder the diploma but I found them quite accessible musically and NOTHING like Spectrum.

How does it work for singers? The notes I found on this site say:
"Singers may play the key-chord and first note of the Quick Study on the piano before they begin their preparation, and as often as they wish prior to the test itself. During the test, singers who need to relocate their pitch may play a guide note as appropriate".

I imagine sitting at the piano poking at notes during the song...not exactly very professional looking.

Are there any singers out there who've been through this and can describe it? I'm not so worried about the standard/idiom of the piece - there's been plenty on that in this forum, but what actually goes on? I need a mental image before I can get my head around this.

Thanks!

QUOTE (thouston @ Apr 11 2005, 08:26 AM)

How does it work for singers?

Took and failed singing Dip in December, but here's my take on the sight reading:

1) They expect you to perform the piece as if you had worked on it for Diploma - except you only have 5 minutes. As in, attention to the meaning of the words and the general mood of the piece, the dynamics (which in my piece changed about every other bar) and so on.
2) You do get to sit at the piano while preparing, you can then stand if you want but if you lose track you can always hit the note to get back - though you will be penalised for doing so but I don't know by how much (let's just say they commented on it in the results - I did it once when I heard myself wavering on a largeish interval)
3) It was not particularly difficult either in terms of melody/accidentals or rhythm, which is probably why 1) applies and why I failed - I took it probably too much like a straight forward sightreading test (which I'm good at) and not enough like a performance (which they did not like anyway).

Best of luck!

Many thanks for your feedback - I have a better vision of the mechanics of it all now!
I strongly suspect that my sightreading skill (or indeed my vocal stamina) is not yet up to Diploma standard, so I'm not planning on rushing in. Maybe at the end of this year - watch this space...

It would be really useful if the ABRSM published specimen papers for the Quick Study - I assume they don't because of the costs given the wide range of instruments and the relatively small number of people likely to buy them, but if anybody out there from the Board is reading this, how about an online version? I'm sure plenty of people would be prepared to pay to download specimen copies, and the costs to the Board would be minimal as they wouldn't have to pay for a print run.

How about it, ABRSM?

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll make sure that it's passed on to staff in ABRSM Publishing.

Regards

Christine Morris
Forums Administration

Hello Everyone,
Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions that you have given regarding the Quick Study. Well, i went for a Music concert on Monday (11th of April) and on Wednesday (13th of April), and i really really enjoyed it.
They were the South Carolina Singing Men and they'd come over for their India trip. They performed in Calcutta on the 11th,12th and 13th. I managed to go on the 11th and 13th, and believe me, it was really FANTASTIC.
Among the numerous songs that they performed, my all time favourite Alleluia (Larry Gatlin /arr Kirs Anthony). Then they performed 'Holy,Holy, Holy' (John Dykes/arr. Paul Sjolund). After that 'Cantate Domino' , 'Cantique de Jean Racine' then 'Gloria in Excelsis'. This Mozart piece was a real TREAT! It was amazing! Then they sang 'We hear the homeless crying', 'When I survey the Wondrous Cross' and 'Praise you for the Cross'.
Then came the really amazing song 'Dry Bones'. Well, it was something REALLY innovative. It was LOVELY! Then they performed a Handbell Ensemble of Amazing Grace which was accompanied by the Violin. Then there were other songs like 'I have decided to follow Jesus' and 'No turning back'. Then they performed an Accapella Ensemble 'He will carry you'. And the song which was emotionally moving was 'Midnight Cry'. It was really nice. To end the concert they sang 'The Lord Bless You and Keep You'.
It was one of the best concerts i have been to. Considering the fact, that there really are very few classical music concerts in Calcutta, this came as a refreshing wind to the city.
Special thanks to Ms Christine Morris for considering the suggestion regarding the sight reading pieces. Thank you Ms. Morris.
Thanks everyone,
Tanmoy.

To anyone who passed the Quick Study,

I noted the "Marking Criteria" in the Diploma Syllabus for "Quick Study" mentions that "Pass" and "Clear Pass" involve "some errors and missed points of detail" and "techinical imperfections and some missing points of detail" respectively.

My question is : What is some errors?

My teacher told me that 80 % of notes, dynamic, pedalling, style , etc, played correct can pass this section. However, my previous experience told me that it is not.

Do you think the Board really accept minor wrong notes or little slips during the Quick Study ?


Joe
(Hong Kong)

QUOTE (Joe @ Apr 22 2005, 09:10 AM)

To anyone who passed the Quick Study, I noted the "Marking Criteria" in the Diploma Syllabus for "Quick Study" mentions that "Pass" and "Clear Pass" involve "some errors and missed points of detail" and "techinical imperfections and some missing points of detail" respectively. My question is : What is some errors? My teacher told me that 80 % of notes, dynamic, pedalling, style , etc, played correct can pass this section. However, my previous experience told me that it is not. Do you think the Board really accept minor wrong notes or little slips during the Quick Study ? Joe (Hong Kong)

wrong notes, as long as you don't make too many of them, should be okay...i think
well, i don't really have a say in this... i'm taking DipABRSM in December

I know I missed a few notes, but the key criticism they made was that the pulse varied too much. I THOUGHT I made a good job of "hitting the right notes", following the dynamics and getting the mood of the piece - I passed this with the minimum mark I think...