Forgive me posting twice, but I was not sure what the appropriate forum for my query was.

Hi all,

I am considering taking a formal teaching qualification and would appreciate any advice offered.

I am a professional horn player and teach part time at a private school for boys. Teaching is something I enjoy (most of the time) and am thinking that at some point in the future I might want to lean more in that direction than playing. I was wondering what are the most respected teaching qualifications one can achieve these days. I do not wish to teach in the classroom, so suspect that a PGCE would be unnecessary. I would also like something that would be respected in Sweden, if possible, as my wife is from there and one day we move there. I studied at Guildhall and received an Associate of the GSMD which is basically a performance diploma. I see there are different levels of diploma available through the ABRSM and am not sure what to go for. The playing part shouldn't be a problem and I am a fairly experienced teacher already. Is it worth taking the highest level straight away or should one work up to it?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Jonathan

Hi Jonathan
The prerequisite for the DipABRSM is grade 8 in the instrument taught and grade 6 theory although there are lots of substitutions if you don't have this for any reason. For example ATCL or ALCM performers certificate. For the LRSM you need to have the DipABRSM and grade 8 theory OR various substitutions and for the FRSM you need to have the LRSM or various substitutions....

Whether you will be able to jump in and take an LRSM or FRSM straightaway depends on how your Associate GSMD is viewed by the Board ie whether it will count as a substitution (hope I'm making sense....)

Trinity College also have teaching diplomas and have an international presence as have the Associated Board so may be worth looking at.

Are you trying to gain a qualification to help you get work or to make you a better teacher? If you are interested in learning more about teaching you might like to look at the CTABRSM course run by the Associated Board or perhaps the course run by Reading University in conjunction with the ISM. Both focus on developing and enhancing teaching skills.

At the end of the day I have found that most people really don't know what the letters after your name mean. I would look for the course that gives you the most scope to develop as a teacher and one which you would enjoy working towards.

good luck.

Hi Margaret and thanks for your reply.

I have my grade 8 practical and theory (although where the certficates are is anyone's guess). I also suspect my AGSMD whould help me skip ahead, but I am not sure why one would choose the FRSM over the LRSM for example.

At this stage I am really trying to gain the qualification to help me find work in the future. While I think courses to improve one's abilities as a teacher are an excellent idea they are something for me to think about after I have gained a more formal qualification.

If one were to take on a ABRSM diploma are you given guidance throughout your studies or is it a case of doing the work you have been given and turning up for the exams? Are there teachers who I should seek out?

Thanks

Jonathan

Disclaimer: not a teacher, never done a teaching diploma etc...


Isn't the point of a qualification to learn what one wants to do and then take the qualification? surely a qualification is to show that one has learnt something, if the qualification doesn't require some sort of learning then it's not worth having! I know you're already a teacher with experience but surely the courses would help you with the diploma exams.


The diploma exams are exams, and that's it. The only guidance one gets is the syllabus. It would probably be beneficial to you (but is not essential) to see someone who has taken the exam (like Margaret for example if she's nearby ) and discuss what to expect. Then if you find any of those things a problem you could get further experience/go on a course/talk to someone about it.

As for LRSM vs FRSM many teachers say that people never ask what their qualifications are anyway and I doubt that the average person would know the difference! The FRSM is very prestigious, only 14 were awarded in the world last year (that's across all disciplines too performing, teaching and directing), but again would anyone know that? Either way it's certainly not easy. It's really down to what you want to do and the personal challenge.

It's a point of view. I think what jeddie wants are qualifications that reflect what he can already do and is already doing.

Many institutions will demand formal qualifications before considering an application for work.

I see nothing wrong in taking diplomas for the reasons jeddie states. I once took a performer's dip just to remind myself what it is like to sit an exam.

Terrifying

Steve

Hi again jeddie

The LRSM teaching diploma looks at your teaching up to grade 8 level. You have to prepare a video of your teaching over a period of time plus prepare several case studies. There is also a written submission and the viva element. This diploma would, in my opinion, be well thought of and help you think and develop your own teaching.

The FRSM focuses on teaching up to diploma level and has been retitled "Music Education". The submission element - 12,000 - is a very important part of this diploma. Although this is the higher diploma I felt I didn't learn as much about actual teaching issues as when I prepared for the LRSM. However it did allow me to focus in depth on a topic that interested me.

Unfortunately you are not given any help by the Board. When doing the LRSM and then the FRSM I asked them for any names of people who might help me or people who had done it but they refused to give me any info. They would only say not many people had taken it and I should find my own help(!)

When it came to the written submission for the FRSM I was similarly in the dark. They do ask for a 200 word outline and I did get a little bit of advice about this from the Director of Examinations but basically you are on your own. In the end I contacted my ex-mentor of the CT course and she gave me a contact at the Academy. As he was £75 and hour I could only go once but he did give me reassurance that I was on the right lines.

If it is not advertising take a look at my website www.diplomasupport.pianotuition.com

Do let me know if I can help in any other way.

Brilliant site, Margaret.

Steve

Maybe you were the first but they didn't want to tell you . It's really good that you've set up some means of helping people, and indeed that you come on here to help people out so many people seem to be in the dark about what's involved in this.

Seems very useful .

Even if it is 'technically' advertising, I don't think it matters in this case - it's not that the board is giving implicit favour towards one person/business over another as no-one else, as you found out, actually provides the service. Besides, if enough of us quote the post, then you're not suggesting the site - we are .

Thanks for your kind comment Steve and YetAnotherPianist.

I did actually contact Christine, the Moderator, to check whether or not I could mention my website. She advised me to add it to the notes about myself - which I have done! As you say, it is tricky to know what counts as 'advertising.'

Thanks again for your ideas! Steve is absolutely correct in his reasoning for why I want to take a diploma. Teaching is a lot harder to get into down here in London than perhaps it once was and if a diploma can give me a headstart then it may be worth it. Thanks for your advice Margaret. I think the LRSM may be a good starting point for me. I look forward to checking out your website in a moment.

Good luck to you all and thanks again

Jon

The natural thought is; London is a big city, so there must be loads of work. Trouble is, everybody else has that thought as well.

Just a couple of miles, or so, south of the centre of Manchester is the highly desibable residential area of Didsbury. There is loads of money in the area - huge houses, good schools, the lot. There are also many large houses adapted for student use; loads of students from the RNCM occupy these.

As a result, the wealthy area of Didsbury is one of the hardest in which to get work as a private teacher.

I live in the sticks, miles from anywhere. I get loads of pupils, because there is only one 'me' in the area.

'Thank goodness', I hear many of you say

Steve