I've recently taken my DipABRSM (and passed - yaaaaaaay!!!!! 14/15 for sight reading too!!) and am thinking about doing the next one but it's so expensive!!! I understand it's a big qualification but how can they justify charging more than twice the amount of the first diploma for a recital that's 5-10mins longer, with the viva containing slightly more content?

It's so frustrating! I'd love to do my secon don as i think it'll look so good on CVs, but at that price I just can't take it - I'm only a poor student!!!!

Phew - just thought I'd let that one off my chest!! Just wondering what other people's views were on the subject!

I think the marking/assessment of the video and case studies must be the reason for the big price hike. I agree it seems a lot but it is in line with other similar exams. Try not to let the price put you off. I do think its a qualification worth having and preparing for it certainly encourages you to think and learn more about your teaching.

I am sure that the price is just to keep these academics in the manner to which they are accustomed. Have a look at their cars and houses. They aren't cheap and these people have to get the money from somewhere. Students and exams, if you will excuse the cynicism, are an easy earner.

I've just looked in the Regs and it's £360.00 next year. A loan company for music exams would do good business.

Talking about the performance dips only, it could be that:

{a} the price of the Dip is kept low (perhaps operated at cost or even loss) to ease the passage from Grade 8 fees. Therefore, the price jump to LRSM is artificial in one sense

{b} the cost of LRSM (and FRSM) are kept artificially high to discourage people to serially retake if they keep failing/not enter until they are ready and sure they can justify the cost of the exam

{c} the prices are realistic given the ABRSMs costs, but in fact their system is not particularly efficient when compared to other exam boards and hence the prices are higher

As a comparison, here are some 2005 fees for other boards I have experience of:

Trinity College, London

LTCL: 197.00 (programme notes)

London College of Music

LLCM: 188.50 (no written element)
FLCM: 259.00 (no written element)

Royal College of Organists:

ARCO (equivalent of LTCL, but with aural paper and 6 hours of written papers): 205.00
FRCO: (again, practical plus 6 hours of written papers) 320.00

Sorry, a bit off topic.
I am going to have my exam in October and I would like to know the experience of others who have passed.
What pieces did you play?
What kind of questions did they ask? Did they ask questions about the quick study piece?
You did extremely good in quick study, how did you prepare for it?

Thank you very much.

I suppose it depends on what instrument you play. I did it on flute and did a balanced program (Bach Sonata, Debussy Syrinx, Mathias Sonatina and the Poulenc Sonata).
1) I was asked how I chose my program, what was sonata form, what was difficult about a particular piece, who would have performed the piece at the time it was written (I struggled with that one, I think I just said "er...." and moved on!). Then they go through your program notes and ask you to clarify things in them and explain a few things you've written. I should remember more but I wasn't fantastic at that section so tried to blank it from my memory!!!
2) Not sure how to improve sight reading. I'd say i was naturally good at it (that's what playing the piano for 5 years before the flute does!!) but if you keep sight reading every time you have a lesson, gradually making it harder. If you practice a few that are grade 7 piece standard then by the time you do your diploma and sight read grade 6 it'll seem so much easier!!!

Hope that helps!!! Ask any more if you're unsure!!!

No, they don't do this.

AlexDBS:

if i remember rightly, somebody was asked about the quick study. however it seems to be a very rare occasion (the examiner running out of questions, and just 'timefilling') so i wouldn't worry about it.

in the unlikelihood that questions are asked they would be along the lines of "what key is the piece/what key does it modulate to" or "what is the form of the piece" - the kind of simple questions that you could have answered in the aural tests for the graded exams, only here you have the advantage of having seen the music first! i really don't think you'll be asked, anyway, so concentrate on the rest of your exam, and good luck!

Reading the syllabus (DipABRSM) section:



Not very clear is it, does "other aspects of performing" cover the quick study? Your recital must have been pretty boring if they can't fill 12 minutes with questions on it!

Someone here (one person out of everyone who has posted about their exam) was asked questions about their quick study. It is, however, worth noting that the syllabus states that you can do the exam in any order so if you want to be sure not to be asked questions about the quick study then simply make sure that you do it after the viva. A lot of examiners won't ask which order (and some will prescribe an order at the start) but you do have the right to play the quick study after the viva if you're bothered about this. Of course whether you want to risk annoying an examiner who might not be aware of this is a different matter . It seems unfair that there's probably one examiner out there who doesn't realise that (s)he's not supposed to do this!

I do not know a single person who maintains a lavish lifestyle in the UK on an academic salary, and do not think it is even possible. The standard professorial salary, which most people will *not* attain, is about the same as a junior associate in a small town solicitors firm.

Secondly, I would be very surprised if you could book a venue, convene a panel able to examine people at this standard for much less than £360. I very much doubt that the examining boards even cover their costs. Try visiting a solicitor or an accountant to discuss anything other than the most trivial issue if you really want to see how much professional attention £360 will buy you.

Interesting point, but using my own experience in organ exams (where I am providing the venue at no cost to the exam board) LLCM is half the price of LRSM.. It will still be two examiners, so where's the difference?

I guess you providing the venue is a special case, although it will necessitate extra traveling expenses for the examiners.

From what I can gather, the LLCM exam is a touch shorter than LRSM. Also, perhaps the difference is in the fact that the examiners not only have to be talented performers with good musical judgment, but also have to be able to give you a viva based on your programme without having an hour to skim through Grove reading about your recital and preparing questions to ask: maybe such examiners command a higher fee.

Fair points, but what about, say the ARCO examination which again is half the price. Three cathedral-level organists overseeing the practical tranche, an invigilator for the aural tests and then 2 x 3 hour written papers which are invigilated and then marked externally?