Music Medal regulations

1. Teacher-assessors will need access to a video-recording device. 
2. The device must be good enough quality for assessment moderation purposes and be able to record in one of the formats listed below. 
3. We accept the following video formats: MP4, WMV, MOV or MPG.  
4. The file size must not be more than 2GB. If the resolution of the video is too high, the file may be too large or slow to upload. In these circumstances, you can compress the file. 
5. The teacher-assessor is responsible for ensuring that the video-recording device operates smoothly during assessments and for solving any technical problems. We are not responsible for failure of the video-recording device or power supply. 
6. Only the teacher-assessor can handle the video-recordings and they must not be distributed to any other party. After the assessment, only the teacher-assessor may view the video-recordings before returning them to us. 

1. In the assessment, each candidate must perform one ensemble piece and one solo piece.

a. For the ensemble, candidates choose one of the pieces listed by level from the ensemble repertoire lists.

b. For the solo, candidates may either choose a piece from the Music Medals repertoire list or, from Bronze upwards, from a corresponding Practical or Performance Grade list (see below).

_{*Available for Piano and Bowed Strings only}

2. We periodically update the Music Medal repertoire lists. We are not responsible for the non-availability of any listed publication.

3. Photocopying of copyright works is not permitted.

4. If candidates offer a wrong piece or do not perform the whole work, they may be disqualified.

5. Repeats may be played at the discretion of the Teacher-Assessor or candidate.

6. Ornaments may be simplified or omitted.

7. In the ensemble, there must be no doubling of lines. All ensemble pieces are to be played without additional accompaniment or backing tracks. Teacher-Assessors may contribute to ensemble performances at all levels by playing one of the lines.

8. Teacher-Assessors can arrange lines of ensemble pieces (except the candidate’s line) for any other instrument available to them so that ensembles can be performed by mixed instrument groups.

9. In the solo, candidates can play either with an accompaniment (live or CD backing track) or unaccompanied. For CD backing tracks, it is the Teacher-Assessor’s responsibility to ensure the candidate can be clearly heard.

10. Option tests are copyrighted by ABRSM and must not be reproduced in any way.

1. The teacher-assessor can choose when to hold the assessment as long as it takes place within eight weeks of the booking date (see Regulation 10.2). 
2. The teacher-assessor must ensure that each individual assessment is recorded in one uninterrupted sequence. Before the confidential Option test is administered, you can restart the assessment any number of times. Once the Option test has taken place, you cannot restart the assessment. 
3. The teacher-assessor must ensure that video-recordings are of good enough quality for moderation to be possible. 
4. To ensure that each candidate is identified correctly, the teacher-assessor and candidate should make the announcements explained on our Music Medals guidance page.
5. In Ensemble performances, the teacher-assessor must ensure that the candidate stands nearest to the video-camera and appears to the left of the screen. 
6. After the Ensemble, the teacher-assessor must ensure that the group members not being assessed remain quiet and do not distract the candidate in the Solo and Option sections. 
7. Teacher-assessors must ensure that pupils do not bring any unauthorised material or equipment into the room, such as other recording equipment, cameras, phones, etc. 
8. Teacher-assessors must not intervene in any way that might favourably influence a candidate’s performance, such as prompting, giving hints before the candidate performs the Option test, or allowing more than the specified Option preparation time. 
9. If any teacher-assessor is deemed to have conducted an assessment in a biased or unfair way or contrary to the Music Medals Regulations, they risk the disqualification of the assessment and the termination of their status as a teacher-assessor. 
10. If an assessment is disqualified for whatever reason, we will not reimburse the entry fee. 
11. In all matters relating to the conduct of Music Medals assessments, our decision is final. 

1. Performances in each section of the Music Medal are placed within one of the following attainment categories – Excellent, Pass or Working Towards. A minimum of two Passes is required for candidates to be awarded a Medal. One of these Passes must be in the Ensemble section; if a Pass is not achieved in the Ensemble, an overall Pass cannot be awarded, even if the Solo and Option have both passed. 
2. At Bronze to Platinum levels, the Medal is passed ‘with excellence’ if the candidate achieves Excellent in all three sections. At Copper level, if Excellent is achieved in all three sections, an overall Pass is still awarded. 

1. Teacher-assessors should upload and submit video-recordings and report forms as soon as possible after assessments have taken place. 
2. Once the booking has expired it is not possible to submit the assessment. 
3. Once results have been issued, the Option test and report form should be confidentially destroyed. 

1. Teacher-Assessors' results are moderated until we are satisfied that they are assessing correctly in accordance with the criteria. Thereafter we select results randomly for moderation on a regular basis. 
2. Moderation involves an ABRSM moderator corroborating or adjusting a teacher-assessor’s assessments. We only confirm results once this process has taken place. 
3. Following moderation we may recommend further training for the teacher-assessor. We reserve the right to deregister any teacher-assessor where further training is declined or is not effective. 
4. The work of our moderators is subject to regular and rigorous scrutiny. 

1. If assessments are carried out correctly and video-recordings and assessment materials are submitted in accordance with our instructions, we aim to issue digital mark forms seven days after we receive the materials. Sometimes we may need to carry out additional moderation and this can delay results. 
2. We send a result notification email to the teacher-assessor who booked the assessment. Teacher-assessors can then view results online through their ABRSM account. Candidates with an account can view their results seven days after we have released them to the teacher-assessor. 
3. All successful candidates receive a digital mark form, medal and certificate. Candidates are with a result of ‘Working Towards’ receive a digital mark form.  We send digital marks forms, medals and certificates to the teacher-assessor, and it is their responsibility to distribute them. 
4. We cannot release results by telephone or in any other way. 
5. We are not responsible for the non-receipt of medals/certificates.  
6. The teacher-assessor is responsible for telling us if any items are missing upon receipt. If they do this within 14 days of the date of posting, we will reissue the missing items free of charge. After 14 days and in cases of loss or damage, we can issue replacement certificates, mark forms or medals for a fee of £6. 

1. If you have an enquiry about the result of conduct of a Music Medal assessment, contact the Music Medals team in the first instance: [email protected] . You must do this 28 days of receiving the result. There is no fee for Music Medal appeals, which may take up to four weeks to resolve.  

1. Music Medal assessments are designed to be accessible, wherever possible, to all pupils, regardless of sensory impairments, learning difficulties or particular physical needs. 
2. Candidates with a sensory impairment or learning difficulty should choose the Option test which best suits their requirements and abilities. 
3. Where a candidate requires an Option test in enlarged or modified print or in Braille, it is the teacher-assessor’s responsibility to produce the tests in these formats after receiving them in the usual way (see Regulation 10). 
4. If you have a candidate whose needs are not covered by these arrangements in the Access Guidelines, please contact our Access Coordinator, outlining the particular needs of the candidate, and the likely impact on their Music Medal assessment. 

1. We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and treatment for all, and will not unlawfully or unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly on the basis of gender, age, ethnic origin or disability in its dealings with Music Medals participants.