Our annual informal Christmas music recital is open to all of our students that are learning piano, singing, guitar or violin with us. You can sign up here and we have space for 25 students so do sign up soon if you are keen to participate. Bring as many audience members as you like. Only performers require a ticket. Siblings will need one ticket each.ys
Here is some information about the Trinity College London Initial Piano Exam. This is a pre-grade 1 exam that pianists will start once the basics of note-reading and playing and performing confidently in a beginner hand position have been mastered. You will also need to have completed the 1st and 2nd theory books listed below before starting on the Initial exam work.
We recommend practising at least 10 minutes a day in order to work through all the requirements for the exam. A daily practice chart can be found in this handbook. Print a copy each week and show this to your teacher at the start of each lesson. It is important that an effective daily practice routine is maintained at home. We ask parents to supervise as many practice sessions as possible to ensure all requirements for the exam are being practised in rotation.
Here are some resources to help you prepare for Trinity exams. Please note that theory exams are taken with ABRSM.
All students will need to purchase these books:
LIST OF BOOKS BY GRADE:Initial Exam Book (Pre-Grade 1)
Grade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7Grade 8Aural Grades 1 to 5Sight-Reading bookOn The Day:
Your teacher does not attend your exam. If you are playing a duet you can engage the services of an accompanist. Please contact Theo for more information: theoadler (at) mail.comPractice the aural tests weekly (small monthly subscription fee):http://www.e-musicmaestro.com/auraltests/select
Musical Knowledge (please print both sections and bring to your lesson)
Grade 8 Distinction – student of Lorraine Liyanage
Click here to view more ABRSM Exam results
Later today I will be publishing our ABRSM and Rockschool exam results from the July Summer session. In the meantime, here’s some interesting information taken from the ABRSM web site about the number of candidates entering for graded exams by instrument. You can see just how popular the piano is in the UK and also what grades candidates achieved at examinations. As a keen harpsichordist, it’s a shame that only 15 students entered exams in 2009. I’m hoping to boost those numbers by getting more pianists learning the harpsichord too! I organise harpsichord competitions for musicians of all ages and abilities as well as workshops at Handel House Museum and Peregrine’s Pianos.
1) Entries by instrument/subject. Source: ABRSM page
I believe that the average age for a candidate taking Grade 1 piano is 10. I cannot find the exact reference for this, although there is mention of this in an old copy of ‘Libretto‘, a magazine published by the ABRSM. This also states that the ‘typical Grade 5 practical candidate is 14 years old’.
ABRSM’s graded music exams for individual instruments, singing and Theory as well as diplomas and Music Medals are accredited by the regulatory authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and are part of the National Qualifications Framework. In Australia, Canada and South Africa, ABRSM exams can be used for credit towards the relevant qualifications taken by students completing compulsory secondary education. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) includes Grades 6–8 in the tariff for UK university and college entrance.
