What is the point in exams.

[zheer]

  Would like to know if music grade exams have any value,other than securing a palce at University.

[thalbergmad]

The letters look good after your name.

Thal

[nicco]

  Would like to know if music grade exams have any value,other than securing a palce at University.

Proving to yourself and others that you have accomplished something and that you are able to perform it?

[invictious]

That you have taken this unnecessary to please those ABRSM people with their strict guidelines and inability to show yourself

[tds]

1. business
2. they make students work

[rc]

heh, tds is probably right here, they want more ways to make money with music.

Besides that, I only see it as a means to an end - university (which is only another means anyways).  So, it's just an easy way for universities to tell that you're willing to put in some work.

On it's own, who cares?

[franzliszt2]

They prove stuff. Most people who say "I could do it if I wanted to" and actually havn't done the exam are people who can't do it, most people who can do the exam becasue they know it looks good.

[zheer]

They prove stuff. Most people who say "I could do it if I wanted to" and actually havn't done the exam are people who can't do it, most people who can do the exam becasue they know it looks good.

  Look little boy dont play with fire or you will get burned, now little boy you are full of yourself, so little boy go practice your piano, dont get on my wrong side.

[franzliszt2]

How am I playing with fire? I diodn't aim my comment at you, or anyone for that matter, I simply stated something. I give my opinion on what exams are for.

In fact I have just practiced my piano, so why should I do more? What does that have to do with this thread? And what about your wrong side? bloody hell man you need to chill a little, I think it's you who needs to practice his piano more, maybe then you'll pass your exams.

[prongated]

Piano exams prove that you can play 4-6 pieces quite well

From reading your (zheer's) other posts, I am surprised that British music institutes even set a minimum grade requirement for entry - everywhere else, I'm sure that it's about how well you play in the audition [well, and sometimes connections help too I guess]

[princessdecadence]

The letters look good after your name.

Thal

Yes and it also looks good on your CV, you can qualify as a teacher if you are ever short of money (even though you haven't practiced the piano for a year). 

Grades are a good measure of your real capabilities.  I can play grade 8 pieces but when it comes to taking exams, I back out.  One day when I have time and courage, I'll do grade 5. 

[zheer]

Grades are a good measure of your real capabilities.  I can play grade 8 pieces but when it comes to taking exams, I back out.  One day when I have time and courage, I'll do grade 5. 

 yeah man, totally.

[elspeth]

I think exams can be a useful way to get some students to work... others (like me!) would run a mile if my teacher tried to insist! When I was a kid I took and passed the whole set of grade exams because I was thinking about a career in music. Then I bit the bullet and realised it'd never make me rich or secure and I probably wasn't good enough to match my aspirations. So, if you like to think of it in the long term all those exams were pointless and all the repertoire I learned when I was a kid was exam repertoire and I didn't start playing for fun till I joined orchestras at university and discovered there was more to it than exams... on the other hand I suppose you might argue that had I not been a world-class cynic at the age of 18 and gone for the music career, I might have got the breaks and made it and then I'd be saying the exams had helped...

Anyway, nowadays, when I'm learning piano for my own entertainment and enlightenment... I don't want to do exams. They're expensive, will have no practical value for me, I'm motivated to work without them, and I want to play music I like not music the exam board sets. Life's too short to let other people call the tune.

[pianowelsh]

For students they give a goal to work towards. they also satisfy the insaciable desire to know 'am i better than my mate in school?' etc Adults do this too actually!! they help the teacher monitor progress and give them an excuse not to skip on the scales and support work which most students wouldnt do if not for an exam but are vital in their all round musical development. having said all this im not the world's greatest fan of music exams BUT I do see they have purposes and a function. But they are not right for everybody all the time.