Any one heard of RCM

[jen]

I was asked by a parent if I would teach their children with RCM.. something from Canada.
I have no idea what that is...I don't think I do anyway.

[lagin]

It stands for Royal Conservatory of Music.  It is a Canadian music education system, (for not only instruments, but also speech giving) containing 12 levels--and introductory level, ten grades, and ARCT (Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto).  At the ARCT level you can have a performance ARCT, a teacher's ARCT, a Theory ARCT, or a Compostion ARCT.  (There might be others, but not that I can think of). Basically, you decide what direction you want to go after you complete the grade ten exam.  Some do none, some do more than one.  It depends what you want to specialize in. 

Each grade has repertoire from different periods, technical exercises and studies, sight reading, sight clapping, ear tests, and theory. 

Exams are not manditory, except for grade ten, if you want to get an ARCT. 

It's similar to ABRSM.  I think a branch of RCM has started in the U.S. now too. 

[Siberian Husky]

yeah..and it sucks

[llamaman]

You want to teach RCM? Use some Piano Odessey books.

[jen]

I don't want to teach it.. they asked me if I could.. and I didn't know what it was.

[llamaman]

Ah, I see. I reccomend sticking with ABRSM. Our grades are screwed up.

Intro:Too hard
1:Too easy
2:Too easy
3:Too easy
4:Too easy
5:Not very varied
6:Too hard (As in, it is a big jump from Grade 5)
7:Too easy
8:Just right (Finally)
9:Some pieces are really hard, others really simple.
10:Same as above
ARCT:Too varied, some are INSANELY difficult, others are back at grade 7 level.

[abell88]

Ah, I see. I reccomend sticking with ABRSM. Our grades are screwed up.

Intro:Too hard
1:Too easy
2:Too easy
3:Too easy
4:Too easy
5:Not very varied
6:Too hard (As in, it is a big jump from Grade 5)
7:Too easy
8:Just right (Finally)
9:Some pieces are really hard, others really simple.
10:Same as above
ARCT:Too varied, some are INSANELY difficult, others are back at grade 7 level.

If you are thinking of the Introductory Album as a beginner's book, yes, it's too hard...but it has good repertoire for a child who has been playing for a while. Your other evaluations are, of course, pretty subjective. As has been pointed out elsewhere, what one person finds easy, another finds difficult.

For a teen or adult beginner, once they had mastered the basics of note-reading and keyboard geography, they could probably go into Grade 5. The lower grades are useful for children, however --- they have some very nice repertoire that helps develop and consolidate useful skills. It's not unusal to skip Grades 2, 4, and 7 for that matter.

[jeremyjchilds]

We have to try to not get too caught up in the grading...RCM has it's strengths and weaknesses.

I really appreciate the grading system because it gives a guideline, and I usually expect a couple of grades variance either way...dependig on my strenghts and weaknesses..

As for teaching it, it is no different than teaching the classics, excpet that you need to have the syllabus to prepare students for exams.

also In canada, Piano exams cound as high school credits..

[llamaman]

That they do. YAY!!!

[rlefebvr]

High School credit. How does that work.

[jeremyjchilds]

A certain Grade of Piano performance (or theory) will co-respond with an equivelant "arts" credit in most canadian school districts.

This means that some high school students will have one less class, or they will have extra credits on thier high school transcript.

[graeme78]

Royal Conservatory of Music is an excellent way to teach intermediate-advanced students.  I used RCM for 11 years when I was learning and got my Grade 10 when I was in High School.  The exams are challenging and a typical student will need a full year (Sept-June) to prepare for each level.  It is very popular here in Canada, and manditory if you want to take music in University (usually Grade 8 or 9 required).  I understand RCM exams are now being offered in some parts of the United States.

Exams are conducted in private and require the student to demonstrate technical ability (scales, arpeggios, triads, etc), ear training, sight reading, technical studies, and to play 3 or 4 pieces from different periods.  Exam requirements are published in the RCM syllabus.  Some grade levels (5 and up) also require the student to complete a seperate written theory exam.  The exams are good because they give the student something to work towards, and to learn a piece to near-perfection, rather than just "good enough".

A beginner should not start with RCM, it is not exactly a teaching method.  I hear that "Celebrate Piano" is recommended for preparing students for RCM but if you complete any of the methods, Faber, Alfred, etc, a student should be prepared to start Grade 1.  The intro level may be of use to some younger students but it is optional.

[nanabush]

I liked the grade 8, 9 and 10... grade 7 only took me 3 months and I played nearly everything in the book.  Performer's has sooo many pieces to choose from it's rediculous...any 4 of chopin's preludes minus the super easy ones... comon, 4 preludes.... performer's?  That which could be like 3 minutes or Mephisto waltz which is in same category lol... and they don't say DON"T CHOOSE EASY REPETOIRE

[jeremyjchilds]

I liked the grade 8, 9 and 10... grade 7 only took me 3 months and I played nearly everything in the book.  Performer's has sooo many pieces to choose from it's rediculous...any 4 of chopin's preludes minus the super easy ones... comon, 4 preludes.... performer's?  That which could be like 3 minutes or Mephisto waltz which is in same category lol... and they don't say DON"T CHOOSE EASY REPETOIRE

THere are a high number of choices, but I sure wish they had more...

And they do grade based on repertoire selection (based on a program of works) Your goal is to make your program as close to an hour as possible with out going over, at which point they will cut you off.

[nanabush]

Some of the performance pieces should not be there, or it should be something like 6 chopin preludes... they're missing alot of pieces that would go from années de pélérinage, they don't have islamey.  Some pieces that seem to fit in that are well known are not there...

[Jacey1973]

Oh i thought you meant the Royal College of Music in London...

[allthumbs]

Greetings

You can check out Royal Conservatory of Music site @

https://www.rcmusic.ca/flash/Intro/playintro.html

The Course of Study uses the "Celebration Series - A Piano Odyssey" series of music books for repertoire and studies at each grade level , corresponding workbooks, music CD's for each book's music pieces and a teacher's guide as well.

https://www.frederickharrismusic.com/fhmcCN/Frederick.jsp

I found it to be a well organized method of piano study.


Cheers

[jeremyjchilds]

Greetings

You can check out Royal Conservatory of Music site @

https://www.rcmusic.ca/flash/Intro/playintro.html

The Course of Study uses the "Celebration Series - A Piano Odyssey" series of music books for repertoire and studies at each grade level , corresponding workbooks, music CD's for each book's music pieces and a teacher's guide as well.

https://www.frederickharrismusic.com/fhmcCN/Frederick.jsp

I found it to be a well organized method of piano study.


Cheers

I agree, it is a good way to teach the classics.