Have Learning Grades been "Dumbed Down?"

[alzado]

I happened to be in an antique shop today.  I went through and reviewed several copies of ETUDE magazine dated in the early 1940's.

For those who do not know this magazine, it always had about 20 pages of sheet music in the back, most of it for piano solo. 

I noticed that the pieces were assigned a "grade" (level of difficulty).

The Grade 2 music was about right for what I would want to play.  I was surprised that some of the Grade 3 music seemed very difficult.  It seemed to border on "Advanced."

I am familiar with a number of the standard lesson books being published today, such as Thompson or Schaum or Bastien.

There's no way a "Grade 3" book in any of these series would prepare a person for the "Grade 3" difficulty level in ETUDE.  In fact, today's books would be marginal in preparing for even what ETUDE calls "Grade 2."

Are any old timers out there who have tracked piano pedagogy for the last half century? Have the "grades" been made much easier?

Back before T.V. was widespread (e.g.,  the early 1040s), I suspect that a lot more sheet music was sold, and a lot more people played the piano. 

Perhaps at this point the publishers are trying hard to keep people going, and the last thing they want to do is overwhelm them, or push them too hard?

Anyone else have any idea if the so-called "grades" have been watered down?

Thanks--  I will read any replies with interest --

[thalbergmad]

It wouldn't surprise me at all, because in England this has happened to every other subject. Blair has ordered it to make out that his Education reforms have been a success.

When i look at modern examples of 11 plus exams and so forth, the questions are laughable.

When i took my Grade 8 (almost 30 years ago), I am sure i played the Brahms Rhapsody in G minor. Could this happen today?

[dmk]

I think the grades have been dumbed down a little, but bear this in mind.

Bastiens, Thompsons, Schaum Hal Leonard or Piano Adventures Grade 3 IS NOT the same as Grade 3 pieces.  Mind you I don't use these often, but if I did, students using Grade 3 would probably be up to preliminary or Grade 1 in 'exam' speak.

The Brahms Rhapsody in G minor is considered around the Associate level (on the British and Australian grading system not the North American which I think is a little different) so thats not too much of an increase.

The grading standards vary greatly....

cheers

dmk

[Tash]

i would say with the AMEB system at least that it's been made slightly easier in the fact that they've ditched sightreading and aural for the diploma exams. and teachers just don't make a massive effort (at least mine didn't) in giving a continuous teaching in aural and sightreading- you know, you would only start doing it a month before the exam, and as if that's going to make a permanent difference. and the general knowledge sucks. i was severly disappointed in the questions i was asked in my Cmus exam last year because they were SO basic i was like come on ask me something intelligent. so i'm hoping they'll be better for Amus and i can actually show that i know something in detail.
as for the pieces, i have no idea. you know, if you think a grade's too easy, then do the next one up. because in the end you'll be playing the hard stuff anyway so really it doesn't matter what grade they put it in.

[bernhard]

Yes, I believe that over the years the pieces have become easier for each grade (I am speaking of the ABRSM with which I am most familiar). If you look at the syllabuses in the 1950s, often pieces that were classified as grade 3 then, turn up in the recent syllabus as grade 6.

However this could be due to changes in attitude as well: recognising  and taking into account musical as well as technical difficulty. Satie’s Gymonopedie no. 1 is a case in point. In the 1950’s it was a grade 3 piece. In 2000 (I think) it was grade 6. Is this a case of dumbing down? Or is it a recognition that the piece requires more musical maturity than a grade 3 student would show?

But overall, yes, I believe that exams have become easier to pass (or more difficult to fail).

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[abell88]

Here in Canada, I think the RCM went through a phase of making things easier, but has now swung back the other way. For example, when I did my Teacher's ARCT, I could choose to do scales separated by a 3rd or by a 10th (it had formerly been only by a 3rd), and now it's 3rds again. They also tightened up the rules for supplemental exams (if you didn't get high enough marks on every section of the exam) -- on the other hand, you can now arrange to take the performance half and the viva voce half at two separate sessions, so in a way that's easier.