teaching abrsm

[BoliverAllmon]

does anyone here teach abrsm grades? maybe another program? or just pieces?

boliver

[cjp_piano]

I use RCME/RACE.  Do you know about it?

[BoliverAllmon]

no I don't explain.

[rlefebvr]

Any program using grades is great , especially if there is some type of certificate at the end of the year.

Great for kids and even teenagers. The young love that stuff and it gives them a real reason to practise. It pushes them to do better.

Do not get into the trap of just covering the program however. Make sure you give other stuff at the same time, but concentrate on the program pieces especially just before any exam.

[cjp_piano]

no I don't explain.

RCME is the Royal Conservatory of Music Examinations (Canada)
RACE is the Royal AMERICAN Conservatory Examinations

The RACE exams are graded starting with 2 preparatory levels (Prep A and Prep B) and then grades 1-10.  Then there is an ARCT level (Associate of the Royal Conservatory Toronto).

In addition to having repertoire from different periods, the exams also includes etudes, technical requirements, sight-reading, and ear-training (melody playback, rhythm clapback, chord, interval, and cadence recognition, etc.). 

It supports such a comprehensive approach that even if you don't have your students take the exams (or if they can't or don't want to), it is still VERY helpful to follow the syllabus that's available.  In fact, it's nice to see how RACE grades the difficulty of all the Bach P & F, Beethoven Sonatas, etc.

One thing that is great is that the technical requirements for each grade seem to be ahead of the difficulty of the pieces.  For example, Grade 5 pieces include Bach Little Prelude in C (BWV 939), Clementi Sonatinas, and some of the pieces from Bartok's "For Children".  But technically, they are already playing major, harm. and mel. minor 2 octave scales hands together, major scale formula pattern, chromatic scales, solid and broken triads in root position and inversions (major and minor, hands together), dominant 7th chords and inversions, and 2 octave arpeggios.  It seems that since the technical requirements are pretty demanding, the pieces are a breeze! This is great because many people I know, including me, learned to play difficult pieces without really having the technique to do so.  Turns out it would have been much easier to learn  those pieces if I could already do all the figures in the piece.

Anyway, go to the website to check it out.  It's great because students can register for exams online, teachers can check their  scores and download the judges comments, etc.

www.royalamericanconservatory.org

I highly recommend getting the RACE Piano Syllabus (Heritage Music Press) even if you don't want to do the exams.  (I think its like $13)

If anyone else knows something, please add!  I'm no expert.

[BoliverAllmon]

it seems good except the nearest testing center is quite a bit away from me. at least 4 hours. I doubt parents are going to want to take their kids on this long trip.

[cjp_piano]

it seems good except the nearest testing center is quite a bit away from me. at least 4 hours. I doubt parents are going to want to take their kids on this long trip.

Yeah, hopefully the program will expand.  It's failry new here in the US.  I'm lucky to be in Ohio because we were one of the first states to really get it going.  There are several locations here. 

But like I said, even if you don't do the exams, I highly recommend getting the syllabus instead of "just teaching pieces".

Maybe you could even help start a center near you!  It's happening all over =)

[BoliverAllmon]

wouldn't even know where to begin with that.