Examination Boards (AMEB etc)

[cziffra]

There are various examination boards available to train pianists- i've heard of the abrsm on this post, i was a product of the ameb myself and there's also a trinity course, as well as many others, probably.

this post isn't to discuss which is better than which, but rather, are they useful at all?  
are they the only way to go?  or are they traps for people with closed minds who know nothing else?

[Clare]

They're good for some things, I guess, like getting experience playing in front of an expert, and having achieved a level that others can kind of understand.
But I know that AMEB can make you too focussed on just learning four pieces at a time, forgetting what you played for the last exam and not really building up a repotoire - well, at least that happened to me! I don't know about you.
My piano teacher always complains about the AMEB - that it does close your mind and technique is not always as important as it should be.
I do think it does have advantages and disadvantages.

[Tinkerbell]

I think they can be useful but don't make them the focus of ur life.

I've just entered for my Grade 3 exam, through ABRSM, which wil be in March... I know my three pieces, almost by heart already - doesn't mean I'm playing these and nothing else for two months!

I still buy sooo many music books, pop or classical or jazz, whatever, because it is so good to be constantly working on improving yourself (and keeps u interested, much more fun)

I do think exams are quite essential in a way, as they *can* show ur level (though obviously this must not be taken as a simple -i-passed-grade-one-therefore-i-can-only-play-grade-one-music-and-nothing-else   kind of thing, thats not what they're for i agree.

but if we want musicians and we want to make careers etc, i think yeah they're pretty useful.

Lau x