ABRSM Diploma Preparation

[green]

Have a 12 year old student, just completed his Gr 8. Would like to ask for suggestions on how to start preparing for the Diploma in terms of repertoire and planning.

[pianowelsh]

Give plenty of time. ABRSM are always stressing ABRSM dip is not grade 9 its like 10 or 11.  Select more pieces than you need off the list and make sure there is plenty of technical preaparation done too. (I uses trinity as a bench mark as they require etudes and scales for some of their dips and it gives an idea of the level expected).  Make sure the kid is given opportunities to play out (im not talking mum and dad) Im talking local festivals and school recitals etc.  Even consider a performance assesment first (ABRSM website). For each of these get your student to research and do some prog notes - as friends..other parents etc to give feedback on what they read. Prog notes are often badly done, they come with practice. Also dont forget the quick study test. Choose some short work each lesson and spend 5 mins getting him to look over it and play through a couple of times - like sightreading  BUT higher standard needed.

[thaicheow]

Good suggestion. I would almost doing the same thing too.

But perhaps you may can look into other exam boards, like Trinity, LCM, etc. I haven't had much experience in diplomas by ABRSM, but my friends have been telling me that the viva voce is always the drag!

[pianowelsh]

Yes good point I should mention that actually I always recommend students to look at the Trinity board too because of the technical part of their diplomas they usually set an etude and or scales and this is a helpfull indicator of the kind of technical work to do even if your not playing an etude as part of your programme.

[pianowelsh]

LCM do an interesting diploma just beyond grade 8 but not as high as dip ABRSM. If you choose the pieces right you could double them up and take the two dips spending the interveening time honing all the other components required for the ABRSM one.