AMEB

[mercerreid]

Hi Everyone.

I have been learning piano now for four months. I had a teacher for three of those months but she kept on changing the times for my lesson and she always seemed distracted, needless to say she got the flick. Now I'm faced with a new dilemma.

I've been considering doing the AMEB syllabus, and would like to know more about it. I'm 21 years old, is that too old to be doing exams? I practice everyday, for at least 30mins, but it can be up to 2 hours (especially if I like the piece I'm working on). I think that it would keep me motivated and sometimes I feel like I'm missing important theoretical components, especially because I'm doing this by myself at the moment.

Has anyone got any thoughts or suggestions? I know there are other methods out there like Trinity and ABRSM, but AMEB seems to be common ground (I'm in Melbourne, Australia). I just want to get a feel of if before I start looking for a new teacher.

[j_menz]

IMO, you would be better finding the right teacher first and worrying about methods later. Your "new" teacher will have their own ideas. The three systems you mention are all pretty equivalent.

[mercerreid]

Hi j-menz.

Thanks for your post. That's exactly what I'm worried about though. I don't want a teacher who imposes their own ideas on me. I would prefer to learn from them rather than be lectured. I would prefer to be informed about all the methods before I start looking, so I can specify where I wish to go as a musician. Also some teachers will only teach AMEB while others will only teach Trinity or ABRSM. So previous experiences would be greatly appreciated.

[johnmar78]

Mer, if you near city, go to the local conservatorium for a music teacher if you can afford. They charged around 65$ per 45 minutes-Australian dollar.
It is never too old to learn, Ricter did not start his concert life untill his 40ths...
Its only the weak minded people that divert themselves from relarity and hide in a small corner in his own world that one's never suces. Idf not too scared to attemp or try. Here is your chance, go for it. My best wishes for you.

[ajspiano]

The AMEB does not represent a teaching "method" - its a testing institution.

If you study under the AMEB syllabus all that basically means is that you will choose from their set repertoire for a given grade, and complete there other requirements. Depending on the grade you are working on and the exact section of the syllabus you work from this will basically mean the following..

You study..

3-6 pieces of music. They will usually be stylistically different, such as -
 
1 study
1 baroque work
1 classical work
1 romantic work
an extra of what ever style you like

These pieces come off a list provided by the AMEB.

Additionally you will be required to learn and present at examination some scales, do some sight reading, have a basic understanding of the terms and signs in your pieces and understand their musical form, maybe some basic history about the composer if you are an A+ student, and you will be tested on aural skills (clapping or singing something back to the examiner after having listened to it, or identifying basic intervals by ear).

.......

This stuff, and more, is ALL common practice teaching material for any decent teacher, and has nothing to do with the AMEB, its just music. ABRSM and trinity have similar requirements. The quality of the teacher matters infinitely more than whether you pursue exams under a given organisation like the AMEB. Find a good teacher. A good teacher may do exams, they may not..  Your experience of the AMEB's program, if you do it, will be a reflection of your teacher's ability and skills, not the AMEB itself.

The AMEB does not publish its requirements per grade for free, the syllabus is usually released annually and costs about $20, you can order it online.

Alternatively, you can read this which is the ABRSM's current syllabus. It is practically the same thing as the AMEB (slight variances per grade), only the AMEB has a significantly broader range of repertoire in each grade.

[perfect_pitch]

It is practically the same thing as the AMEB (slight variances per grade), only the AMEB has a significantly broader range of repertoire in each grade.

Except for the fact that the AMEB standard is MUCH higher, not just the repertoire - but the difficulty in passing.

[slane]

My Aunt started doing AMEB exams in hmmm ... 62-47+9 ... when she was about 24, although she could already play a little and she enjoyed the process. She wanted the paper so she could take on students but I think she only got to about 6th grade, which is not a teaching qualification!

A toyed with doing exams but I could not think of a good reason to do so. Chopin never did exams. I bet Barenboim didn't either. Entrance to Uni is by audition, not AMEB exam marks so that's not a reason and for me, the whole point of learning piano is to learn piano. Exams would get in the way of that. Apart from the stress, I've met too many people waving their 5th grade certificate that are musical ignoramuses because they think music is the AMEB grade book (not the same as the syllabus). The only good reason for doing exams that I can see is for teenagers who need the incentive to practise.

Now having said that, let me say this. I *adore* the AMEB syllabus. Well I just love a good list and in a way it can be considered a method in that it is a list of graded repertoire that has been compiled and refined over many years by panels of experts. I spend many an idle moment going through the lists and imagining what I'll play next, or in 3 years time. I have made compilations of professional recordings for grades 3-5 and I love to listen to those, partly to get my head around the repertoire, partly to help me choose what to do next. For me the manual of syllabuses (the stupid thing includes every instrument they examine as well as piano) is $20 well spent. But I believe they will sell the piano syllabus separately online next year. The NZMEB syllabus is similar to AMEB and free on the web. https://www.nzmeb.org/syllabuses/piano/performance/

When you look for a teacher, it is quite acceptable to audition them; a tryout lesson. Usually they charge the same as a normal lesson. I was lucky. I got a teacher who matched my 5-6 requirements first go, but I had heard good things about him from a friend. If you know people who learn piano, ask them. I know one woman (she is much much older than 21 and doing 5th grade) who learns around here and her teacher sounds atrocious! I wanted a person who loved the repertoire, was kind and patient, analytical, could explain this physical action of playing technical bits and the artistic and historical interpretation of the music, and would listen to my thoughts on all those things.

EDIT : oh and AMEB have special exam times for mature age students, so they don't think 21 is too old.
And the manual of syllabuses changes every year, but necessarily the piano bit, so you don't have to buy it every year, just when the piano bit changes.

[ajspiano]

Except for the fact that the AMEB standard is MUCH higher, not just the repertoire - but the difficulty in passing.

Having not ever actually done ABRSM exams I wont comment on the difficulty of passing..

I dont think the repertoire gap is that huge though, its there, but its not big.. and you're dealing with something very subjective anyway. There is some times a 1 (maybe 2 on occasion) grade variance with how they rank pieces. But I doubt that makes a huge difference to the overall process if a student pursues a series of exams...  and adequately studies in all areas.

[pianoplayjl]

3-6 pieces of music. They will usually be stylistically different, such as -
 
1 study
1 baroque work
1 classical work
1 romantic work
an extra of what ever style you like

One minor correction. It should be like this:

List A= study/ Baroque work
List B= classical work
List C= Romantic work
List D= 20th century work

and prepare 2 extra pieces of your choice, although you usually  get to pick one to play at exam. I played both in 6th grade. It sucked.

JL