ABRSM

[Kapellmeister27]

could someone pelase explain this grading system a little bit.  i am not familiar with it at all and i would like to know what level i am.

maybe there is a website that explains it more thoroughly...

also, maybe someone could post a couple of pieces for each grade level


(for my grade, my current pieces: chop scherzo c#m, beethoven 27-1, rach suite 2, intro[2-piano], and a couple scarlattit sonatas)

thanx

[robo1001]

The website for the ABRSM people is, https://www.abrsm.org/?page=home

There are repertoire lists for all the grades and dipolomas that you can download as PDF files, but my guess would be that you're around the LRSM level (the second highest level, FRSM is the highest level)

Rob!

[Kapellmeister27]

thanx for the website, although i couldnt find anywhere where it gave examples of pieces past level 8, where do i go.

also you say im at the second highest level, yet i know that the differences between the pieces im working on and the hardest hard pieces is immense,

what would be an example of the easier FRSM pieces taht i should try go for (even though i dont take these exams, itd be nice to know when i am at the uppermost level)

[robo1001]

This page should take you to where you can find the repertoire list for the diplomas if you scroll down a bit:

https://www.abrsm.org/?page=exams/diplomas/dips2005Performance.html

I'm afraid I haven't played any of the pieces from the FRSM repertoire list....yet  ,so I'm not quite shure which of the pieces are the easier ones but I would say that one of the Beethoven Sonatas would be good to learn or a Chopin Sonata.

[pocorina]

Remember, it's not just the pieces. Anyone can play the pieces in any diploma list, it's the viva voce and the paperwork. They fail more people than they pass. Seriously. It's so hard to please them.

ABRSM suck ass big time anyway. Go for Guildhall, or any other board. I'll probably get slagged off for this, but ABRSM cannot see the forest for the trees

[allthumbs]

Greetings

Or if you are in Canada - The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM)

https://www.rcmusic.ca/flash/Intro/playintro.html

Cheers

[Phillip]

If you are interested in ABRSM diplomas, I recommend having a look at the video they issued in 2004 (and which is available for sale) which shows candidates at various levels and on various instruments  reprising parts of their diploma performances, together with interviews with examiners etc, and examiners' comments on the performances.  As regards the FRSM, I was amused to see that for an example of the standard required, they showed the established concert pianist Vanessa Latarche playing a piece of Godowsky - as if to say, dont try this unless you are really serious!  As a matter of fact, the fees for the highest diplomas are sufficiently high to put off time-wasters.

The key point with all diplomas is - however well you can play at home or even in public, can you cope with  doing a 30 min+ recital in the sterile environment of an examination room in front of one or two examiners?

Phillip

[IanT]

At these higher levels they are definitely looking for more than just being able to play the notes.  They are looking for musical maturity deep enough to be able to project some long and very serious music.  If you look at the FRSM list you'll see that it's primarily made up of large and meaty works e.g. late Beethoven sonatas, Chopin sonatas, prok. sonatas, etc.  The ability to make these things meaningful and connected  from end to end is of prime importance.

Ian

[hodi]

IMO this grading system sucks and i don't understand why people in the forum pay so much attension to it.. 

[Phillip]

The importance of gradings varies from country to country.  In the UK music grades are given weightings together with academic exams in assessing qualification for university entrance.  Diplomas etc. are useful to quote on application forms for musical jobs or posts when you are writing to people who don't know you. 

However, with music, you are only as good as your last performance.  As well as music diplomas I also have an accountancy qualification, and for that I am supposed to do 'continuing professional education' and confirm each year that I have kept mysefl up to date.  There is no requirement with music diplomas to renew one's skills in order to retain them - perhaps there should be.

Phillip

[pianowelsh]

Agreed grading sucks BUT colleges and competitions are OBSESSED by having the right diplomas and qualifications and increasingly as teachers parents look for the people with long list of initials after their names.  It is VERY anti music but is unfortunately becoming more and more necessary. Interesting to note with ABRSM though (interesting to know they put vanessa on video) that there is no requirement to play from memory even at thehighest level - I wholeheartedly agree with this as so many good performances and performers are written-off these days because the play from the copy - this really HAS to change. It does not and never has made it more musical to play without the score and it does damage to many young pianists forcing them to memorize at like 18 yrs old when they werent brought up doing it. I know so many talented pianists at colleges who have stopped loving music because of the immense stress put on them to memorize EVERYTHING. WHY?
That aside having currently only taken teaching diplomas (studying performance in college) i dont know how hard they are on the actual recital side of things (having said that i ve had two teachers who examine L/FRSM diplomas) but the paperwork from my experience of teaching side of things is not a problem if you are really interested in what your doing. Granted the Viva is more difficult to prepare for and for me written is easier that verbal communication but i think generally they are rigerous exams which is good for those who do them because they actually mean something then!

[jchurch1]

I was amused to see that for an example of the standard required, they showed the established concert pianist Vanessa Latarche playing a piece of Godowsky - as if to say, dont try this unless you are really serious! 

Phillip

Actually, Vanessa Latarche played Earl Wild's "Fascinating Rhythm" from Seven Virtuoso Etudes on Gershwin.

I was so inspired by the clip on the video that I went out bought a copy of the music from the states... had a lesson with Vanessa, and am now learning 5 or the 7 etudes for my dissertation this March 

Although, of course your body needs to be trained (my teacher has suggested I go to the gym now!) it made me realise you can do anything if you really want to do it 
 

[verywellmister]

The Abrsm level 1-8 is a bit easy.

But there is this one other ABRSM exam that's hard.

[BoliverAllmon]

which is?

[verywellmister]

which is?

I forget.  I'll have to check.

[BoliverAllmon]

i sense sarcasm

[stevie]

random muff, dong