Klarinet Archive - Posting 000375.txt from 2004/04

From: "David Glenn" <maestrodavidglenn@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Music exams in U.S.
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 16:40:23 -0400

- snip -
>ABRSM, (several colleges thru`out U.K.) and Guildhall and Trinity,
>individual colleges) do emphasise theory almost as much as performance. I
>s`pose this good.
- snip -
>Tony W.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tony,
Let yourself be corrected by an expatriate American: The ABRSM exams do not emphasise theory almost as much as performance. To be exact, the theoretical part makes up 18 out of 150 points on the exams (smallest part of all). Scales and chords 21 points. Sight reading 21 points. 90 points left for the three pieces. So it appears that the ABRSM exams emphasize playing and not theory. The only hitch to this is that you have to take one theory exam (grade 5) which is really not hard before you can do the practical exams in the higher grades. As far as my teaching goes, it's just enough theory required to make me do something with my students on it once in a while. I am glad about this since I started with these exams because, with 25 minute units and you know how much some students practise ... it's hard to get around to these things sometimes.
Best,
David

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