 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-10-25 03:31
I've never heard of these "exams". I am kinda interested in where I would measure up against these. Also, I think they might be a good idea because they set some sort of "goal" for me. I can play and hope that I'm getting better, but if I know what level I am through one of these exams, I know where I have to aim to get to. The next step, so to speak.
How can I find out what's required to take these exams or what exams I should take? Is there even a way to take these if I'm not a music major?
Signed,
Curious in NJ [Just in case I decide to send this to Dear Abby]
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Karel
Date: 2003-10-25 05:25
Alexi, those exams are from the UK. In Australia we have the AMEB only, as far as I know. To give you an idea of the level, grade 5 (of 8 grades before diploma type exams) has these in the syllabus:
List A (Studies): Lazarus No 12, Rae No 25 or 32, Rose No 7 (32 Studies Fisher Ed), Uhl No 20, Barermann No 27 or 31 (and more to choose from).
List B : From Solos for The Clarinet Player ed. Christmann (Schirmer): Mozart Larghetto, Mozart Adagio No 11, C.Weber 2nd Movt Concerto No 1
List C : Finzi Prelude No 1, Nielsen Fantasy Op 2, Schumann R. Romances 1 or 3 Opus 94, Baermann (Wagner) Adagio, Schumann Fantasy Piece No 1.
Apart from the Technical Work which includes a set of scales, arpeggios etc, one piece from each section is required as well as an "extra list" of 3 suitable pieces.
Grades 6 7 and 8 become progressively more demanding.
I hope this gives you some help. Cheers, Karel.
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Author: Karel
Date: 2003-10-25 05:32
...and I think you are quite right about such exams helping you to assess where you stand in the scheme of things. It's the main reason why at 66 I am working my way through the grades. It forces one to progress in a structured and systematic way and ensures that important aspects (in the Technical Work especially) are not avoided just because they are not as much fun as playing tunes.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-10-25 05:57
Karel,
That actually helps a lot. Can you give me some website or some way to get a hold of the list for all the grades? That way I can have a hard copy to look at and know what pieces I should be looking at next. That would be very helpful. Even if I don't have to do it since I'm not going to college for clarinet, it's something to shoot for and it will help me choose pieces of my ability and pieces to look at to get better. I appreciate yours and anyone elses help in the matter.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Karel
Date: 2003-10-25 08:42
Alexi, I don't think you will find that as a freebie on the net, but you could try <ameb.edu.au/> and see what help they can give you. The Music Syllabus is a thick book not dedicated to clarinet only. Whether they have a download facility for this I have no idea.
David Hite has a guide for grades on his site, not as stringent and exacting as the AMEB.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-10-25 09:49
We also have Trinity College London exams in Australia and throughout the British Commonwealth. I believe you can take Trinity College exams in Canada, there are other British exam systems available both through the Commonwealth such as the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Society of Music amongst others. There are also military exam grades. All examining bodies have their own syllabuses or syllabii ad there is always debate as to which is the best or hardest. It doesn't matter they just provide, as Karel has said, structured study.
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Author: Clare
Date: 2003-10-25 10:00
For the UK-based exams mentioned in the earlier post:
You can find the syllabus for the ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) at http://www.abrsm.ac.uk/asp/clarinet.asp
(that's the clarinet home page - you need to select which grade you're interested from the options at the bottom of the page)
Trinity's homepage is http://www.trinitycollege.co.uk and you can follow the links to find the syllabus for their clarinet exams.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-10-26 01:46
Thank you all. You've all been very helpful and thanks for the list with the syllabus. Now not only do I have a guide as to what to learn, I also have a guide which should show me what music is appropriate for me to learn and practice in order to improve without worrying about whether I buy and piece and find out that it was much harder than it looked!
I really appreciate it. This will definitely come in handy (especially should I not be able to get clarinet lessons next semester).
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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