 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2003-11-02 11:32
Howdy all!
I was thinking that next year (2004) I would do another exam and possibly get some letters next to my name. About 5 years I ago I did 7th grade AMEB (Australian Music Examiners Bored. I mean, Board!) and I was thinking about the more recognised DipABRSM.
I've emailed the board as well as explored their website. It seems very complicated. The email that the International Examinations Coodinator sent me was long-winded and EXTREMELY difficult to understand - it all went straight over my head.
Can anyone explain how doing the DipABRSM outside of England works (in 50 words or less! Joking...), and how I can apply, where I can get a syllabus from? I'm in Melbourne, Australia.
Thanks for the help, appreciate it.
PS. I'd try and sit the exam towards the end of the year, if I remember correctly there are 3 exam periods...
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Author: jo.clarinet
Date: 2003-11-02 12:31
Hi LeWhite!
I might be able to help a bit because I had a recorder pupil do the DipABRSM last year. In England there are just 2 diploma exam sessions - July and December (there are 3 sessions for the Grade exams).
I think it seems to sound a lot more complicated than it actually is! I've got 3 more pupils working for it now and it all falls quite neatly into place. Basically, you need to do a recital of about 35 minutes (including the gaps between pieces) from their syllabus - I expect the AB could send you one either by post or extracts by email (but we have a postal strike here at the moment!!) - but 7 minutes' worth can be your own choice of piece(s).
You also need to write programme notes to support the recital pieces -1000-1200 words in total - and there are several rules that you need to follow about presentation etc, so do read the syllabus carefully!
The second part of the exam is in 2 bits: a quick study, where they give you a modern unaccompanied piece of about Grade 6 difficulty to study for 5 minutes and then you must give a performance, and lastly a viva voce where they'll ask some quite searching questions, so you need to know about eg development of the instrument, more about your pieces and their place in the history of music etc. They'll probably also ask more general questions such as what playing you do, what your musical interests are etc.
I should warn you that the standard required is very high - I know other teachers who have been surprised to find that their candidates didn't pass, although the teachers thought they would. Luckily my candidate did pass, much to my relief!
Hope this helps - I have the syllabus here, so if you have problems getting hold of it I might be able to scan bits of it for you, if I can work out how to do it!
Joanna Brown
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2003-11-02 22:41
Thanks! Whereabouts are you? Is it really only 35 minutes? I thought it was much more! Ilm just at the end of 1st year at college, and it says that the DipABRSM is intended at the level of the beginning of a college performance degree, so if I work hard then I have a chance of passing it. I've got a 20-minute recital in about 2 weeks.
Thanks for the info, I'll contact them about the syllabus.
PS. Any info on the international exams? Does it cost more, how is it done?
Post Edited (2003-11-02 22:42)
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Author: jo.clarinet
Date: 2003-11-03 05:41
Hello again! I'm writing this at about 6.30 am because I suddenly remembered - in the middle of the night! - that a prerequisite is that you have to have passed Grade 8 practical or an equivalent. I've just checked the syllabus and for you it would be Grade 8 AMEB.
So even if you're well past that level it seems that you need to take that exam first - you could probably work on it alongside your Diploma work to save time!
I'm in England, by the way. And no, I haven't really got any info on the international exams except that they take place in "main centres" in other countries. Here the 2004 DipABRSM fee will be £105 - I expect it'll be roughly the equivalent in Australian money.
Good luck with your forthcoming recital and with everything else - don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any more queries.
Cheers, Jo
Joanna Brown
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2003-11-03 10:10
Yeah I read that too... I am thinking of undertaking 8th grade in order to get to the DipABRSM, as I think it would really be worth it.
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-11-03 20:29
Um - what's wrong with undertaking an Associate or Licentiate from either AMEB or Trinity, both of whom hold their examinations in Melbourne?
I, personally, would never get a student to sit an AMEB exam for reasons I won't go into here ... my Trinity experiences have been much more positive.
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Author: Karel
Date: 2003-11-04 02:14
diz, I am interested in your reasons for disliking the AMEB. I am in the process of moving up its grade system, but have no experience of others. If you prefer not to go public, can you email me on <vahalakv@bigpond.net.au> please?
Karel.
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-11-04 02:29
Karel ... no, I'd rather not as it has been my experience and I would not like to unfairly criticise an institution based on my very limited experience.
I qualify "limited" by saying that most people who sit exams have a limited experience of the process due to the fact that they would only encounter a tiny proportion of all the examiners.
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Author: Karel
Date: 2003-11-04 03:32
OK diz. Pity though, because that applies to all our experiences, and unshared, they cannot contribute to the wider knowledge.
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2003-11-04 06:57
The DipABRSM is more recognised internationally. Even though I'm unsure if I'll ever go overseas, I'd like to cover my bases now. What if I went to study overseas and they have no idea what the AMEB is, or what standard it is at? This Diploma is from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, not just plain old Australian Music Examiners Board. Personally I see a huge difference. I'll explain further if you will too!
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