Piano, Keyboard and Theory Exams
I am very happy to teach pupils who have no intention of sitting exams. However, exams are an excellent way to assess progress with external bodies such as ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music), LCM (London College of Music), Trinity (formerly Trinity/Guildhall) or VCM (Victoria College).
Piano grade exams can be a bit nerve-racking although the examiners of today are (on the whole) trained to do their best to put pupils at ease. However piano grades should not to be considered if the pupil is not ready for them. The approach of "my child will only practise if he/she knows that they will be sitting an exam in 6 weeks time" is generally far from ideal. An alternative is entering for festivals, or LCM "Leisure Play" assessments. 'Leisure Play' grades have no scale/sight reading or aural requirements, but the (four) pieces are marked to the same standard as grade exams. However: festivals have sadly declined in numbers these days.
Exams can be a stimulus to very healthy practice and I admit that I (as the teacher) gain a tremendous sense of achievement every time they pass. Pupils usually surge ahead in the development of technique when they prepare for exams; non-exam pupils [sometimes referred to as "butterflies", because they flit around from piece to piece ] tend to drift around repertoire and often lose interest in a piece before they have achieved progress equivalent to an exam pass mark.
Also: to pass an exam, you really need to have something of the 'performer' spirit in you. It seems obvious, but many parents seem to miss this fact: but when sitting an exam you are performing to an examiner. Think about it - but it's true.
EXAM INFO
In my 25 years of teaching I have had many adult pupils who never sat an exam: they have "had enough of all of that". They are quite happy to gradually work at their pieces and gain pleasure simply by playing in their own home. For more about exams, read "Raising an Amazing Musician" (ABRSM) chapter 14. I consider ABRSM exam preparation to be a speciality of mine.
LOCATION
Eccleston (PR7 5TG - where I teach) is not an exam centre. The nearest centres are Chorley, Leyland, Preston, Wigan, Southport, Manchester and Liverpool. Each centre has its unique pros and cons: some of my pupils understandably prefer a centre with a warm-up room equipped with a piano. For others their priority is distance: the exam centre nearest to their home/school.
FEES
Exam boards (not teachers) set fees for each exam. Basically the more advanced the grade, the longer the pupil will be in the exam room [around 10 minutes for practical Grade 1]. Therefore, the higher the grade (pieces are longer and more scales to be heard etc), more of the examiner's time is required: they are experts who deserve considerably more than the minimum wage. Exam boards are not charities. It is not my policy to charge extra myself for exam preparation: I make NO extra money out of helping pupils through exams, unless the pupil/parent requests extra lessons.
The ABRSM Grade 1 theory exam is 90 minutes long and can now be sat online.
Piano grade exams can be a bit nerve-racking although the examiners of today are (on the whole) trained to do their best to put pupils at ease. However piano grades should not to be considered if the pupil is not ready for them. The approach of "my child will only practise if he/she knows that they will be sitting an exam in 6 weeks time" is generally far from ideal. An alternative is entering for festivals, or LCM "Leisure Play" assessments. 'Leisure Play' grades have no scale/sight reading or aural requirements, but the (four) pieces are marked to the same standard as grade exams. However: festivals have sadly declined in numbers these days.
Exams can be a stimulus to very healthy practice and I admit that I (as the teacher) gain a tremendous sense of achievement every time they pass. Pupils usually surge ahead in the development of technique when they prepare for exams; non-exam pupils [sometimes referred to as "butterflies", because they flit around from piece to piece ] tend to drift around repertoire and often lose interest in a piece before they have achieved progress equivalent to an exam pass mark.
Also: to pass an exam, you really need to have something of the 'performer' spirit in you. It seems obvious, but many parents seem to miss this fact: but when sitting an exam you are performing to an examiner. Think about it - but it's true.
EXAM INFO
In my 25 years of teaching I have had many adult pupils who never sat an exam: they have "had enough of all of that". They are quite happy to gradually work at their pieces and gain pleasure simply by playing in their own home. For more about exams, read "Raising an Amazing Musician" (ABRSM) chapter 14. I consider ABRSM exam preparation to be a speciality of mine.
LOCATION
Eccleston (PR7 5TG - where I teach) is not an exam centre. The nearest centres are Chorley, Leyland, Preston, Wigan, Southport, Manchester and Liverpool. Each centre has its unique pros and cons: some of my pupils understandably prefer a centre with a warm-up room equipped with a piano. For others their priority is distance: the exam centre nearest to their home/school.
FEES
Exam boards (not teachers) set fees for each exam. Basically the more advanced the grade, the longer the pupil will be in the exam room [around 10 minutes for practical Grade 1]. Therefore, the higher the grade (pieces are longer and more scales to be heard etc), more of the examiner's time is required: they are experts who deserve considerably more than the minimum wage. Exam boards are not charities. It is not my policy to charge extra myself for exam preparation: I make NO extra money out of helping pupils through exams, unless the pupil/parent requests extra lessons.
The ABRSM Grade 1 theory exam is 90 minutes long and can now be sat online.
Theory Tuition
For information about music theory tuition go to my theory page: music theory