Students in Australia may be used to going through grades or years in school, but for students learning a musical instrument like the piano, grades take on a whole different meaning.
Music students, particularly those learning the piano, will study pieces at a certain level and complete exams or grades for their instrument. How these grades are organised will depend on which examining board they learn with.
In this article, we'll focus mainly on the Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB) and a few other music boards that piano students may encounter.
The Different Music Boards for Piano Players
There are several different music boards; in most cases, they are widely and internationally recognised.
Choosing one over another is primarily down to convenience. You're more likely to find a piano tutor or teacher in Australia who is familiar with the AMEB grades than some of the others.
The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) is the oldest, still-operating music examination board based in Toronto, Canada.
In the UK, the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) is one of the more popular instrument examination boards. However, there's also the Trinity College London (TCL) examining board in the UK.
These examining boards offer a similar structure of graded musical instrument and piano grades. Here's a quick comparison of them for reference.
| Board Name | Piano Grades | Further Certifications |
|---|---|---|
| ABRSM | 8 | Dip ABRSM Licentiate (LRSM) Fellowship (FRSM) |
| TCL | 8 | Associate's in Music (Amus TCL) Licentiate (LTCL) Fellowship (FTCL) |
| RCM | 10 | Associate of the RCM (ARCT) Licentiate of the RCM (LRCM) |
| AMEB | 8 | Associate in Music (AMusA) Licentiate in Music (LMusA) Fellowship in Music (FMusA) |
The RCM is the only examining board that features more than eight grades. Most of the time, when you speak to a musician who's studied their instrument formally, they'll talk about their level in terms of grades from one to eight.
Grades 9 and 10 from RCM aren't inherently better than Grade 8 from any other examining board; they're scaled and divided differently.
Beyond graded examination boards, musicians and pianists can also pursue further and higher education, including Associate, Licentiate, and Fellowship degrees.
- An Associate in Music could be compared to a two-year academic degree.
- A Licentiate is the equivalent of a Bachelor's degree.
- A Fellowship is equivalent to a Master's degree.
While almost all the examining boards have a similar grade system from 1 to 8 (except for RCM, of course), the key differences are in their programs, syllabuses, and examinations.
A Quick Explanation of the AMEB Grades and Levels
The AMEB splits the piano grades into two key levels: Level 1 and Level 2. If it helps, you could think of these similarly to primary and secondary education.
Level 1: Beginner (Preliminary to Grade 4)
Level 1 covers Preliminary to Grade 4, with "Preliminary" referring to the grade and exam for absolute beginner pianists. This means that there are technically more than 8 AMEB piano grades, but let's not worry about this too much for now.
At these levels, pianists will learn about simple rhythms and repertoire pieces that help them develop coordination.
Here are some pieces from the Grade 4 repertoire.
Level 2: Intermediate (Grade 5 to Grade 8)
From Grade 5 to Grade 8, students are said to be in Level 2. This also covers the certificate of performance.
These grades are considered to be of an intermediate level. Students build upon the technique and music theory from the beginner levels while incorporating sonatas and character pieces into their repertoire.
Here are some AMEB Grade 8 piano pieces.
Level 3: Advanced (PCBE, ACBE, LCBE, FCBE)
Beyond Level 1 and Level 2, there are actually the Level 3 qualifications. These include the Associate, Licentiate, and Fellowship qualifications mentioned above.
At this level, pianists are studying and practising for special accreditations that show they play at an expert level.
Understanding AMEB Levels
You could imagine that Level 1 is primary education, Level 2 is secondary education, and Level 3 is higher education. However, that doesn't mean that a pianist must be of these ages or even in these education levels to do their piano exams or grades.
For piano players, Level 1 grades typically cover playing the piano. By Level 2, the amount of music theory pianists face increases. In every case, piano students must play certain pieces from specific lists or repertoires appropriate to their level and grade.
Level 2 piano candidates have the option for additional tests and exams. The Musicianship exam has an aural component, while the Theory exam includes more general knowledge and creative aspects of piano playing, like harmonisation and melody writing.
There's also an option for pianists to choose a syllabus that combines Musicianship and Theory with an emphasis on Western European music culture. This includes German and French musical terminology and concepts.
The grades and exams for AMEB are pass or fail. If you pass, you progress to the next level or grade, though the "degree of mastery" can earn you additional credit and Pass with High Distinction.
These distinctions could be particularly useful for exceptional piano students if you're considering studying piano at university. There are also options for higher music education and degrees through AMEB.
Are you looking for online piano lessons? Superprof helps you get in touch with teachers all over Australia.
How to Progress through Piano Grades
While the years in school offer a somewhat understandable timetable for students, piano grades aren't as straightforward.
Some piano students may take a few months to complete a piano grade, while others may take up to two years. After all, a student's piano tuition mightn't be as regular as their schooling, and the performance element of piano grades makes them more like a driving test than an exam in many ways.
We've already mentioned that piano grades are pass or fail. The pass mark for the written part of the grades is 65%. After this, there are degrees of merit: credit, honour, and distinction. Scores under 65% are classed as not satisfactory.
The same proficiency levels are given for the practical components of the piano grades. If you fall below the acceptable level for the performance part, you essentially fail.
When a student chooses to test their proficiency at a given grade, the decision should be made by parents, caregivers, piano teachers, or tutors. Like a driving test and your instructor choosing when the time is right to take it, piano levels and grades are much the same.
Choosing to do a grade or skip a grade (in certain circumstances) should all be discussed with a piano tutor or teacher.
Exams for AMEB Grades and Diplomas
Plenty of universities around Australia offer Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music with options for pianists. This might make you consider whether the AMEB grading system is even worth considering if you can ultimately learn to play the piano and then study music at university.
It's important to remember that the value of the exam isn't simply from the level a student will be granted by completing it. Its value is also in the things they'll learn, both in piano and musical understanding.
The exam process is designed to help you grow and develop as a musician.
Whether you do Trinity, AMEB, ABRSM, classical, jazz, or other piano tests, it's not always about the test itself. It's about learning more about how to play the piano, expanding your repertoire, and giving students more structure around their piano playing.
The formal piano education and syllabus offered by these grading systems mean that piano players can work on exercises appropriate to their level, develop their playing skills, and even simply have a goal in mind every time they sit down to practise.
The structure offered by the examination boards is invaluable. Still, we recommend reading these tips to get the most out of your piano grades.
Get Help Playing the Piano and Passing AMEB Grades with a Private Tutor
We're not suggesting that classical or jazz pianists can only progress with exam books, diplomas, or grades. These can be quick and practical ways to structure how you learn to play the piano and improve as a pianist.
The syllabus for each grade and every exam board is generally progressive, and the techniques and music theory covered at each grade build upon the syllabus of the previous grade.
However, not every student or piano player is the same, so learning approaches should be tailored to them using the right approaches and techniques.
A private piano tutor in Australia can help you with this while also helping you to develop the skills and techniques necessary for progressing through piano grades.
You might need help with a particular piece from the repertoire for your upcoming exam. It may be a technical piece that some students find easy but you struggle with.
A tutor can help you work on the skills or theory you struggle with, ensuring that the content of each session is suitable for you.
After all, the books, resources, and grades are designed to be appropriate for most students but won't be perfect for every student.
If you'd like to work with a private piano tutor for an upcoming RCM, ABRSM, Trinity, or AMEB exam or want to learn how to play the piano better, just search for piano on the Superprof website.
If you live in Sydney, for example, all you need to do is search on your browser for "piano lessons sydney" followed by Superprof, and you will have access to an array of piano tutors in the city.
Similarly, if music theory is causing problems, you can search for that, too!
Just search for anything you want to learn on the Superprof website.
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
