If you have come across the name, ABRSM, in your music pursuits, and are not sure what it is, fret not! This guide will help you understand everything you need to know about ABRSM
Contents:
What Is ABRSM?
ABRSM stands for the Associate Board of the Royal Schools of Music, and it is most popularly known as an organization that conducts music examinations, and awards graded music qualifications from beginner up till diploma level. The ABRSM exam board is based in the UK, but the music examinations conducted by ABRSM are widely available in many parts of the world. ABRSM examinations are available in Singapore, and its graded music qualifications are popularly pursued by many piano students, with many piano teachers in Singapore preparing their students for the ABRSM music examinations.
What music examinations does ABRSM offer?
ABRSM conducts the following examinations, arranged in order of level (first on the list being the lowest level of qualification, and last on the list being the highest level of qualification):
Prep Test
Practical Initial Grade
Grades 1-8 (Performance Grades and/or Practical Grades*)
ARSM (Diploma)
DipABRSM (Diploma)
LRSM (Diploma)
FRSM (Diploma)
Amongst the above, the Grades 1 to 8 examinations are the most popularly applied for. *Read further for clarification on what is Performance Grades and Practical Grades.
Furthermore, ABRSM also conducts music theory examinations from Grades 1-8, and these are as popular as their Performance Grades and Practical Grades examinations.
Here's a list of instruments that ABRSM conducts exams and awards music qualifications for:
Music Theory (non-instrument specific)
Piano
Bowed Strings
Violin
Viola
Cello
Double Bass
Woodwind
Descant Recorder
Treble Recorder
Flute
Oboe
Clarinet
Bassoon
Saxophone
Brass
Horn
Trumpet/Cornet/Flugelhorn
E Flat Horn
Trombone
Baritone & Euphonium
Bass Trombone
Tuba
Harp
Harp (Pedal)
Harp (Non Pedal)
Percussion
Percussion (Combined)
Snare Drum
Timpani
Tuned Percussion
Other Instruments
Singing
Musical Theatre
Organ
Harpsichord
Guitar
Jazz
Jazz Piano
Jazz Flute
Jazz Clarinet
Jazz Saxophone
What are ABRSM Performance Grades?
It might escape one's notice initially, but ABRSM Performance Grades are to be distinguished from ABRSM Practical Grades. What is the difference between ABRSM's Performance Grades and Practical Grades? ABRSM Performance Grades refer to its online examinations, whereas ABRSM Practical Grades refer to its face-to-face examinations. While these examinations share some similarities, they are not entirely the same. Refer to the list below to understand the different components to the exam
Practical Grades consists of 4 exam components
3 Exam Pieces
Sight Reading
Aural
Scales & Arpeggios
Performance Grades consists of 1 exam component
4 Exam Pieces in video recording
ABRSM Practical and Performance Grades are considered equivalent qualifications.
How does ABRSM's Online Exams (Performance Grades) work?
To recap, ABRSM's performance grades consist only of 1 component, and that is to perform 4 exam pieces in an uninterrupted and unedited video recording.
As with the face-to-face Practical Grade examinations, the online Performance Grade exam candidates are required to choose their pieces from the same ABRSM exam repertoire list that we mentioned previously. To recap, this exam repertoire list changes every two years, and is divided into 3 further lists, commonly known as List A, List B, and List C. Candidates of the online Performance Grade examinations are required to choose one piece from each list.
The fourth piece is a piece of the candidates own choice, but it should be of similar level as the other pieces chosen. To avoid any potential confusion on what constitutes 'similar level', most candidates simply choose their fourth piece from ABRSM's exam repertoire list for the same grade. And as the fourth piece is the candid