MUSIC EXAMS GRADING SYSTEM
Most piano students in
either the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM),
or the Trinity College of London’s
examination board.
|
Levels |
ABRSM |
Trinity |
|
Graded Examinations |
Grades 1 to 8 Practical
and Theory |
Grades 1 to 8
Practical
and Theory |
|
Diplomas |
DipABRSM
LRSM
FRSM
Awarded in Performance and
Teaching |
ATCL
LTCL
FTCL
Awarded in Performance,
Teaching, |
Both examination boards offer graded practical
and theory exams from Grades 1 to 8.
Attaining a Grade 8 certificate is not the
end of the road.
Thereafter, depending on the student’s passion for music and the piano,
he/she moves on to attain a higher level of skill with the various diplomas offered
by examination boards.
At the diploma level, there are three
different awards.
There is a slight difference between the two boards in the naming system.
The ABRSM awards diplomas at the following
levels, in ascending order – DipABRSM,
LRSM, FRSM.
They stand for Diploma of ABRSM, Licentiate of Royal Schools of Music, and
Fellowship of Royal Schools of Music.
Trinity offers these levels of diplomas – ATCL, LTCL, FTCL.
They stand for Associate, Licentiate and Fellowship of Trinity College of
London, respectively.
Students choose to focus on either teaching or performance for each level of diploma.
At Trinity, written diplomas are also offered, such as Musical Literacy (e.g.,
LMusTCL) and Composition.
For something more on music diplomas, click here.
© pianoforte@babeypaws
2007
The above article is written based on my own opinion and from my own experience, as a former music student and a current music teacher.
Do NOT reproduce any parts or whole parts of the article in any form or manner.