Piano Qualification

After a year of learning and playing piano with me #pianowithludmila I give to all my students an opportunity to upgrade their piano playing and step into a piano journey with gaining a piano qualification. (Grades 1-8).

This opens up the door to exploring different music styles through playing a variety of piano pieces throughout the grades. From classical piano pieces to a jazz/country/blues styles. Students not only grow through playing and practising these songs but also through the increasing challenges as they move up through the piano grades.

This is a huge commitment for all students and their parents at the same time. It requires a determination and practice. It requires support, constant motivation and push, when it's needed.

Pursuing a piano qualification can be beneficial for various reasons, depending on your goals. Here are some key reasons why you might consider getting one:

For Personal Growth & Mastery
Structured Learning: A qualification ensures you follow a structured curriculum, covering technique, theory, and repertoire.
Skill Validation: It helps you track progress and achieve milestones in your playing.
Discipline & Commitment: Preparing for exams teaches dedication, practice habits, and resilience.

For Career & Professional Opportunities
Teaching Credentials: Many music schools and private students prefer teachers with recognized qualifications (e.g., ABRSM, Trinity, RCM).
Performance Opportunities: Advanced certifications open doors to competitions, concerts, and professional gigs.
University Admissions: Some institutions consider music qualifications as an asset for scholarships or general admission.

For Recognition & Confidence
Official Certification: Having a diploma or grade certificate boosts confidence and credibility.
Motivation & Achievement: Completing exams gives a sense of accomplishment and motivation to improve further.

For Expanding Musical Knowledge
Music Theory & Aural Skills: Exams often include theory and ear training, essential for becoming a well-rounded musician.
Exposure to Various Styles: Piano qualifications require playing pieces from different eras and styles, enriching musical understanding.

The ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) piano examination is a widely recognized music exam for piano students, assessing their technical and musical skills. The exams are structured into eight levels, from Grade 1 (beginner) to Grade 8 (advanced). The exams are designed to evaluate a student’s proficiency in various areas of piano performance, including:

Pieces: Students must perform a selection of pieces from a prescribed list, typically three pieces from different musical styles or periods.
Scales and Arpeggios: Students are tested on their ability to play a variety of scales and arpeggios, often at increasing levels of difficulty.
Sight-reading: This tests a student’s ability to play a piece of music they have not seen before, demonstrating their sight-reading skills.
Aural Skills: This involves listening to and identifying elements of music, such as intervals, rhythms, and chord progressions. It helps assess a student’s musical ear.

The exams are graded on a scale from 1 to 100, with different performance levels required at each grade. After completing Grade 8, students can pursue further qualifications, such as diplomas in music performance or teaching.

ABRSM exams traditionally have been in-person, but recently, they’ve introduced digital options as well.

In-Person Exam: This is the traditional format, where you attend an exam center and perform in front of an examiner. The exam typically includes playing your pieces, scales, sight-reading, and aural tests.

Digital Exams: ABRSM has also launched a Digital Piano Exam option (called the "Remote Piano Exam"), where you can record your performance at home and submit it online. For this option, you would record your pieces, scales, and other components of the exam and send them to the ABRSM examiners to assess remotely. This option offers more flexibility since you can choose the time and place, but it also requires careful attention to recording guidelines and technology setup.

Do you have more questions? Ask: info@pianowithludmila.com