Today I returned home to find a parcel on my doorstep.
A parcel that is a part of my research. It is like Christmas in my house when new music arrives.
I ordered the entire range of Trinity exam books. Aural, technical, guides, the lot. I want to review different assessment options available so I am aware of what is out there and the best options for my students. I am also practical about the amount of brain space I have to accommodate all of the information required for all of the different examination boards, I need to be selective about what materials work best from each system. I’m not going to know this if I always stick with what I currently know.
At the moment, my studio prepares those who wish to take assessments for the Australian Music Examination Board(AMEB); Piano, Piano for Leisure and Theory examinations. I am comfortable and confident with the system as it is the system I have been examined through. Students of mine have taken AMEB exams for over ten years now with great success.The AMEB has many positives, but there are some negative aspects to this assessment board. As there are other options out there, I want to know what they are.
Trinity is first cab off the rank.
First port of call is playing through all of the exam grade levels and reading the teaching notes, assessing the requirements for aural, sight reading, general knowledge and technique. Is this something that would be beneficial to my students? Does this add to their learning experience? How does it compare to the AMEB material?
Then discovering what the examination system is actually like in reality for enrolling students. How many times a year are the assessments available in my area? What is the experience like for students? What feedback do they receive? What is the expense? Does this fit in with the way my students learn?
Then the trial. Who will I introduce this to? Perhaps I should be the first guinea pig in my studio? Is there a student who would benefit more from this assessment style than the AMEB experience?
Do you use Trinity in your studio? What is your experience with it?