SINGING EXAMINATIONS
SINGING EXAMINATIONS
ASSOCIATED BOARD OF THE ROYAL SCHOOLS OF MUSIC
ABRSM (the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) is the UK's largest music education body, offering assessments to more than 630,000 candidates in 93 countries every year, including Hong Kong.
Above all, ABRSM's mission is to inspire achievement in music, and we at CentreStage share that goal. Our Solo Time Singing students have the option to work towards ABRSM examinations, if they so wish.
WHY DO AN ABRSM SINGING EXAM?
An exam gives students a fixed goal to work towards.
It gives students a concrete measure of their progress.
A highly qualified examiner will give objective and constructive criticism and advice, which can then be acted upon in order to improve technique.
Students can communicate their abilities with others in an objective manner.
The exams encompass music theory as well as vocal technique, meaning that the student can become a more rounded musician and performer.
As well as encouraging improvement in practical and theoretical musicianship, students with Grade 6-8 ABRSM qualifications also benefit from UCAS (University and Colleges Admission Service) points, which can be used as part of an application to UK universities and colleges.
EACH SINGING GRADE INVOLVES:
Accompanied songs, in a variety of genres and languages (three for Grades 1-5, four for Grades 6-8)
An unaccompanied traditional song (e.g. a folk song)
Sight singing
Aural tests (music theory)
Although a student does not need to pass each element in order to pass the grade, they must achieve a minimum overall mark of 100 out of a possible 150. 120 marks will achieve a Merit, and 130 a Disctinction.
The ABRSM examinations are administered by HKEAA (The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority), and they are the most popular music examinations in Hong Kong.