ABRSM Performance Grades - Credibility?

[PaulThePlug]

Son is looking at 6th Form Options and has found something right up his straßa!.. A Level Music Technology, and a BTEC Extended Certificate in Creative Digital Media Production

 

He didn't take GCSE Music as it clashed with Computers, and he wasn't that in to it all back when options were chosen, plus he wasn't having instrument lessons.

 

Looking at the Performance Level 2 (Grade 5) assessment to gain some sort of acknowledgment for his Self-Aware / Self-Taught playing of Keyboards, Guitar, Bass and Drums receive some sort of 'measure' of his aptitude and application.

 

https://www.abrsm.org/en-gb/performance-grades/about-performance-grades

 

So, at £60 a Pop(!)... worthwhile, or is it like buying some kind of Guild Inclusion for the Van Door Sticker?

 

Thoughts and recommendation please.

Edited December 4, 2023 by PaulThePlug

[velvetkevorkian]

For classical students Practical Grades are a de-facto standard. These seem a bit less rigorous at a glance, to me.

 

Does he need a cert to take the course he wants?

[PaulThePlug]

No, Doesn't need the cert for the course... just looking to substantiate his efforts... Looks like they are legit.

[velvetkevorkian]

Looking at the syllabi they still seem to be very classically focused -- I can't see any option for bass guitar or drum kit for example, and only classical guitar. I'd probably steer clear of these unless specifically requested tbh.

 

The established practical grades are useful for standardising between institutions and building a common repertoire but there's quite a large element of "studying for the test" required IME that probably wouldn't suit a self-taught multi-instrumentalist.

[TKenrick]

There are some other boards offering graded exams for contemporary music that might be a better fit than the ABRSM stuff; both Rockschool and Trinity Rock & Pop offer non-classical music exams that offer the same level of accreditation as their classical counterparts. None of them are cheap, mind...

 

I did A level music (not music tech, sadly) without having done GCSE and it wasn't a problem, so if your son doesn't need a bit of paper to get on the course then it's possibly more a case of sitting exams to give him recognition of the level that he's at.

[PaulThePlug]

Fingers crossed he gets accepted for the School's 6th form and Courses... 'prolly wait and see if he can take some kind of grade exams along with the Music students and whatever board the use.

Edited December 5, 2023 by PaulThePlug

[paul_c2]

I'd say they are worthwhile to use as a guideline for one's ability in an instrument. Yes they are classically focused, but that's not a bad thing in itself since anything 'classical' can be applied to any other genre of music - there are a lot of transferrable skills.

 

Whether its worth £60 to go through the process of visiting an examination centre, playing in an unfamiliar room to an examiner who's heard 167 renditions of the same piece that week, is another thing - if it helps with the course/overall career path, then yes. Some people get terrified of exams, just like some people are good at playing but get terrified at performing live.