A Comparison Between Different Music Exam Boards

In the past, if you wanted to take a piano exam, there was only one main music examination board – ABRSM. Today, we have a plethora of choices. Here’s a brief comparison between the music examination boards.

The discussion here will focus on different musical genres (Classical, Pop, Rock, Jazz). So for instance, we will not be comparing Classical Piano between ABRSM, ANZCA, LCME as the genre is essentially the same.

Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM – Classical)

Technical Work (Scales, Arpeggios, Chromatics, Contrary Motions, etc)
3 Pieces
Sight Reading
Aural
General Knowledge aka Viva (dip. onwards)

This is a Classical music exam consisting mainly of Classical music pieces. In Classical music per se, there is NO improvisation. The objective is to develop your fundamentals and you interpret the musical piece note for note – as exacting as possible, based on the composer’s original intent. This exam is very suited for those with the discipline and focus to work at Classical-oriented pieces with note for note exactness. If you are an aural learner (you prefer to play by ear rather than by score) who prefers improvising, this exam route may not be suitable for you. However, if you like Classical pieces and prefer a more ‘structured’ approach to learning, then this would be suitable.

Australian New Zealand Cultural Association (ANZCA – Modern)

Technical Work (Scales, Modes, Arpeggios, Chromatics, Contrary Motions, etc)
3 Pieces (Prep – Grade 3) or 4 Pieces with improvisation on at least 1 piece (Grades 4-8)
Sight Reading (all grades) or Improvisation (Grade 2 onwards)
Aural
General Knowledge

This is a Modern/Contemporary music exam consisting a variety of pieces like Blues, Jazz, Boogie, Ragtime, Latin, etc. The technical work for each grade is more difficult than ABRSM (eg. you must do melodic minors in Grade 1). ANZCA allows for an ‘outside’ piece of music to be played during the exam to replace one of their set pieces – this means greater personal choices for the candidate. Improvisation is also compulsory from Grade 4 onwards on at least one of the pieces.

Furthermore, from grade 4 onwards, the candidate can choose either to focus on sight reading or improvisation in the technical section. Compared to ABRSM, ANZCA offers more options – though some of these options can be more challenging.

This exam is suited for those who prefer the sound and groove of modern and contemporary music styles rather than Classical music. The grooves and syncopation of the musical choices here are very catchy. However, this exam is also challenging. Grade for grade, it is more difficult than ABRSM due to higher note-densities, syncopation, poly-rhythms.

London College of Music Examinations (LCME – Jazz)

Technical Work (Scales, Modes, Arpeggios, Chromatics, Contrary Motions, etc)
3 Pieces (all improvised)
Sight Reading/Improvisation
Aural
General Knowledge

This is a Jazz music exam. This is for music students who like Jazz music and freedom in improvisation. All pieces are purely Jazz. This exam requires you to play AND improvise all 3 pieces. Like ANZCA, LCME(Jazz) allows for an ‘outside’ piece of music to be played during the exam to replace one of their set pieces. One unique feature of this exam is that bonus marks are given for UCAS application for Grades 6-8. So if you’re planning to study in British universities in the UK, this exam will help in your application as it gives you extra ‘points’.

Trinity College London (TCL Pop/Rock)

3 Pieces (with backing track)
Session Skills (Playback or Improvisation)
No technical work like Scales, arpeggios, etc.
Has a ‘Session Skills’ segment – improvisation involved here.

This is a Pop/Rock music exam for keyboards/piano. The focus is more on keyboard accompaniment for the Pop/rock genre. In other words, instead of playing the melody, harmony and rhythm, you focus more on the harmony and rhythm only. This exam is more suitable for students who gravitate to Pop and Rock music. This keyboard exam requires you to perform 3 pieces with audio backing tracks and does not have technical work, sight reading or aural sections. It does have, a very challenging section – the improvisation section.

This added component (in place of scales, etc.) is called “Session Skills”, where the candidate is tested on either a ‘Playback’, or ‘Improvisation’ component. The former requires extensive listening skills, as well as chord reading skills; where else the latter requires spontaneous improvisational and extensive chord reading skills in various styles of music genres (latin, funk, rock, jazz, country, etc.). This section is challenging for many younger students! Eg in Grade 3, you are already required to improvise over chords like E7, D7, etc.

All pieces from the book are accompanied with backing tracks as you are expected to play along with the provided backing tracks during the exam. This means your timing has to be accurate. You have also the flexibility to have an ‘outside’ piece to replace one of their set pieces. Many songs come from the UK charts.

This exam also requires a higher level of musical syncopation in some of the songs as compared to traditional, classical songs.

Rockschool

Technical Work (Scales, Arpeggios, Chromatics, Contrary Motions, etc)
3 Pieces (with backing tracks)
Sight Reading or Improvisation (Grades 1-5), Sight Reading & Improvisation (Grades 6-8)
Aural
Stylistic Studies (Grade 6 onwards)
General Knowledge (Called ‘Musicianship’ for their syllabus)

This is also a Pop/Rock music exam. It is similar to TCL (Pop/Rock) in terms of musical styles, except that is offered by a different company; with a different suite of song choices but with more tested components. Again, the focus is more on keyboard comping rather than full-on piano. You have also the flexibility to have two ‘outside’ pieces to replace their set pieces. Compared to TCL, Rockschool has more components to be tested on. You can choose an outside piece to perform for the exam, but these must be pieces with grand staff, not lead sheets. All pieces are accompanied with backing tracks as you are expected to play along with the provided backing tracks during the exam. Again, this means your timing has to be accurate. Again, like TCL, extra UCAS points are given should you decide to study in UK universities.

Rockschool further differentiates it with Rockschool Keys vs Rockschool Piano exams. The main difference between the two is that Rockschool Keys requires the candidate to perform on electronic synthesizers or keyboards, and you need to demonstrate knowledge of changing patches(sounds), split, layering on the keyboard. In this aspect, it’s best to bring your own personal keyboard into the exam as you are in the best position to know which button to press and which knob to turn. Rockschool Piano does NOT have this component – you perform everything on the piano (either piano solo, or with backing track, depending on the song requirements).

There are of course, other music examination boards, but the main point is that different boards offer different experiences for the student. Some are note-for-note, some are very improvisational, some are Classical, some are Modern and others are Jazz. How do you decide which music exam board to take?

Every candidate/child/person is different and has different abilities. For example, some children are aural learners rather than sight-learners (ie. they prefer to listen and play rather than read and play), then you may have to find an exam that balances both components so that some note-reading is there but also gives the child some room for improvisation. There are also children who don’t mind either, or who just prefer Classical music, then a Classical exam might be more suitable.

The most important thing is for you to sit down with your child’s music teacher and discuss about it – What’s the end objective that you are trying to achieve? Hopefully it’s not the paper chase or the grades/scores, but the love of the music!

If a child grows up loving what he/she is playing, and has a teacher who can nourish his/her soul in the process of learning, don’t you think that’s better compared to a child who stops playing the piano the moment he finishes his piano exam?

Piano Achievements At Northwood

At Northwood, we celebrate our students' achievements in their musical journey, be it festivals, performances, competitions or examinations.

Can you mix different styles of music together?

The beauty of music goes beyond learning just 'classical', or 'pop', or 'jazz' for that matter. Every genre of music has its own beautiful characteristics, and the even more wonderful thing is that you can COMBINE these beautiful characteristics together by fusing different musical styles! But first, you must be open enough to try!

Pop and Jazz Music to be included to O-level syllabus

The Ministry of Education has announced that Jazz, Pop Music and Music Production will henceforth be included into the 'O' level Music syllabus. This is great news for music education. For too long, the focus on studying only classical music leaves students the lack of opportunity to experience and study genres that have evolved since the time of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart.