Violin graded music exams –ABRSM vs Trinity

No.1’s violin teacher suggested that she take either Trinity Grade 1 in December 2015 or ABRSM Grade 2 in March 2016. I was told that there are no significant differences between the two examination boards. Anyway, back then, I did not think that no.1 was ready to take any exams so we did not register for the Grade 1 exam in December; my plan was to let her take Grade 1 in March instead.

When the ABRSM registration for exams in March opened, no.1 was hopeful and wanted to attempt Grade 2 so she eventually signed up for Grade 2 ABRSM in March 2016. Shortly after that, no.2 was recommended to take Grade 1 Trinity in June 2016.

After having gone through the two exams with them, I discovered that there is one important difference between the two. Sight reading is not compulsory for Trinity Grades 1 to 5 exams!

In addition to that, listed below are other minor differences:

	ABRSM	Trinity
Examination dates	3 sessions in a year March, July and September	2 sessions in a year June and December
Prerequisites	None for Grades 1 to 5. For Grades 6 to 8, Grade 5 music theory must be completed	For Grade 8, Grade 5 music theory must be completed.
Pieces	3 pieces from 3 sets	3 pieces from 2 sets
Technical work	Scales and arpeggios	Bowing exercise and (i) Scales, arpeggios and technical exercise or (ii) studies
Supporting tests	Candidates must take the two supporting tests – sight reading and aural	For Grades 1 to 5: Candidates choose any two of the four supporting tests (musical knowledge, aural, sight reading, improvisation) For Grades 6 to 8: Candidates must take sight reading and either aural or improvisation.
Exam structure	Maximum 150 marks 3 Pieces – 90 (60%) Scales, arpeggios – 21 (14%) Sight reading – 21 (14%) Aural – 18 (12%)	Maximum 100 marks 3 Pieces – 66 Technical work – 14 Supporting test 1 – 10 Supporting test 2 – 10
Mark scheme	Distinction – 130 to 150 (>86%) Merit – 120 to 129 (80% to 86%) Pass – 100 to 119 (66% to 79%	Distinction – 87 to 100 Merit – 75 to 86 Pass – 60to 74

The Aural format for the two exam boards differs too. 

Some say Trinity’s pieces and tests are easier, do you agree?

Babybeats at Wolfgang Violin Studio (II)

After almost 2 years since the last trial lesson with no.2, I just attended another Babybeats trial lesson. This time, it's with no.3 on Saturday, 17^th September. He’s been ‘killing chickens’ with his little violin since 2 years old and has been asking to attend violin lessons. Last January, he stormed into no.1’s violin class insisting he be taught how to play and the teacher had no choice but to teach him some stuff. Recently he asked for it again so we gave in and scheduled a trial class.

And so we did these:

1)       Get to know notes and sounds A, B, C, D, E

2)       Identify step notes and skip notes, step and skip on the floor

3)       Played step and skip notes on the colour-coded chime bar

4)       Warm up finger exercise followed by bow hold exercise

5)       Played open string A on the violin

Lots of fun movement, singing and opportunities to play on the violin but I don’t think his maturity is there to get that nice bow hold.

Does learning to play a musical instrument make your child stronger in academics?

“Children who study music from an early age can do better at a range of subjects such as maths, science, arts and language. The earlier a child ... comes to grips with music, the more the brain growth will be influenced. It sets them up for life.” - Dr Richard Letts, Music Council of Australia

We would all have encountered the advice on how we should encourage (*force*) our children to learn a musical instrument (preferably piano or violin) so that they will do well academically. Many research findings support this popular notion. For me, I find it strange because my thoughts are that the hours spent on practising the musical instrument could have been the hours spent on memorising the names of the muscles and bones of the human body! How is it then possible for the child to do well academically?

I have two hypotheses.

Hypothesis 1

Children who are strong in academics are the ones who are able to learn a musical instrument. In the first instance, all children are enrolled in learning a musical instrument, those who have difficulty learning would have dropped out, leaving behind those who study music. And when you assess those who study music, you’ll find that they are also strong in academics. This brings to the question is it because I know how to play the piano (cause) therefore I am good at math (effect) or I am good at math (cause) therefore I can play the piano (effect)?

Hypothesis 2

Children who play music acquire skills that are relevant to be strong in academics. They learn:

• That there are rewards from hard work, practice and discipline;
• To memorize by repetition and recognise patterns;
• Time management.

Some children as young as 5 years old may have already experienced their first graded music exam, hence they have early exposure and experience to exams.

These two arguments put forth demonstrate the linkage and indirect benefits of learning to play a musical instrument. However, I do believe there is a direct benefit that is children who learn music from a young age might have improved auditory senses which might aid in learning languages as well as be attentive in class.

Is it okay to take reconstituted Curam that has been left outside the fridge for 10 hours?

My friend asked me this question the other day.

First of all, a little bit of background on the drug. Curam or Augmentin (both brand names for the antibiotic combination amoxicillin/clavulanate) is commonly handed to the patient in two ways:

1)       In a bottle of powder. The patient brings home the bottle, adds water up to the mark indicated on the bottle to make a suspension – this is known as reconstitution.

2)       In a bottle of reconstituted suspension. The pharmacist or clinic assistant first reconstitutes the drug before giving it to the patient.

In both instances, the reconstituted drug should be refrigerated (stored at 2°C to 8°C) as soon as practicable to maintain the efficacy (usefulness) of the drug (manufacturer’s recommendation) for the entire dosing regimen (5 to 7 days). The powder on the other hand can be stored under room conditions for as long as the expiry date allows.

Thus, it is fairly common to receive calls from a family – who had left the reconstituted suspension out on the kitchen counter overnight – asking if the drug can still be used or do they need to go to the clinic to get a new prescription/bottle. There is also the possibility that you’d be bringing along a reconstituted suspension for your sick child (who had no choice but to travel with you) and may take some time before you have access to a refrigerator. So, how long can it stay outside the fridge?

Several studies have been performed to compare the stability of the reconstituted suspension when stored out at room temperature. The findings of these studies were:

1)       For the brand Augmentin, when stored at room temperature (25°C), Amoxycillin maintained its efficacy (defined as at least 90% of its initial concentration) throughout the 7 days dosing regimen, while clavulate drops to 90% of its value by day 2.

2)       Different brands have different stability profiles (see figures 1 and 2).

3)       In general, amoxicillin maintained its efficacy even if it has been stored out at room temperature and at 40°C for as long as 24 hours. Clavulanate is less stable and there could be a 30% drop in potency within the first 24 hours when stored at 40°C.

Figure 1. Concentration of Amoxicillin of various brands when stored at room temperature 25 °C

Figure 2. Concentration of Clavulanate of various brands when stored at room temperature 25 °C

Would I give my child Curam/Augmentin after it has been left outside the fridge for 24 hours? It is probably okay to give because:

1)       The efficacy of Amoxicillin is still maintained for all brands

2)       Clavulanate’s effectiveness may have dropped 30% but clavulanate’s inclusion is to counter infections that resistant to amoxicillin and I view this as secondary

3)       I’d consider getting a new bottle / prescription the next practicable time depending on the severity of the illness.

Oh and one last thing, do reconstitute the amoxicillin/clavulanate combination drug with boiled-and-cooled tap water or distilled water to improve its stability. The drug is most stable when dissolved with soft water (no mineral water) at neutral pH (no alkaline water).

REFERENCES

1. J Clin Pharm Ther. 1994;19(5):313-5.
2. Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 2013, 5(5):293-296
3. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Practice, 2014,03(01): 1-12
4. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science , 2012, 02(01): 28-31
5. Acta Vet Hung. 2009;57(4):485-93