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.