Exam Comparison

 

Syllabus Requirements of Major Piano Exams World-Wide in 2007

Here is a table outlining the requirements for a Second Grade Pianoforte student around the world, as of 2007.

  SCALES PIECES & OTHER
AMEB
Standard		 SIMILAR MOTION
Major: G D A & F
H. Minor: G D A & F
M. Minor: A & E
2 octaves @ 120, 2 notes per beat

CONTRARY
Major: G D A & F
H. Minor: G D A & F
2 octaves @ 80, 2 notes per beat

CHROMATIC
Commencing on G, D & A

BROKEN CHORDS
C major & A minor

PIECES
3 x List Pieces; 2 x Extra List Pieces

 

OTHER
Aural Tests, Sight Reading, General Knowledge
AMEB
PFL		 SIMILAR MOTION
Major: D & A
Minor: D & A
D Chromatic (sep)
2 octaves @ 120, 2 notes per beat

CONTRARY
A Major & D Minor
2 octaves @ 80, 2 notes per beat

BROKEN CHORDS
A Minor

 PIECES
3 x List Pieces

 

OTHER
Aural Tests, Sight Reading, General Knowledge

 
TRINITY SIMILAR MOTION
Major: F & G
Minor: D & E
2 octaves @ 80, 2 notes per beat

CONTRARY
D Chromatic

BROKEN CHORDS
Major: F & G
Minor: D & E

EXERCISES

PIECES
3 x List Pieces

 

OTHER
2 of the following:
Sight Reading, Musical Knowledge, Improvization, Sight Reading
ABRSM SIMILAR MOTION
Major: G, D, A, E & F
Minor: E, B & D
D Chromatic (1 octave sep)
2 octaves @ 80, 2 notes per beat

CONTRARY
Major: C & E

ARPEGGIOS
Major: G, D, A, E & F
Minor: E, B & D
2 octaves @ 80, 2 notes per beat, hands sep

 PIECES
3 x List Pieces

 

OTHER
Aural Tests, Sight Reading, General Knowledge
ANZCA SIMILAR MOTION
Major: A, E & F
H. Minor: G & C
M. Minor: G & C
D Chromatic (sep)
2 octaves, no set tempo

CONTRARY
Major: A, E & F
Minor: D, G & C

TRIADS
D & F major, minor, augmented

ARPEGGIO
C Major & A Minor

 PIECES
3 x List Pieces

 

OTHER
Aural Tests, Sight Reading, General Knowledge
RCM SIMILAR MOTION
Major: G, D, A & E
Minor: G, D, A & E
2 octaves @ 100, 2 notes per beat

CONTRARY
G Major & D Minor

BROKEN CHORDS
G Major & D Minor

 PIECES
3 x List Pieces

 

OTHER
Aural Tests, Sight Reading, General Knowledge
AIME SIMILAR MOTION
Major: D & A
Minor: D & A
D Chromatic (sep)
2 octaves @ 120, 2 notes per beat

CONTRARY
A Major & D Minor
2 octaves @ 80, 2 notes per beat

BROKEN CHORDS
A Minor

TRIADS
Chords I & V of above keys;
chord progression with accompaniment

 PIECES
4 x List Pieces

 

OTHER
Aural Tests, Sight Reading, General Knowledge, Viva Voce

 

As can be seen, the AMEB standard exam is COMPLETELY out of step with the world-wide consensus.

Here's the tally:

  • AMEB = 5 pieces, 21 scales (25% faster than the next closest)

  • AIME = 4 Pieces, 7 scales

  • ANZCA = 3 pieces, 14 scales (at no set tempo!)

  • ABRSM = 3 pieces, 11 scales

  • RCM = 3 pieces, 10 scales

  • PFL = 3 pieces, 7 scales

  • Trinity = 3 pieces, 5 scales (at 2/3 the speed of the AMEB)

What do these overseas students do with their extra time? Visit their sites and you'll see: jazz studies, improvization, composition, music history...

 

Need we say more?

 

This information was drawn from the relevent syllabuses. If there are any errors, please inform us so that we can update our information. See the Links page for links to individual organizations.

 

©2007 Australian Independent Music Examinations.

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This web page was last updated 22 November 2007

 

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