What is RCM piano level?
Today I want to talk about the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), which is the standard piano method system in Canada. It measures a student’s ability in grades, provides books for each grade in a variety of styles (baroque, classical, romantic, modern), and offers exams with certification at each grade level.
Is RCM or Abrsm better?
RCM also makes memorizing the pieces a part of your final percentage on the exams. ABRSM on the other hand has more advanced sight reading tactics, including the “quick study” where you have about 5 minutes to learn and perform a piece of a lower grade.
What is RCM grade?
RCM grades go from 1 to 10, but there are levels both before and after that. Before grade 1 there is a “preparatory” level, which you can think of as a sort of musical kindergarten. Grade 8 represents a solid understanding and competency in music.
What is the average age for Grade 8 piano?
Grade 8 music is designed for adults to play – I prefer my pupils to take it when they are about 16-18 – they are better able to cope with the technical and musical demands. Very talented pupils may take it earlier of course, but some of these may have been better off waiting.
Can you skip grades in RCM?
Yes, RCM allows students to skip level exams, but think carefully about your reason for wanting to do this. The one exception to this is the Grade 10 exam, which is a necessary prerequisite for students wishing to do their ARCT (Associate of the Royal Conservatory).
Is there an ABRSM exam for Piano Grade 6?
There are eight grades of exam for Piano and candidates may be entered for any grade irrespective of age and without previously having taken any other grade in Piano. Candidates for a Grade 6, 7 or 8 exam must already have passed ABRSM Grade 5 (or above) in Music Theory, Practical Musicianship or a solo Jazz instrument.
What do you need to know for Grade 2 ABRSM?
For grade 2 ABRSM, only 3 pieces need to be prepared: A, B and C. List A is extremely similar between RCM and ABRSM, and the options are short Baroque and Classical pieces by guys like Handel and Mozart. These pieces, to me, are the most difficult – first of all, since they’re pretty old, the style is a little foreign to us modern musicians.
What’s the difference between ABRSM and RCM studies?
In the ABRSM, List C’s are more like RCM studies. The genre range is wild, and the pieces are intended to develop a particular skill or technique. RCM requires a fourth piece to be learned, called studies or etudes.
What are the Grade 2 piano technique requirements?
Today’s video covers the RCM’s grade 2 piano technique requirements (updated for the 2015 syllabus). This includes scales and triads, solid and broken. I’ll be playing with the metronome in this video at the MINIMUM required speeds (feel free to go a little faster), and will label each technique on the screen as I play them.
