Exams

Graded exams provide a clear, progressive framework to measure musical development. Unlike a competition, students are assessed individually one on one with a highly trained assessor. For each grade, students are tested in repertoire presentation, technique, ear training tests, and sight reading.

Whether students realize it or not, I do always strive to organize their piano study to reflect the balanced structure of skills represented in the exam curriculum, and those that choose to take the formal exams find it to be a rewarding experience.

Below are the most popular exam systems in the United States. I recommend the ABRSM as a starting point but am also familiar with other systems if a student is already working in one of these and wishes to continue that sequence.

Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music (U.K.)
https://us.abrsm.org/en/
Exam Dates: Practical (performance) Exams are offered in June and December
Application Deadlines: Register in January for the June exams, and in August for December Exams

The Royal Conservatory (Canada)
http://www.rcmusic.ca/

Fun Facts

♫ The term “piano” is the Italian word for “soft,” so named because the piano, unlike its predecessor the harpsichord, could produce a louder or softer tone depending on how hard the performer struck the key. In fact, the piano‘s full name is actually “piano-forte,” or “soft-loud.

♫ Piano strings are pulled to an average tension of around 200 pounds. Each piano has over 200 strings; thus, the total string tension of the average piano is around 40,000 pounds, or 20 tons.

♫ It was in America, not Europe, that piano building first advanced from being a slow handcraft to being an industry that was the standard and envy of the world.

♫ In the year 2000, John Lennon’s (of The Beatles) Steinway vertical piano sold for over $2 million dollars to pop star George Michael. This is the piano on which John composed the song “Imagine”.

♫ When the famous cellist Pablo Casals (then age 93) was asked why he continued to practice three hours a day, he replied, “I’m beginning to notice some improvement.”

♫ Although the piano has strings, it is considered to be a percussion instrument, producing its sound by striking a hammer against a string.

♫ In 1900 the retail price of a Steinway Model D (8’11” concert size) was $1,400. In 2013, the price was $132,085.

♫ There are 12,116 individual parts that make up a Steinway grand piano. The action for just 1 key is made up of over 57 individual parts (so for 88 keys that’s ~4,500 parts)