As a charity, ABRSM makes significant financial contributions towards music education initiatives, and offers CPD, training and support to music education professionals. ABRSM works in partnership with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, as well as three other national Conservatoires in the UK – the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music, and the Royal Northern College of Music – to invest in the next generation of teachers, performers, composers and leaders. ABRSM collaborates with these partners in developing skills, resources and leadership in the sector, to open up access and opportunities to progress, to drive diversity and inclusion, and to be champions for music learning in all its forms.
ABRSM believes that everyone should have access to a high-quality music education, and through their exam syllabus, look to nurture a love for music, and to inspire achievement in it.
ABRSM Exams
See Also: Western European Art Music, Jazz, Traditional Music, Musial Theatre, Instrumental Specialism, Vocal, Online.
ABRSM offers graded music exams across a wide range of instruments at Grades 1 – 8, as well as Initial Grade for Piano and Bowed Strings. There are two routes for learners to choose from: Practical Grades are live, face-to-face exams, in which candidates prepare three pieces and a range of supporting tests (scales and arpeggios, sight-reading and aural) to demonstrate all-round musicianship; Performance Grades are digital exams, in which candidates submit a continuous-take performance of four pieces of music, which may include a free choice piece. Music Theory exams are available at Grades 1 – 8, with Grades 1 – 5 available as online, on-demand exams. Jazz exams in a range of instruments are available at Grades 1 – 5. ABRSM also has a suite of advanced diplomas in performance, music direction and instrumental/vocal teaching. This framework accommodates a wide range of ages and stages of musical ability.
ABRSM published its marking criteria on its website and these can be a great tool for both teachers and learners to understand what examiners are assessing.
Exams are delivered in three ways:
Practical Grades (Face-to-face)
https://gb.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/instrumental-and-singing-exams/practical-grades/
Performance Grades (Digital)
https://gb.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/performancegrades/
Theory (Online)
https://gb.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/online-theory/
ABRSM Supports exams on the following instruments/areas:
- Piano
- Violin
- Viola
- Cello
- Double Bass
- Descant Recorder
- Treble Recorder
- Flute
- Oboe
- Clarinet
- Bassoon
- Saxophone
- Horn
- Trumpet/Cornet/Flugelhorn
- E Flat Horn
- Trombone
- Baritone And Euphonium
- Bass Trombone
- Tuba
- Harp (Pedal)
- Harp (Non-Pedal)
- Percussion (Combined)
- Snare Drum
- Timpani
- Tuned Percussion
- Singing
- Musical Theatre
- Organ
- Harpsichord
- Keyboard
- Guitar
- Jazz Piano
- Jazz Flute
- Jazz Clarinet
- Jazz Saxophone
- Jazz Trumpet/Cornet/Flugelhorn
- Music Theory
- Practical Musicianship
Group Assessments
- Ensembles
- Choral Singing
- Jazz Ensembles
To find out more, please visit the ABRSM Website.
Online Resources and Apps
See Also: Western European Art Music, Jazz, Traditional Music, Musical Theatre, Primary, Secondary, Instrumental Specialism, Vocal, Online.
In addition to providing the syllabus and framework for the graded exam system, ABRSM has also developed a range of innovative and useful practice aids that are available as app downloads on smartphones or tablets, with some available on desktop platforms. These apps allow learners to practise with exam accompaniments, often at different tempos and pitches, to develop their sight reading skills with a range of exercises, and to refine and structure scale and exercise practice.
Aural Trainer allows learners to develop their ear, developing pitch and interval recognition, and helps with sight-singing, while Speedshifter allows accompaniments to be sped up or slowed down without changing pitch. All available apps are listed below, with links.
Teacher Support
See Also: Western European Art Music, Primary, Secondary, Instrumental Specialism, Vocal, Online, CPD.
ABRSM Teacher Hub exists for practising music educators to enhance and develop their skills. Teacher Hub offers a range of courses, resources and forums to inspire and support classroom teachers, peripatetic instrumental instructors and beyond. Teacher Hub can also be for musicians who are looking to enter the teaching profession for the first time, as well as those already teaching. As well as a library of downloadable publications and audio resources, Teacher Hub also offers Training and events, both online and face-to-face. For more information, follow the link below:
Classroom 200
Classroom 200 is ABRSM’s free online resource for school teachers working with leaners up to the age of 14 across the world. Featuring 200 recordings of inspiring music in a range of styles, plus accompanying lesson plans, Classroom 200 is all about bringing music to life in the classroom.
Classroom 200 helps teachers with:
- Exploring a world of inspirational music – there are 200 pieces to get stuck into.
- Encouraging creativity in the classroom, supported by a diverse range of musical styles.
- Planning is made easy with ready-made lesson plans, resources and activities
- Linking activities in the classroom directly with the Model Music Curriculum, the Curriculum for Wales, the Curriculum for Excellence, and the National Curriculum in Northern Ireland.
Sign up for free: www.classroom200.org
Reinvestment in Music Education
Exam Discount Scheme for UK Music Services
See Also: Western European Art Music, Jazz, Traditional Music, Musical Theatre, Instrumental Specialism, Vocal, Online.
ABRSM’s Exam Discount Scheme intends to make ABRSM music exams more accessible, by mitigating some of the financial barriers that learners in the UK may face. ABRSM has been running the second pilot phase since February 2023 and will continue until July 2024. The scheme is being administered by Music Mark, the UK’s subject association for music education, and discounts are only available through instrumental music services.
Discounts can be used for the following exams:
- Instrumental and singing – Prep Test, Practical Grades (Initial to Grade 8), Performance Grades (Initial to Grade 8), ARSM diploma and Performance Assessment
- Music Theory – Grades 1 to 5 (online) and Grades 6 to 8 (paper-based)
More information is available on the Music Mark website and in the Exam Discount Scheme Operating Guidelines.
https://gb.abrsm.org/en/about-us/our-reinvestment-in-music-education/exam-discount-scheme/
Scholarships
See Also: Western European Art Music, Jazz, Traditional Music, Musical Theatre, Instrumental Specialism, Vocal.
As part of ABRSM’s association with its partner Royal Schools of Music, ABRSM provides scholarships for outstanding students to study at these colleges, with more than 80 scholars benefiting from ABRSM funding each year.
At the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, scholarships are available for 1 Juniors student, 4 UK undergraduates and 2 UK postgraduate students every year.
Composer Mentoring Programme
See Also: CPD, Composition, Western European Art Music, Jazz, Scottish Traditional.
ABRSM’s composer mentoring programme – Writing for Music Education – provides emerging composers with opportunities to develop their skills in writing to a brief, both for exam syllabuses and within broader educational contexts. Composers on the programme receive dedicated mentoring from leading educational composers, as well as specialist support from educators and ABRSM staff as they complete a series of compositional tasks.
Participants also benefit from opportunities to meet and establish connections with ABRSM’s partner organisations, including the National Open Youth Orchestra, National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain, National Youth Jazz Orchestra, National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, London Music Fund and Royal Philharmonic Society.
ABRSM is committed to supporting composers from a wide range of backgrounds, including those underrepresented within the music education community. The programme is available to emerging UK-based composers and in 2022/23 the cohort featured two Scotland-based composers, Ben Lunn and Amit Anand.
Play On
Play On is ABRSM’s new programme of sponsorship for organisations based outside of the UK. Launched in January 2023, Play On replaced and builds on ABRSM’s previous programme, the International Sponsorship Fund (ISF), which supported more than 50 organisations and an estimated 5,000 people from more than 30 countries around the world. Find out more about the ISF in ABRSM’s 10-Year ISF Impact Report (https://gb.abrsm.org/media/66932/t2_dha_isf-impact-report-final.pdf).
Although Play On funding is only available to organisations outside the UK, we have included in this companion for signposting purposes and colleagues with connections to non-UK music organisations that might be interested in applying for funding are very welcome to promote this opportunity.
UK Youth Advisory Board
In 2023 ABRSM launched its first-ever UK Youth Advisory Board. The board comprises three age groups (10 – 13 / 14 – 17 / 18 – 25) and plays a central role in shaping ABRSM’s broader work, ensuring the voices of young people are heard within the organisation. Recruitment for new members opens periodically – further information can be requested from ABRSM’s Youth Voice Consultant, Scottish musician and composer Rylan Gleave (gleaverylan@gmail.com).