7 In store from ABRSM. 8 Pathways to success

Transcription

1 Volume 18 November 2009 Welcome to the November edition of Upbeat! As I write from Penang, Malaysia, we are currently engaged in ABRSM s 2009 Professional Development Programme, which this year travels to Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Johor Bahru, Singapore, and Jakarta. It is always such a joy to see so many teachers at these events and our presenters, ABRSM s International Operations Director Tim Arnold and Malaysian pianist and educator Loo Bang Hean, have so welcomed the warmth and contact they have had with so many of you across such a large geographic area. This year s programme will have given you greater insight into our Piano syllabus, helping you to overcome any difficulties you might have experienced when teaching the syllabus and inspiring independent and accomplished music making in your students! The animal kingdom is well represented in the syllabus from the tiniest Mozzie (mosquito) at Grade 2 to the colossal Tyrannosaurus Rex at Grade 1, or even a Top Cat and an Elephant at Grade 3! Yes, examiners in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam have been inundated with these musical representations of zoological specimens in their exam studios over the past six months one of the busiest ever Practical exam seasons in South East Asia in recent times. In May, seven-year-old Wang Yi Fei was named among the winners of ABRSM s first International Young Composers Competition for his charming piano solo, The Little Green Bunny. The Singaporean schoolboy faced stiff competition from entrants aged 14 or under from around the world. ABRSM s International Operations Director Tim Arnold was delighted to present him with his prize money. In this edition of Upbeat you can read about our exciting plans to introduce the all-new CT ABRSM Plus professional development course in Singapore in Open to instrumental and vocal teachers from across the region, the course now combines two highly respected letter-bearing qualifications: the Certificate of Teaching (CT ABRSM) and the Principles of Teaching diploma (DipABRSM). Catering for busy teachers, those enrolling on the course have the opportunity to complete the CT ABRSM course before taking the DipABRSM diploma exam. This is an the opportunity to take both courses at an attractive all-inclusive price, or current CT ABRSM holders can choose to prepare exclusively for the DipABRSM. (Full details can be found on page 6). Following the success of the first ABRSM jazz piano teachers training course at Music Makers School in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, a second beginners course is also planned for 2010, as well as a more advanced course. Find out more inside! Contents 1 Inside this edition 2 Around the region... 4 Inspiring Great Musicians New CT ABRSM Plus! 7 In store from ABRSM 8 Pathways to success This year, Malaysia s Merdeka celebrations and Puasa month have coincided, while the Chinese Mid-Autumn festival is also upon us. As a result, there is a great sense of anticipation everywhere and I m already being offered mooncakes as I travel around the region! These days it seems the traditional duck egg in the middle of each delicious pastry is being replaced with toffee, hazelnut or even strawberry cream all of which are highly addictive! Warmest wishes to each and every one of you as you celebrate in your many diverse ways with your families and may the fruits of your hard work during this year s ABRSM exams be pleasing for both yourselves and your students. Happy holidays and I do hope you will enjoy browsing through this, your latest edition of Upbeat! Bill Thomson, ABRSM s South East Asia Regional Co-ordinator.

2 2 Around the region... While the focus for most teachers in Malaysia and Singapore over the last few months has been the Practical exam season, there has also been a wide variety of activities and teacher support events taking place right across South East Asia. Bill Thomson, ABRSM s South East Asia Regional Co-ordintor gives a round-up of the activities of the past few months and looks ahead at some of the plans for next year. Comprising 29 British international schools in South and East Asia, representatives from the Federation of British International Schools (FOBISSEA) gathered in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in May. I was delighted to attend this event and address the delegates many of whom already have ABRSM exams taking place in their schools. They included Directors of Music from Bangkok s Harrow and Shrewsbury, Singapore s Tanglin Trust, and Jakarta s British international schools. Our examiners thoroughly enjoy visiting such schools and hearing the wide variety of instruments featured during the exam periods. We look forward to welcoming the British School of Manila in the Philippines into the FOBISSEA in the near future. We would like to offer congratulations to Jumbo, a young pianist from the Shrewsbury International School, who has recently been awarded a place at the Royal College of Music in London. Our congratulations must also go to the school s Director of Instrumental Music, Jonathan Ling a fine achievement indeed! Meanwhile, also in May, Dr Frederick Stocken conducted a diploma seminar in Jakarta. Teacher and parent meetings in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, have allowed us to make new friends and contacts across this region. Elsewhere, Theory of Music seminars for high grades have taken place in Melaka, Kota Kinabalu and Kuantan in Malaysia; in Singapore; and Jakarta and Surabaya in Indonesia. Teachers from Hanoi, Vietnam, Miss Lan, Miss Thuy and Miss Loan, pictured at a recent meeting with Bill Thomson and Tim Arnold in Singapore. Yu Fei receiving his prize from Tim, pictured with his teacher Mrs Fion Teo of the Stellar School of Music, Singapore, and Mr Wallace Ang, while proud mum looks on too! In June, I was fortunate enough to visit the music faculty of the Royal Thai Military Academy in Thonburi with our Thailand Representative, Khun Chorlada Bunnag. We were treated to performances from students on a wide variety of instruments including oboe, bassoon and marimba. Academy students are currently preparing for their ABRSM exams, while the school s symphony orchestra has been invited to perform at our Bangkok High Scorers Concert in March I also visited Chiang Mai and met up with 30 teachers from across Northern Thailand at an Aural Training Matters seminar. In July, Certificate of Teaching (CT ABRSM) holders from Indonesia travelled to London to receive their certificates alongside Hong Kong teachers at this year s CT Award Ceremony. In addition to enjoying a celebratory lunch at ABRSM s offices, they enjoyed visiting Buckingham Palace, Madame Tussauds and a host of other London hotspots during their trip! Warmest congratulations to you all.

3 3 Richard Crozier, ABRSM s Driector of Professional Development, presents successful CT ABRSM teachers in Jakarta with their certificates We are currently planning events that will take place between January and April 2010 and I am delighted to announce that, in addition to ABRSM High Scorers Concerts in the Kuala Lumpur/Selangor region, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, we will be holding our first such event in Melaka in January to accommodate top scoring candidates from Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka. We are of course very grateful to all those who help us to organise these events. My thanks and a special mention must go to David Liew in Melaka; Mr and Mrs Pang, Yap Ling and Grace in Kota Kinabalu; and Peggy Wong from the Sarawak Musical Society in Kuching for the tremendous support they offer students, their proud parents and teachers at these regional gatherings. As perhaps anticipated, ABRSM shall also be hosting High Scorers events in 2010 in all the principle cities in Indonesia and in Singapore. The 2010 South and East Asia Diploma Awards Ceremony will also take place in Singapore in March at the Concorde Hotel ballroom. Here, diploma holders from Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand will gather as we mark their various successes in a celebratory style and full academic attire! CT ABRSM student, Wendy inspects an antique square piano during a CT ABRSM visit to an historic house in England. CT ABRSM students from Singapore on a group visit for training at Little Benslow in England. Singapore teachers dressed for the cooler English Summer! CT ABRSM holders from Indonesia and Hong Kong travelled to London in July to join their UK counterparts to collect their certificates at the CT ABRSM Awards Ceremony.

4 4 Inspiring Great Musicians In August, as part of our Professional Development Programme 2009, ABRSM presented seminars in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia taking a fresh look at our Piano syllabus. For those of you who were not able to attend, Bill Thomson gives a review of these highly infomative sessions. Who would have thought that Mozzie, a Grade 2 piano piece, is the most commonly played piece around the region? Let s face it, buzzing mosquitoes are not usually popular little creatures in Asia! And there are other favourite pieces too, such as Mike Cornick s In the Groove at Grade 5. In such pieces, teachers and students really enjoy the fun element in the music and it is the rhythmic excitement of these works that remains the motivational force when they go about selecting music for their exams. That s not to say that either of the above-mentioned pieces is easy to perform. On the contrary, each makes great demands on the fingers! It was therefore particularly helpful when Tim Arnold and Loo Bang Hean presented Inspiring Great Musicians, ABRSM s annual series of professional development seminars, in late August. It was here that your favourite exam pieces were presented, dissected and evaluated. At each one-day seminar Tim and Bang Hean explored some of the more common difficulties our examiners had noticed when examining candidates during this first year of the Piano syllabus. An ABRSM examiner himself, Tim was able to share his teaching and playing experiences along with Bang Hean, also a qualified examiner. The fact that both were practising examiners was welcomed particularly when they revealed tips on how to obtain better marks! Bill, ABRSM examiner Delia Meehan, Bang Hean and the chairperson of the KK Music Society Audrey Chin. Teachers readily congratulated Loo Bang Hean when it was announced that he had recently completed his training as an ABRSM examiner. Together, delegates explored all matters relating to finger technique, ornamentation, pedals (yes, both of them!), tempi, period features, tone quality, and tonal balance (often between the hands). A special feature of these seminars also involved the idea of communication in performance and how this might be enhanced and used to convey that extra performance ingredient for examiners. At the heart of all the music, the importance of rhythmic integrity in these pieces was constantly reinforced by Tim and Bang Hean, as it is here that many marks are reportedly lost during an exam. For example, triplet quavers are frequently played by candidates as two semiquavers and a quaver. Teachers were next introduced to a number of practical ways of improving tone control. They also learnt how to phrase with more subtlety and strive for elegance in performance. It was wonderful to listen to a recording of an orchestral performance of L Elephant from the Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns (Grade 3). This certainly provided a great insight into the sort of depth of tone candidates should be striving for, while the unhurried, lumbering movement of the elephant itself needs to be imagined in the music. Teachers enjoy browsing our wide range of publications including one of our latest titles, Raising an Amazing Musician. Tim demonstrates some elements of interpretation with teachers from various parts of Sabah, including Oscar Dehaans Konis (pictured right) from Ranau. A common thread that ran throughout this year s seminars was the knowledge that many students continue to play too quickly during their exam frequently candidates get quicker and quicker during the course of a performance as excitable youngsters increase the tempo of their playing as their heart rate races. Steadier tempo, where indicated, is thus an essential quality in performance, especially in dance and classical sonata repertoire. Teachers were surprised to learn just how frequently examiners had commented upon inconsistencies in tempo. With few exceptions where rhythmic

5 5 Bang Hean and Fiona Dorville discussing repertoire in Penang. essential as was more sophisticated cantabile playing; the shaping of musical phrases; and how to add vitality into a performance without it being simply loud and unyielding. Miss Yeoh and Miss Chiang from Selangor Institute of Music chat during tea break. In a session Aural in action. Tim attempts to sing the demonstrating teaching repetition phrases to the delight of the and learning, Tim later audience played the part of a young student whilst Bang Hean was the teacher. Although very amusing, it raised the matter of not only teacher/student relationships but also the importance of effective teacher/parent interaction as an essential element in helping to secure good understanding and patience. Tim Arnold demonstrates new techniques to Jerome Quah from Penang. Penang teachers concentrating on stylistic matters. flexibility and rubato technique add to the elegance of one s performance tempo must remain a reliable element in performance and Tim demonstrated many such instances where candidates were inclined to hurry the pace. As previously mentioned, character pieces such as Mozzie and In the Groove are often favoured by ABRSM candidates, yet there are times when the performance fails to achieve the suggested character. Those at this year s seminars were interested to learn more about many of these works, including African Dance in Grade 1. Tim has recently returned from South Africa where he engaged in some African dancing himself in a township. Selected dance works in our Grade 1 listings are frequently played very fast (and very loudly) by candidates. Tim demonstrated how a mark of 21 could be improved to as much as 28 simply by achieving a well-communicated musical character through tone control, steady tempo and elegant phrasing. Composers such as Schumann and Grieg also featured by way of their pieces in the current Piano syllabus. Tim showed how to create a warm and beautifully sustained tone by using the legato pedal in combination with the cantabile technique. In another, the need to create resonance and vivid musical contrasts with well-placed accented chords was also demonstrated. Our thanks go to Tim and Bang Hean for sharing their expertise as fine musicians, teachers, examiners and communicators throughout the tour and for their tireless energy and humour. So too, we were very pleased to have the support of our local ABRSM publication dealers. It was excellent to meet so many friends from around the region and I look forward to seeing you all in 2010 whether at a High Scorers Concert or another of our teacher seminars taking place across the region. Such was the array of topics covered during the seminars that delegates used their break times to ask a wide variety of questions that were specific to their own teaching experiences Kuching teachers clapping out rhythms under the guidance of Tim. Florida and Bang Hean talk about sonata repertoire. Exam repertoire at Grades 6 to 8 demands stamina, stylistic awareness, as well as sophisticated finger, wrist, arm and pedal techniques. Bang Hean looked into ways of improving students understanding of each attribute during his session on popular syllabus choices at these grades. Once again, communicating the spirit of the music was considered Group photo with our Penang teachers and presenters.

6 6 CT ABRSM Plus CT ABRSM, one of ABRSM s most popular professional development courses, returns to the region with add on advantages. Tony Pinkham, ABRSM s Communication s Manager, finds out more about the all-new CT ABRSM Plus course for teachers. We find that we are often asked by teachers wishing to enhance their professional skills whether they are better suited for the Certificate of Teaching (CT ABRSM) or the Principles of Teaching diploma (DipABRSM). Both courses have equally high merits, but are very different in nature. The Certificate of Teaching is our world-class professional development course for experienced music teachers wishing to expand their existing skills, gain new ideas and meet other likeminded professionals. This is a taught course offered in a parttime or fast-track format (subject to regional availability). Participants are required to attend study days and work with their personal mentors in between study sessions. The course is assessed using written assignments and teaching observations. Our instrumental and vocal teaching diplomas (offered at DipABRSM, LRSM and FRSM levels) are a self-study option. The Principles of Teaching diploma (DipABRSM) requires practical pre-requisites including Grade 8 Practical in the instrument to be studied and Grade 6 Theory. There are no study sessions, and candidates are assessed via a Teaching Skills Viva Voce a discussion with the examiners including demonstrations; written submission; and quick study of an unseen piece of music of Grade 6 standard. In total, four of the study days focus on preparation for the DipABRSM course. Students who successfully complete the CT ABRSM section may then continue to their diploma exam. Candidates will still be assessed via a Viva Voce and quick study, but the best part is that you can use your CT ABRSM qualification as a substitution for the written submission! Even better is the fact that the package features a discount costing for both awards, making it a truly attractive proposition. But what if you already have your Certificate of Teaching (CT ABRSM)? Well, we offer the opportunity to attend just the study days wholly dedicated to the diploma preparation. This will enable you to take your diploma exam, while gaining some of the benefits of the CT ABRSM course including the mentor support and the opportunity to meet and network with other music teachers. The CT ABRSM Plus qualification is launching in Singapore in March 2010, and Hong Kong in October The study sessions in Singapore run from March, June and 6 9 September 2010 respectively. Those registering for DipABRSM preparation course alone need only come on March, 16 June and 8 9 September. For those teachers who are still unsure, we are now delighted to announce a new dual qualification the CT ABRSM Plus. This course combines the Certificate of Teaching (CT ABRSM) with our Principles of Teaching diploma (DipABRSM). In other words, it is now possible to study for the CT ABRSM certificate while receiving support preparing for your DipABRSM exam. Designed to fit around your busy teaching schedule, the CT ABRSM Plus course sets out to develop your teaching skills and help you discover the right approach for you and your students. Upon completion of the course, as well as holding two letter-bearing qualifications, you ll be able to review your own teaching and introduce new techniques into your music lessons. The CT ABRSM Plus course consists of 11 study days spread over a period of six months and divided into three study sessions. Between sessions, you ll work with an ABRSM mentor who will offer feedback on your performance noting areas for improvement and suggesting new ideas to incorporate into your work. You will also complete three written assignments and two action-research projects during the course. Hadwin Umar from Surabaya, East Java being presented his CT ABRSM certificate by ABRSM Chairman, Lord Sutherland, in London. Applicants should note that the prerequisite for registration on the combined CT ABRSM Plus course is a pass at Grade 8 (Practical) from ABRSM or other examination boards, as well as a pass at Grade 6 Theory (ABRSM). Teachers who enrol on the course may also choose where to sit their diploma exam: namely in Singapore and Jakarta (September 2010); Singapore (March 2011); and Kuala Lumpur and Penang (April 2011). For full information regarding this exciting new opportunity, please contact Agnes Lau at alau@abrsm.ac.uk or write to ABRSM s Music Examinations Office in Singapore: Singapore Symphonia Co Ltd 11 Empress Place, 3rd Storey Victoria Concert Hall Singapore

7 7 In store from ABRSM In 2010 ABRSM will be introducing revised syllabus lists for Cello, Double Bass, Trumpet, Trombone and Bass Trombone. Laura Gordon, International Marketing Manager at ABRSM, summarises the changes we have made and reviews the array of new books, recordings and resources available to support teachers and learners. Bowed Strings 2010 & 2011 In August we were delighted to unveil the new Bowed Strings syllabus booklet for 2010 and 2011, excitingly containing brand new repertoire lists for our Cello and Double Bass syllabuses. In 2007 we carried out an in-depth review of our Double Bass syllabus after extensive consultation with music teachers the results of which have been reflected in the new Double Bass syllabus. Significantly, List C now offers both accompanied and solo pieces giving a greater choice for candidates. These new syllabuses have inspired the publication of several new resources. More Time Pieces for Cello (volumes 1 and 2) is a collection of music through the ages offering an invaluable source of repertoire, including pieces from our new Cello syllabus from Grade 1 to Grade 7. In addition, we have produced Cello exam recordings of all the pieces on the new syllabus, which are available to buy now on CD. We are also proud to introduce Time Pieces for Double Bass adding some much-needed repertoire for this instrument. Also in two volumes, this publication contains pieces that are listed in the new Double Bass syllabus at Grades 1 to 5. We are pleased to announce the release of a new volume in our celebrated Spectrum series. Spectrum for Violin is an exciting introduction to the music of today. Featuring 16 specially commissioned pieces from leading composers, Spectrum has something for players of all ages and abilities. The volume also comes with a CD recording of all the pieces and two soundtrack accompaniments. Brass The Brass syllabuses are now published in a separate booklet, detached from Woodwind, for the first time. This new edition contains new set pieces for Trumpet/Cornet/Flugelhorn, Trombone and Bass Trombone. Many brass players like to take their exam on cornet and flugelhorn and we have reflected this by offering a richer selection of works for these instruments. Overall, the new lists offer more choice to candidates and incorporate a greater variety of styles of music including late 19th- and 20th-century works, as well as jazz-influenced pieces. Trombonists and bass trombonists will be excited to hear that we have also reviewed and updated the set pieces for their syllabuses. Our new selections offer more diversity and choice than the previous lists, including a substantial number of pieces and publications entirely new to these syllabuses. Available in January 2010 for the first time, our Trumpet exam recordings available for Grades 1 to 8 will help you bring this new repertoire to life. ABRSM podcasts The latest addition to ABRSM s successful podcast series provides a detailed insight into the five new syllabuses that we are introducing in Syllabus Director Nigel Scaife and Syllabus Manager Robert Sargant also discuss ABRSM s major Bowed Strings syllabus review, including Violin, which is taking place over the next few years. You can download our podcasts at or subscribe to the series via itunes. All ABRSM publications are available from your local music shop or to buy online at All syllabuses and details of how to enter for an ABRSM exam are available at Sheet music allowed for use in ABRSM exams We invest heavily in putting together our syllabuses and are protective of their copyright. Much care is taken to provide a syllabus selection matching the technical requirements at each grade and offering variety and enjoyment to teachers and candidates. In addition to our own volumes of Selected Exam Pieces, the Grade 8 Piano Anthology (published by Peters Edition) is currently the only anthology licensed by ABRSM. All other anthologies derived wholly from the listings in the ABRSM syllabus are unauthorised and not eligible for use in ABRSM exams. This means that any other publication you see which specifically lists ABRSM s syllabus requirements and uses this as its basis is not authorised for publication by ABRSM and cannot be used in our exams. Some readers may have already purchased copies of unauthorised publications in preparation for this year s exams. If purchased prior to the publication of this article, we will overlook their use for exams taking place in However, in line with our Exam Regulations, we reserve the right to withhold the result of any candidate using an unauthorised publication from 2010 onwards. Please direct any queries to: marketing@abrsm.ac.uk. with CD SPECTRUM for VIOLIN 16 contemporary pieces Compiled by Alexandra Wood

8 8 Pathways to success with ABRSM The following events will take place around the region in early For up-to-date information on these and other ABRSM events in your area, please visit our website. Date: 10 January What: High Scorers Concert Where: Avillion Legacy Hotel, Melaka When: 7pm Date: 11 January What: Grade 7 Theory of Music teaching seminar Where: Melaka Contact: David Liew at ctmusic@gmail.com Date: 12 January What: Jazz Piano teacher taster session Where: Music Makers, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur When: 10.30am 12.30pm Contact: Pearly Lee at pearly@musicmakers.com.my Date: 15 January What: Grade 8 Theory of Music teaching seminar Where: Young Musicians Society (YMS), Singapore Contact: Agnes Lau at alau@abrsm.ac.uk Date: 16 January What: Singapore High Scorers Concert Where: YMS, Waterloo Street, Singapore When: 2pm Date: 17 January What: Kuala Lumpur/Selangor High Scorers Concert Where: Convention Centre Plenary Theatre, Kuala Lumpur When: 5pm Date: 18 January What: Grade 8 Theory of Music teaching seminar Where: YMS, Singapore Contact: Agnes Lau at alau@abrsm.ac.uk Date: 19 January What: Grade 7 Theory of Music teaching seminar Where: Khoo Academy, Kuantan Contact: Khoo Siow Chuen at kschuen@pc.jaring.my Date: 22 January What: Grade 7 Theory of Music teaching seminar Where: Century Music School, Kuching Contact: Kathleen Chang at kath@centurymusic.com.my Date: 23 January What: Kuching High Scorers Concert Where: Century Music School, Kuching When: 5pm Contact: Kathleen Chang at kath@centurymusic.com.my Date: 24 January What: Kota Kinabalu High Scorers Concert Where: Beverley Hotel, Kota Kinabalu When: 5pm Date: 25 January What: Grade 7 Theory of Music teaching seminar Where: Beverley Hotel, Kota Kinabalu Contact: Alexandra Pang at pangpiano@yahoo.com Date: March What: CT ABRSM study days Where: Motivate Music School, Balmoral Plaza, Singapore When: 9am 5pm Date: March What: DipABRSM Teaching Diploma preparation days Where: Motivate Music School, Balmoral Plaza, Singapore When: 9am 5pm Date: 20 March What: South and East Asia Diploma Awards Ceremony Where: Concorde Hotel, Singapore When: 2pm Date: 22 March What: Literacy at the Keyboard seminar - Led by Bill Thomson. This seminar series is designed to increase your skills and confidence teaching piano sight-reading. Delegates will also be introduced to ABRSM s latest publication, Joining the Dots. Where: Jakarta (venue tbc) Contact: Denis Umar at denis@indo.net.id Date: 24 March What: Literacy at the Keyboard seminar (as above) Where: Surabaya (venue tbc) Contact: Denis Umar at denis@indo.net.id Date: 26 March What: Literacy at the Keyboard seminar Where: Singapore (venue tbc) Contact: Agnes Lau at alau@abrsm.ac.uk Date: 29 March What: Literacy at the Keyboard seminar Where: Petaling Jaya (venue tbc) Contact: Jo Wong at jwong@abrsm.ac.uk Date: 31 March What: Literacy at the Keyboard seminar Where: Kota Kinabalu (venue tbc) Contact: Jo Wong at jwong@abrsm.ac.uk