Saxophone beginners Adults and Exams

[jbtsax]

Until I joined this forum, I had not heard of testing and assigning grade levels in music. I assume the primary difference between our two countries is that we in the US have school music programs for band, orchestra, and chorus. The majority of people interested in playing an instrument here start in 6th or 7th grade. Some continue through high school and some of those continue playing in college whether they are majoring in music or not. The better students here do take private lessons so they can advance at their own pace. School bands in a lot of cases are more for the "social experience" than a "muscial experience", but the best programs seem to furnish both to the students.

 

[Little My]

Until I joined this forum, I had not heard of testing and assigning grade levels in music. I assume the primary difference between our two countries is that we in the US have school music programs for band, orchestra, and chorus. The majority of people interested in playing an instrument here start in 6th or 7th grade. Some continue through high school and some of those continue playing in college whether they are majoring in music or not. The better students here do take private lessons so they can advance at their own pace. School bands in a lot of cases are more for the "social experience" than a "muscial experience", but the best programs seem to furnish both to the students.

I don't think the grade systems correlate - Grade 8 here is the standard needed to study music at degree level.

 

[jbtsax]

I don't think the grade systems correlate - Grade 8 here is the standard needed to study music at degree level.

Sorry to sound confusing. By grade I mean the year in school. Over here elementary school is "grades" K - 6, junior high is "grades" 7 - 8, and high school is grades 9 - 12.

 

[Tenor Viol]

The US grades are more or less the same as our 'years' which go from 1-13. Y1-2 are infants, Y3-6 are juniors (upto Y6 is primary), Y7-11 are seniors/secondary and Y12-13 are sixth form. Y1 is 5 and Y13 is 18 year olds.

Music exam grades are ability levels. See www.abrsm.org for details of the Associated Board syllabus and exams.

 

[Young Col]

But I think the USA grade school system is more ability based than age related - is that right jbt? The UK year numbers are age related.

Grade 6 in music exams will get you UCAS points (university entrance requirements) but you will need A (Advanced) level music and other A levels too (taken in Y13 age 18, jbt). The best universities and Royal Colleges of Music will want a grade 8 pass in music, probably with distinction, and good passes in A levels.

 

[Targa]

The US grades are more or less the same as our 'years' which go from 1-13. Y1-2 are infants, Y3-6 are juniors (upto Y6 is primary), Y7-11 are seniors/secondary and Y12-13 are sixth form. Y1 is 5 and Y13 is 18 year olds.

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What happened to the lower 3rd, upper 3rd, 4th, remove, L5Sc, U5Sc, lower 6th, upper 6th?
That system made sense.

 

[jbtsax]

But I think the USA grade school system is more ability based than age related - is that right jbt? The UK year numbers are age related.

The US school system is based upon age. Occasionally a student is held back a grade (or advanced a grade) based upon performance, but that is not the norm.