ABRSM facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
ABRSM

Type	Charity
Industry	Music education
Founded	1 October 1889 (1889-10-01)
Founder	Sir George Grove Sir Alexander Mackenzie Sir Arthur Sullivan Sir Charles Stanford Sir Walter Parratt Sir Hubert Parry Sir John Stainer
Headquarters	4 London Wall Place London EC2Y 5AU , United Kingdom
Area served	93 countries worldwide
Key people	Chris Cobb (Chief Executive) Colette Bowe (Chairman) Mervyn Cousins (Chief Examiner)
Products	Music exams Sheet music publications Digital music applications Music education courses and events
Net income	£45.5 million (2023)
Number of employees	182 (2023)

The ABRSM (which stands for Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) is a group in the United Kingdom that helps people take music exams. It is also a registered charity. ABRSM is one of the main groups that gives out music exam grades and special diplomas in the UK.

More than 600,000 students take ABRSM exams every year. These exams happen in over 90 countries around the world. ABRSM also publishes music books, sheet music, and exam papers. They also offer courses and workshops for music teachers.

ABRSM's History

The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music started in 1889. Two important music leaders, Alexander Mackenzie and George Grove, decided to create a joint exam board. Mackenzie was the head of the Royal Academy of Music. Grove was the director of the Royal College of Music.

Early Exams and Grades

The first exam guides came out in 1890. They were for instruments like Piano, Organ, Violin, Cello, and Harp. The next year, Viola, Double Bass, and woodwind instruments were added.

When ABRSM first started, there were only two grades. These were similar to today's Grades 6 and 7. Because many beginners wanted to take exams, the current system of Grades 1 to 8 was introduced in 1933.

Growing Across the UK

In 1947, two more important music schools joined ABRSM. These were the Royal Manchester College of Music and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music. Today, these schools are known as the Royal Northern College of Music and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

So, the "Royal Schools of Music" in ABRSM's name refer to four main schools:

• The Royal Academy of Music
• The Royal College of Music
• The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
• The Royal Northern College of Music

New Instruments and Diplomas

After World War II, more and more students from other countries started taking ABRSM exams. The types of instruments you could take exams for also grew. New instruments included Guitar, Harpsichord, Voice (for both classical and musical theatre), percussion, Recorder, and all brass instruments.

In the 1990s, percussion and jazz were added to the exam choices. ABRSM also started offering different levels of diplomas. These are advanced qualifications for musicians and teachers. The ARSM diploma was added in 2016–2017. It helps students move from Grade 8 to higher-level diplomas.

Diploma Changes in 2023

In 2023, ABRSM made big changes to their diploma programs. Now, there are three main diploma levels: ARSM, LRSM, and FRSM.

• ARSM is for performance, teaching, or directing.
• LRSM is for teaching or directing.
• FRSM is for directing or education.

To take the ARSM, LRSM, or FRSM Performance diplomas, you usually need to have passed Grade 8 on your instrument. For other diplomas like ARSM in Directing or Teaching, there are no special entry requirements.

How Diplomas Are Graded

For ARSM, you need 34 out of 50 marks to pass. Getting 40 marks is a Merit, and 45 marks is a Distinction.

For LRSM and FRSM, you need 50 out of 75 marks to pass. Getting 60 marks is a Merit, and 68 marks is a Distinction.

What You Do in a Performance Diploma

• ARSM Performance: You play a 30-minute program. At least 20 minutes must be from the ARSM list. Up to 10 minutes can be your own choice of pieces, around Grade 8 level or higher.
• LRSM Performance: You play a 45-minute program. At least half of it must be from the LRSM list. Up to half can be your own choice, around ARSM level or higher. You also write a 2000-word essay about your performance.
• FRSM Performance: You play a 55-minute recital. At least half of it must be from the FRSM list. Up to half can be your own choice, around LRSM level or higher. You also write a 3500-word essay about your research and reflections.

You don't have to pass every single part of the diploma to pass the whole thing.

Music Medals

Music Medals are special music assessments for younger students. They are often used for groups learning music together. Unlike graded music exams, Music Medals do not have outside examiners. The teacher does the first assessment.

Qualifications and Levels

Ofqual is the organization that checks and approves ABRSM's grades and diplomas. ABRSM qualifications fit into the RQF Levels Framework. This framework helps people understand how difficult each qualification is and what other qualifications it is similar to.

The "TQT" (Total Qualification Time) and "credits" show how big a qualification is. They tell you how long it might take a student to finish it. For TQT, you multiply the credits by 10. For example, a Grade 8 Performance exam has 32 credits, so its TQT is 320 hours (32 x 10).

Digital Tools for Musicians

Since 2009, ABRSM has made several apps to help students and teachers practice.

• Melody Writer: This tool helps you write melodies and understand music theory better.
• Aural Trainer: An iPhone app that helps students practice their listening skills for music.
• Speedshifter: A practice tool that lets you change the speed of audio without changing the pitch.
• Piano Practice Partner: An app for phones and tablets that helps piano students practice exam pieces for Grades 1 to 3. It can play one hand of the music so you can play the other.

Diversity in Music Syllabuses

In 2020, some people raised concerns about the lack of diversity in ABRSM's music lists. They noticed that the 2019/20 piano syllabus did not include any black composers.

Many people signed a petition about this issue. Music experts like Chi-chi Nwanoku and Scott Caizley spoke about the need for more diverse composers. They felt it was important for all students to see themselves represented in the music they learn.

ABRSM responded to these concerns. They said that the discussions made them think deeply about including more black composers in their syllabuses. They are working to make their music lists more diverse and inclusive for everyone.

See also

In Spanish: Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music para niños