Guitar Exams
The Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) for guitar exams are divided up into levels, then sub-divided into Grades;
For the average student, it takes approximately one year of development and hard work at each grade up to Grade 5 and then about two years development and hard work from Grade 6 to 8. This can vary greatly between different individuals.
There are two forms of the exams; Repertoire or Comprehensive. I personally tend to focus upon the Repertoire Exam because I can tailor technical work as appropriate. It allows time for students to practice their ensemble music. Without the extra extensive elements in the Comprehensive Exam, we aim to cover 10-12 pieces in the relevant grade and chose 4-5 closer to the exam to polish. There is less to present in the Repertoire Exam and I feel it is easier for most students to cope in a busy world, and to balance family, school, sport and music.
- Level 1 – Beginner Guitar (Certificates awarded)
- Preliminary Grade
- Grade 1
- Grade 2
- Grade 3
- Grade 4
- Level 2 – Intermediate Guitar (Certificates awarded)
- Grade 5
- Grade 6, Theory co-requisite requirements from this Grade onwards
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Certificate of Performance (CMusA)… the goal for School leaving students.
- Level 3 – Advanced Guitar (Diplomas awarded)
- Associate in Music, Australia (AMusA)
- Licentiate in Music, Australia (LMusA)
- Fellowship in Music, Australia (FMusA)
For the average student, it takes approximately one year of development and hard work at each grade up to Grade 5 and then about two years development and hard work from Grade 6 to 8. This can vary greatly between different individuals.
There are two forms of the exams; Repertoire or Comprehensive. I personally tend to focus upon the Repertoire Exam because I can tailor technical work as appropriate. It allows time for students to practice their ensemble music. Without the extra extensive elements in the Comprehensive Exam, we aim to cover 10-12 pieces in the relevant grade and chose 4-5 closer to the exam to polish. There is less to present in the Repertoire Exam and I feel it is easier for most students to cope in a busy world, and to balance family, school, sport and music.
Repertoire exam
Offered only up to Grade 8, the student plays 4-5 pieces in the relevant syllabus. Four pieces only in Level 1 and 5 pieces in Level 2. All pieces are weighted equally, so they all need to be played at the best of our ability (i.e. not like the “extra list” in the Comprehensive which only requires ‘familiarity)
Comprehensive exam
The exam is divided into six sections;
The Technical Work can include up to a dozen scales, half a dozen arpeggios and set exercises for both the left and right hands. This is heavily weighted in an exam, is extremely important for the development of good technique and facility on a guitar and is the one most neglected by students in their practice at home – especially for students who wish to do music “just for fun” or “do the work without sitting the exam”. The biggest difference in sitting for these exams and sitting the Repertoire exams or not sitting an exam is the need to complete a technical work segment including scales, arpeggios, and set technical exercises.
The Set Pieces are divided into 3-4 lists depending on the grade, from which each student must choose at least one. The benefit of having Set Pieces divided into these different lists is that a broad range of genres is covered in the development throughout the year, as each list represents a different genre of music.
The Sight Reading is an important skill in music, and quite well prepared by being involved in the Music Co-Curricular program such as Ensembles. Aural Tests are valuable as we learn an aural art form, and best prepared for by using a quality aural training book available from the local music store – a foundation of theory would help navigate the semantics. General Knowledge is taught at the basic level of guitar lessons, although from Level 2 the need for a theoretical foundation becomes more important. So important in fact, that from Grade 6, you need Grade 2 theory to receive your certificate. Most people struggle to go past Grade 6 with no theory foundation.
- Technical Work
- Set Pieces
- Sight Reading
- Aural Tests
- General Knowledge and
- Extra Works
The Technical Work can include up to a dozen scales, half a dozen arpeggios and set exercises for both the left and right hands. This is heavily weighted in an exam, is extremely important for the development of good technique and facility on a guitar and is the one most neglected by students in their practice at home – especially for students who wish to do music “just for fun” or “do the work without sitting the exam”. The biggest difference in sitting for these exams and sitting the Repertoire exams or not sitting an exam is the need to complete a technical work segment including scales, arpeggios, and set technical exercises.
The Set Pieces are divided into 3-4 lists depending on the grade, from which each student must choose at least one. The benefit of having Set Pieces divided into these different lists is that a broad range of genres is covered in the development throughout the year, as each list represents a different genre of music.
The Sight Reading is an important skill in music, and quite well prepared by being involved in the Music Co-Curricular program such as Ensembles. Aural Tests are valuable as we learn an aural art form, and best prepared for by using a quality aural training book available from the local music store – a foundation of theory would help navigate the semantics. General Knowledge is taught at the basic level of guitar lessons, although from Level 2 the need for a theoretical foundation becomes more important. So important in fact, that from Grade 6, you need Grade 2 theory to receive your certificate. Most people struggle to go past Grade 6 with no theory foundation.
When are the AMEB classical guitar exams?
The exams only happen once in Canberra (June), although it is possible to travel to Sydney at the end of the year(s). That said; full preparation for an exam does take a full year to complete.
What are the pros and cons of an AMEB classical guitar exam?
There is a misunderstanding that Classical Guitar means Classical Music; I think of the term classical as traditional. The traditional method to learn the guitar. It has classical music and so much more! The AMEB syllabus has a rich variety of styles and incorporates Spanish, Jazz, Blues, Folk and music from different cultures.
Sitting an exam is stressful, but we need stress to focus our practice and steadily improve. It is interesting to note that school students aren’t asked if they’d like to study their Maths for fun, cover everything and not sit the test… nothing would get done! The pros could include;
Exams are not for everyone, particularly the young students in the initial years. Sometimes we just need some time to grow into the guitar. An exam is a big commitment of practice, those who don’t practice throughout the year consistently find these difficult to do well – and this shows in the progress. It is not possible to “cram” for a practical music exam by practising only the week prior – guitar playing is like a fitness. Excellent results only come with excellent practice throughout the year.
Sitting an exam is stressful, but we need stress to focus our practice and steadily improve. It is interesting to note that school students aren’t asked if they’d like to study their Maths for fun, cover everything and not sit the test… nothing would get done! The pros could include;
- Focus. Everyone needs a goal in their learning.
- Progress. The levels are structured getting more difficult gradually – a bit like the Karate Belts, coloured to show progress until the Black Belt. But Black Belt is having only covered the basics and where the real learning starts. For the guitar, the equivalent to the Black Belt is the Certificate of Performance (CMusA)
- Achievement. After successfully passing the practical exam (and co-requisites if appropriate), students receive a fancy nationally recognised certificate. No joke; these certificates look fancier than my degrees, and they look great framed!
- Nerves. This looks like a con but I believe it to be a pro, because “pressure creates diamonds”. To play guitar, we train our micro muscles and nerves can seriously inhibit the playing. This means we have to talk about strategies of dealing with nerves. What other subject at school talks about this in-depth (i.e. more than saying “take a deep breath”?)
Exams are not for everyone, particularly the young students in the initial years. Sometimes we just need some time to grow into the guitar. An exam is a big commitment of practice, those who don’t practice throughout the year consistently find these difficult to do well – and this shows in the progress. It is not possible to “cram” for a practical music exam by practising only the week prior – guitar playing is like a fitness. Excellent results only come with excellent practice throughout the year.
More information can be found at the AMEB website www.ameb.edu.au
Last updated January 2022