Frequently asked questions

Because:

• • If you are struggling with a particular part of the course, we will know and we will help you to improve.
  • Your homework is marked by a human, not a computer, so you will be told where you need to improve and how.
  • Your music history, set work analysis, harmony and melody writing homework and practice exam papers will be marked and you will receive feedback so you know whether it is good, bad or somewhere in-between.
  • You receive personalised, individual attention that is specific to you.

In our experience, a lot of students do well with online courses for Grades 1 and 2. Some find the rhythm part of the Grade 2 courses difficult. Where students start to struggle with online courses is with cadences and melody writing in Grade 3.

The first three grades are quite similar. Grade 4 is where the two syllabuses become quite different.  The musicianship syllabus includes an aural exam from Grade 4 and introduces music history.  The theory syllabus has more course work with more emphasis on technical rules for harmony and composition.  We recommend the musicianship syllabus because:

• • Music is first and foremost an aural activity so aural development is important. The aural component in the musicianship exam assists with this.
  • As there is an aural component to the musicianship syllabus from Grade 4 onwards, there is less course work which means students are ready to sit the exam in less time than with the corresponding theory exam.
  • Given how dense the theory syllabus is, students find it difficult and tedious. Grade 6 theory is particularly challenging and time consuming given the breadth of the history as well as the technicality of the harmony, two part writing and melody writing parts of the course.

The aural component of the musicianship exams is not particularly hard.  It is nowhere near as difficult as the aural tests in instrument grade exams. We always recommend the musicianship syllabus over the music theory syllabus but are happy to teach either of them.  If the student is planning on doing music as a school subject, the aural component of the musicianship exam will assist in preparing for school aural exams.  We have noticed that as students now have the choice of doing repertoire rather than the comprehensive syllabus, aural development is not occurring as it should and this could go against a student doing school music which inevitably includes aural exams.  Both the musicianship and music theory courses will generally assist with school music exams.

Not at the moment because of the big differences in ages, abilities and music backgrounds of students.  We also find that students are more likely to remain engaged and ask questions in a one on one lesson.  However, if there is a small group of students who are at the same age and level who would like class lessons, please contact us to discuss further.  If a small group of students would like a couple of casual, revision lessons prior to sitting an exam, please contact us to discuss further.  By ‘small group’ we mean 2 to 5 students but if you have in mind a larger group, please contact us to discuss.

Irrespective of where a student is up to with their instrument exams, we find that students who start their musicianship or music theory before they reach grade 4 at school tend to struggle. While there are always exceptions, we do not recommend a student commence formal music theory or musicianship lessons until they are in at least grade 4 at school.

No. If you require HSC coaching we recommend Helen Lowry who may be contacted by email at: hjlowry@bigpond.com.

Within 14 days of receipt of an invoice from us.

• Where we are given at least 24 hours notice, we will reschedule the lesson which may mean a make up lesson during school holidays. No refund will be given.
• Where less notice is given, we will attempt to reschedule the lesson at our discretion. No refund will be given.
• There is no refund or rescheduling of lessons where a student has forgotten their lesson or we have received less than 15 minutes notice of a missed lesson.
• Where the teacher cannot make a lesson, we will reschedule the lesson.

Fees for regular, weekly lessons including GST are:
Grades 1 and 2: $40 per 30 minute lesson.
Grades 3 and 4: $50 per 30 minute lesson.
Grade 5: $70 per 40 minute lesson.
Grade 6: $75 per 40 minute lesson.

Fees for casual lessons including GST are:
Grades 1 to 4 inclusive: $60 per 30 minute lesson.
Grade 5: $85 per 40 minute lesson.
Grade 6: $95 per 40 minute lesson.

For comparison, please see the recommended fees published by the Music Teachers Association.

The fees include:

• the lesson;
• marking the homework;
• marking practice exams prior to the exam; and
• feedback on your progress.

For grades 5 and 6 the fees also include additional material on the set works, music history, composers and instruments.

No.

The AMEB requires theoretical knowledge of music in higher instrument exams as it helps students to perform with greater musicality and an understanding of musical concepts, periods and styles. The requirements for the issue of certificates for advanced grade instrument exams are as follows.

Instead of the musicianship or music theory course you can choose to do the corresponding grade exam in the subject of music craft. We do not teach music craft.

The written exam does not need to be completed before the instrument exam and there is no time limit in which to pass the written exam after the instrument exam. However, you will not be able to attend the AMEB (NSW) Diploma Presentation Ceremony and be formally presented with your diploma certificate until you have completed both the instrument and written exam.

Yes.

No.

It is up to the student to prove to the AMEB that they have completed the additional requirement with an alternative examining authority.

Because:

• • If you are struggling with a particular part of the course, we will know and we will help you to improve.
  • Your homework is marked by a human, not a computer, so you will be told where you need to improve and how.
  • Your music history, set work analysis, harmony and melody writing homework and practice exam papers will be marked and you will receive feedback so you know whether it is good, bad or somewhere in-between.
  • You receive personalised, individual attention that is specific to you.

In our experience, a lot of students do well with online courses for Grades 1 and 2. Some find the rhythm part of the Grade 2 courses difficult. Where students start to struggle with online courses is with cadences and melody writing in Grade 3.

In some circumstances. In our experience, one on one lessons are better for students because of the big differences in ages, abilities and music backgrounds of students.  We also find that students are more likely to remain engaged and ask questions in a one on one lesson.  However, if there is a small group of students who are at the same age and level who would like class lessons, please contact us to discuss further.  If a small group of students would like a few casual lessons on a particular topic or a few revision lessons prior to sitting an exam, please contact us to discuss further.  By ‘small group’ we mean 2 to 5 students but if you have in mind a larger group, please contact us to discuss.

You do not need to sit the earlier grade exams to sit the grade 5 exam. However, if you have not done all the course work in the earlier grades, you will struggle because the syllabus builds on knowledge obtained in the previous grade.  If you have completed all of Grade 3 musicianship or music theory and you could attain 85% or over in a Grade 3 exam, you will not have too much catch up to do before starting Grade 5 musicianship. If you want to do Grade 5 theory, you will need to complete the majority of the Grade 4 theory course even if you don’t sit the exam.

Yes. The AMEB will automatically send the certificates for your instrument grade exams and Certificate of Performance to the person who entered you for the instrument exams after you have passed the Grade 5 written exam.  You do not need to contact the AMEB unless you did your instrument exam in a different state to your written exam.

Typically we do but a parent or care giver can enter a student under the age of 18.  A student over the age of 18 can enter themselves.

It is very important that the name the student has entered for their instrument exam is exactly the same as the name the student enters for their written exam.  If the names do not match exactly, the AMEB will not know that it is the same candidate and the student will not receive their certificate.  If we enter the student for the exam and it becomes apparent that the student’s name does not match their name for the instrument exam, we will sort that out with the AMEB on your behalf.

If we enter the student for the exam, we will need the student’s full name exactly as it should appear on their certificate and their date of birth.  We do not keep any record of the date of birth.  The student’s certificate will be posted to us. We will post it to the address provided by you.  We do not keep any record of the address.

Irrespective of where a student is up to with their instrument exams, we find that students who start their musicianship or music theory before they reach grade 4 at school tend to struggle. While there are always exceptions, we do not recommend a student commence formal music theory or musicianship lessons until they are in at least grade 4 at school.

No. If you require HSC coaching we recommend Helen Lowry who may be contacted by email at: hjlowry@bigpond.com.

No.