october 2011 - abrsm · 02-abrsm-200 0800 687 392 | october 2011 what's inside proud...

02-ABRSM-200

0800 687 392 | www.abrsm.org

October 2011

What's inside

Proud supporters of

NZ

ABRSM Grant to schools Upcoming events New syllabus and tests for

Bowed Strings Dates for 2012

Coda:Get me to the church on time!

No matter how well prepared a candidate is for an exam, there’s something about

‘exam day’ that can create an extra level of tension. Arriving for an exam

in good time can be a critical part of feeling calm and ready for the exam. Unfortunately from time to time we receive calls from frantic parents and accompanists who suddenly realise the venue is not quite where they thought, and the clock is

ticking! There are two easy ways that applicants can help candidates avoid any last minute panics:• Fill in the exam appointment details

on the candidate label we provide with your appointment notice, and stick this somewhere visible on your student’s music book or notebook.

• Point out to parents the web address printed on the label, and make sure they know that venue information sheets are available online for our most used Practical and Theory venues around the country – see examples pictured. (If your venue is not listed, your local representative will be able to give you all the information you need.)

Listen and learn

There is a page on our website where you can listen to interviews about news and

developments at ABRSM. Just go to www.abrsm.org/podcasts and you’re ready to go. These interviews are entertaining and informative and will help you understand the syllabuses

and tests with a view to making the best decisions for your students. Recent subjects covered include: • new Bowed Strings syllabus • piano 2011-2012 syllabus• new Aural requirements• a guide to Diploma examsand many more.

Let your thumbs do the talking!

If you have a quick query or request (such as needing an application form posted out or

wanting to check an exam time) you can now text us on 02-ABRSM-200

(or 02-22776-200). Add this number to your cell phone contacts list, then even if you only have a moment to spare between pupils, help is only a text message away.

Evelyn Rawlins Room, Square Edge Palmerston North

Candidates should arrive at the exam venue 15 minutes before their exam time.

The venue, Square Edge, is situated on the Square, next to All Saints Church. Parking is available outside the venue, but involves parking-meter charges. The Evelyn Rawlins Room is on the 1st Floor.

The piano used in the exams is a Grotrian Steinweg grand. A warm-up room is available for instrumentalists/singers but there is no piano available for warming up.

Rehearsals

Rehearsals may be arranged through Sue at the Square Edge: phone 353-2800 or email [email protected]. A charge of $22 per hour (including use of the piano) will apply.

Any questions?

There’s an information sheet for candidates on our website at www.abrsm.org/nz. You can also visit the home page (www.abrsm.org) to find general information about the exams as well as a forum for chatting with other teachers and students. If you have any questions about your exam venue, or about how the exam will run, please email the ABRSM office on [email protected] or freephone 0800 MUSEXAM (687 392).

inbefereUntimrefraacsuvewan

rking is availablem is on the 1st Floor.

vailable for

r email

z. You can also visit thel as a forum for

n, please email the

Community of St Luke, Remuera 130 Remuera Road

Candidates should arrive at the exam venue 15 minutes before their exam time.

Parking is available in the Church grounds.

Candidates should follow the signs in the main entrance on the side of the church building, and report to the exam steward in the Lounge. The exam room is off the courtyard area, and you will be taken there by the steward. Candidates should come warmed up, although it is sometimes possible for candidates to have a quick warm up in the waiting room before their exam.

The exams are held in a good sized room with a reasonably dry acoustic. The piano is a Yamaha upright with an adjustable piano stool.

Rehearsals

If you would like to arrange a time to try out the piano, or just to have a look at the exam room, contact the Auckland office on 480 1200. Rehearsal times are available only on set days during the exam session and times are limited. There is a charge of $10 per fifteen minutes.

Any questions?

There’s an information sheet for candidates on our website at www.abrsm.org/nz. You can also visit the home page (www.abrsm.org) to find general information about the exams as well as a forum for chatting with other teachers and students. If you have any questions about your exam venue, or about how the exam will run, please email the ABRSM office on [email protected] or freephone 0800 MUSEXAM (687 392).

BowedStrings

2012–2015

Syllabus

0800 MUSEXAM (687 392) | 02 ABRSM 200 | offi [email protected] | www.abrsm.org

ABRSM Grant to Schools

Each year, ABRSM awards a grant of $1000 to a New Zealand school with the

aim of encouraging new musical opportunities for students. The 2011 recipient of the grant was Palmerston North Girls’ High School, and the Head of Music at the school, Karen Carter, wrote to us recently:

“Just thought I would give you an update on how our new performance initiatives have started at PNGHS. We have 12 girls learning ukulele in two groups. Then there are a further 16 girls doing vocal jazz in 3 groups, including one group of Pasifi ka girls who are amazing at harmonizing. So, thanks for the lift up and kick start.

Hedy King Robinson award

New Bowed Strings Syllabus for 2012

This new syllabus is now available, both online at www.abrsm.org/exams/strings

and as a printed booklet. ABRSM has also published a range of supporting materials including Scales & Arpeggios and Specimen Sight-Reading for all bowed string instruments, as well as the new books of Violin Exam Pieces (with CD recordings) and the recently launched Violin Star series.

You can read all about the changes on our website at www.abrsm.org/bowedstrings, and you’ll fi nd free

sample sight-reading pages to print out and try. The sight-reading and scale requirements were covered in the previous issue of Libretto, which is also available online at www.abrsm.org/libretto.

Please note that as always, there will be a one year overlap on the use of pieces (so you can use pieces from the 2011 syllabus during 2012), but there will be no overlap for the other elements of the syllabus. The new sight-reading and scales requirements will take effect from the beginning of 2012.

Previous recipients

This wouldn't have been possible any other way.”

Applications for the 2012 grant are now invited, so if you know of a school whose students could benefi t from this grant then please let them know. Applications should be sent in writing to ABRSM’s Auckland offi ce by the end of October, and should include a brief outline of the music programme currently offered in the school as well as specifi c details of how the grant would be spent.

2010: Kawaha Point Primary School, Rotorua2009: Mairehau High School, Christchurch:

This award was established by a benefactor to reward those achieving a Distinction result in a Theory examination at Grade 6, 7, or 8. The prize fund has now been exhausted and the award will no longer be offered.

0800 MUSEXAM (687 392) | 02 ABRSM 200 | offi [email protected] | www.abrsm.org

Auckland Lecture and Workshop on Flow

Flow is an approach developed and researched by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi which

can be applied in many different fi elds where ‘peak performance’ is sought. While commonly used in many sports, the application of fl ow to musical performance and teaching is a relatively new development. “This unique methodology enables musicians to have an increased enjoyment of music-making, a reduction in anxiety, frustration and boredom, an ability to remain rejuvenated whilst playing, an ability to learn and absorb musical information in a deep and permanent way, an opportunity to create a unique and

individual playing style, an ability to be spontaneous whilst performing, a deeper understanding of the mind/body connection, and an opportunity to achieve full musical and expressive potential.” “Teaching in Flow enables teachers to enhance their experience and skills by learning unique methods to guide students to optimize their practice and performance, by reducing anxiety and increasing creativity.” (Quotes are taken from Rachael Beesley’s article in the ABRSM NZ Coda newsletter, June 2011 – email offi [email protected] to request a copy of the full article.)

This professional development day will be presented by Rachael

Beesley, one of Australia’s most versatile and dynamic performers. Rachael spent the last 14 years based in The Netherlands, and during that time developed courses on ‘Practising in Flow’ for the Royal Conservatoire, The Hague. Rachael will begin by presenting a lecture on Flow, highlighting the specifi c ways to bring this state into practicing, performing and teaching. This will be followed by a workshop in which Rachael will work with individual instrumentalists and singers in a masterclass style session. The lecture and workshop will be suitable for all teachers and senior students. See page 4 for session details.

All together now

As we come to the end of a second year in partnership with Chamber Music New

Zealand, we’re proud to refl ect on the benefi ts provided to young New Zealand musicians through this relationship. ABRSM is the sponsor of the NZCT Chamber Music Contest regional coaching programme which in 2011 provided coaching to 47 groups in ten centres around the country. Sessions were led by some of New Zealand’s fi nest musicians, including Miranda Adams, Richard Mapp, Sarah Watkins, Justine Cormack, Jenny Wollerman, and the New Zealand String Quartet (Helen Pohl, Doug Beilman, Gillian Ansell

and Rolf Gjelsten). As a wonderful surprise for students in the Hawkes Bay, the touring Brentano String Quartet from America led a coaching session at Napier Girls’ High School.

Jessica Lightfoot, the coaching organiser at Chamber Music New Zealand, writes “[we were] delighted with the results achieved by groups who received coaching in this year’s Chamber Music Contest. Although

the aim of the coaching is to foster a love of chamber music in student musicians of all levels, rather than to necessarily produce top achievers in each District, it is nevertheless heartening that two groups that received coaching, the Menagerie Trio from Napier and Faultlines from Christchurch, were both selected for the National Finals of the Contest this year.” Coaching recipients also won their District fi nals in Whangarei, Hawkes Bay, and Timaru.

We look forward to continuing to encourage young people’s active participation in music through this ongoing partnership with Chamber Music New Zealand.

Christchurch update

As we covered in the previous issue of NZ Coda, The Music Centre of Christchurch was

badly damaged in the February earthquake and subsequent aftershocks. This has been a huge upheaval for the many teachers and

organisations that considered the Centre their musical home, and has also meant the sad loss of these beautiful heritage buildings.

ABRSM is enormously grateful to those teachers who opened their homes for our use during the June-

July session, thereby providing a safe and welcoming environment for those sitting their exams. We are pleased to have a new venue in Christchurch – the Beulah Christian Fellowship– and will also continue to offer Studio centres as we have done in the past.

Heather GummerNational Coordinator | [email protected] | (09) 480 1200 x2

Carla JohnstonAssistant Administrator | [email protected] | (09) 480 1200 x1

Please note that the school term dates for 2012 have reverted to the usual pattern after the alterations made in 2011 to accommodate the Rugby World Cup. This means that some closing dates and session dates may seem a little earlier than they were in 2011.

Dates for your diary 2011Session Closing dates Exams

Theory C 23 September 12 November

Practical 3 – Grades, Jazz, & Diplomas 12 August 31 October – 9 December*

*NCEA exams will be scheduled between 15 November and 3 December

Dates for your diary 2012Session Closing dates Exams

Theory A 24 February 31 March

B 11 May 16 June

C 21 September 10 November

Practical 1 – Grades & Diplomas 16 March 28 May – 29 June

2 – Grades only 18 May 13 August – 21 September

3 – Grades, Jazz, & Diplomas 10 August 22 October – 7 December*

*NCEA exams will be scheduled between 12 November and 5 December

Application forms and calendars will be sent to current applicants with the January newsletter.

PRACTICAL EXAMS 2012 APPLICATION FORM

129A Onewa Road,Northcote, Auckland

PO Box 34433, Birkenhead,Auckland 0746,

telephone (09) 480 1200freephone 0800 MUSEXAM (0800 687 392)fax (09) 480 1201text 02 ABRSM 200

email [email protected] www.abrsm.org/nz

Applicant informationThe applicant is the teacher, parent, or adult candidate, and must be 18 years of age or over.

Applicant number (Optional)

Title

First name

Family name

Qualifications

Address

Suburb

City/Town

Post code

Email

Home telephone ( )

Work telephone ( )

Fax ( )

Mobile telephone ( )

Examination options

Practical 1Closing date: 16 March Exams: 28 May to 29 June

Choose ONE centre only per form. Please contact us if you require additional forms.

AucklandRemuera / Mt Eden

Northcote

Howick

Other Auckland centre:

________________________

Pt Chevalier

Orewa

Drury

WellingtonWellington City

Lower Hutt

Kapiti Coast

Other Wellington centre:

________________________

HamiltonChristchurchDunedinOther centre:

________________________

Presenter name and qualifications for certificate (if different from applicant information above). See guidance notes for more information.

Please read the guidance notes regarding other commitments. Requests for preferred dates or weeks will not be considered without supporting documentation.

Practical 2Closing date: 18 May Exams: 13 August to 21 September

Practical 3 (including Jazz)Closing date: 10 AugustExams: 22 October to 7 December

No staples please





)

)

)

)

HHaammmilttoonnCChhrrriissttcchuurrchDDuunneedddiinnOOtthheerr ccennttre:

________________________

or more information.

sidered without supporting

(inncclluuddinng JJazz)0 August

ober to 7 December

THEORY EXAMS 2012 APPLICATION FORM





Applicant informationThe applicant is the teacher, parent, or adult candidate, and must be 18 years of age or over.

Applicant number (Optional)

Title

First name

Family name

Qualifications

Address

Suburb

City/Town

Post code

Email

Home telephone ( )

Work telephone ( )

Fax ( )

Mobile telephone ( )

Examination options


AucklandEpsom

Takapuna

Pakuranga


________________________

Henderson

Orewa

Manurewa

WellingtonWellington City

Lower Hutt

Kapiti Coast


________________________

HamiltonChristchurchDunedinOther centre:

________________________

Presenter name and qualifications for certificate (if different from applicant information above). See guidance notes for more information.

Theory AClosing date: 24 February Exam: 31 March

Theory BClosing date: 11 May Exam: 16 June

Theory CClosing date: 21 SeptemberExam: 10 November

This application is made under the Theory Incentive Scheme for SchoolsWorkbooks already received

No staples please

Email

ExaminatioExaminatioExamination optionsn optionsn optionsp

Practical 1Closing date: 16 March Exams: 28 May to 29 June


AucklandRemuera / Mt Eden

Northcote

Howick


________________________

Pt Chevalier

Orewa

Drury

WellingtoonnnWellington City

Lower Hutt

Kapiti Coast


________________________

Presenter name and qualifications for certificate (if different from applicant information above). See guidance n

Please read the guidance notes regarding other commitments. Requests for preferred dates or weeks will not documentation.

Practical 2Closing date: 18 May Exams: 13 August to 21 September

PractiClosingExams:

129A Onewa Rd, Northcote, Ak | PO Box 34433, Birkenhead, Ak 0746telephone (09) 480 1200 | freephone 0800 MUSEXAM (0800 687 392) text 02 ABRSM 200 | fax (09) 480 1201 email offi [email protected] | web www.abrsm.org/nz2012

Closing Date Exams

Practical 1 16 March 28 May to 29 June

Practical 2 18 May 13 August to 21 September

Practical 3 10 August 23 October to 7 December (including Jazz exams)

Diploma 1 16 March Auckland: 23 May to 25 MayOther centres: 28 May to 29 June

Diploma 2 10 August Auckland & Christchurch: 15 October to 19 OctoberOther centres: 23 October to 7 December

Theory A 24 February 31 March

Theory B 11 May 16 June

Theory C 21 September 10 November

Practical $ Theory $

Prep Test 76

Grade 1 107 Grade 1 57








Upcoming eventsHigh Scorers ConcertsAuckland Sunday 11th December 2.00pm,

Raye Freedman Arts CentreWellington Sunday 11th December 2.30pm,

Adam Concert Room, Victoria UniversityChristchurch Thursday 15th December 7.00pm

Beulah Christian Fellowship

For concerts in other centres, please contact your local representative.

Professional Development MeetingsAuckland Wednesday 26th October, (see below)Wellington Wednesday 9th November, 10.00amChristchurch Tuesday 6th December, 7.30pmWhangarei Thursday 3rd November, 1.00pmNelson Sunday 30th October, 3.30pmPalmerston North Wednesday 23rd November, 8.00pmGisborne Tuesday 8th November, 11.30amOamaru Wednesday 9th November, 7.30pmTauranga Tuesday 8th November, 7.30pmHastings Friday 4th November, 7.30pmDunedin Tuesday 8th November, 7.30pm

Auckland Professional Development Event(see page 3 for further information)Presenter: Rachael BeesleyVenue: St Mark’s Parish Centre,

95 Remuera RoadDate: Wednesday 26th OctoberLecture: 10.00am – 11.30amWorkshop: 12.30pm – 2.30pmAttendance fee: Lecture only – $10,

Lecture and workshop – $30

Annual Animato 2012Venue: Dilworth School, Epsom, AucklandTime: 9.30am – 3.30pmDate: Monday 30th January

Information about the Annual Animato day will be emailed to Auckland applicants in December and published in the January newsletter.

IRMT Auckland Branch SeminarPresenter: Dr John WellsVenue: Somervell Presbyterian

Church, 497 Remuera Road

Date: Friday, 4th NovemberTime: 9.45am – 1.15 pmTopic: The Key To The Keys – Unlocking Hidden

Meanings

To register, contact Catherine Bracegirdle by email, [email protected] or phone 528 8481.

IRMT Christchurch Branch Event In-Service Teacher Training CoursePiano Unit A – Beginner to Grade 5Date: 20th & 21st April 2012Contact: [email protected]

october 2011 - abrsm · 02-abrsm-200 0800 687 392 | october 2011 what's inside proud...

Documents