| What are AMEB exams? | | | | Then the day comes, it is your turn to enter the exam |
| Exam time, the stress, the tension, the hours and hours | | | | room. You play your set pieces; you fly through your |
| of practice. Then the day comes, it is your turn to | | | | technique. The aural tests and sight reading are easier |
| enter the exam room. You play your set pieces; you | | | | than you thought they would be. What’s left? The |
| fly through your technique. The aural tests and sight | | | | general knowledge section, it’s the section that |
| reading are easier than you thought they would be. | | | | seems to elude many students. |
| What’s left? The general knowledge section, it’s | | | | The questions they ask are easy! It’s over, you |
| the section that seems to elude many students. The | | | | wait for the envelope marked “to the teacher” it |
| questions they ask are easy! It’s over, you wait for | | | | holds your exam mark in it. How did you do? |
| the envelope marked “to the teacher” it holds | | | | You have a peek inside the envelope, you passed! All |
| your exam mark in it. How did you do? You have a | | | | that hard work finally paid off. |
| peek, you passed! All that hard work finally paid off. | | | | What a relief, now to start on your next exam. |
| What a relief, now to start on your next exam. | | | | The Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) |
| The Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) | | | | emerged in 1918 as a national bodywith the purpose of |
| emerged in 1918 as a national body with the purpose | | | | providing graded assessments of the achievements of |
| of providing graded assessments of the achievements | | | | music students. |
| of music students. They now also assess speech and | | | | They now also assess speech and drama students. |
| drama students. The exams are a way to see what | | | | The exams are a way to see what kind ofstandard |
| kind of standard students are at compared to other | | | | students are at compared to other students at the |
| students at the same level. In almost all instruments | | | | same level. In almost all instrumentsthere are set |
| there are set guidelines set out in the manual of | | | | guidelines set out in the manual of Syllabuses for |
| Syllabuses for teachers and students to follow. | | | | teachers and students to follow. |
| There are basically two (2) types of exams that you | | | | There are basically two (2) types of exams that you |
| can do with the AMEB. There is the practical exam | | | | can do with the AMEB. There is the practical exam |
| and the written exam. I’m going to talk about the | | | | and the written exam. I’m going to talk about the |
| practical exam. | | | | practical exam. |
| The practical exam is where students get to show | | | | The practical exam is where students get to show |
| their skills as a musician. You are tested with one | | | | their skills as a musician. You are tested with one |
| examiner in the room with you. There are a minimum | | | | examiner in the room with you. There are a minimum |
| of 5 sections to the practical exam, they are: studies | | | | of 5 sections to the practical exam, they are: studies |
| and pieces (including extra lists), technical work, aural | | | | and pieces (including extra lists), technical work, aural |
| tests, sight reading and general knowledge. | | | | tests, sight reading and general knowledge. |
| STUDIES AND PIECES | | | | STUDIES AND PIECES |
| The studies and pieces are the music that you will be | | | | The studies and pieces are the music that you will be |
| playing in the exam. When you buy a grade book for | | | | playing in the exam. When you buy a grade book for |
| your instrument, there are lists of songs. For example | | | | your instrument, there are lists of songs. For example |
| List A, List B, and List C (higher grades have more | | | | List A, List B, and List C (higher grades have more |
| lists). Each list has a number of music pieces for you | | | | lists). Each list has a number of music pieces for you |
| to play. For the exam you get to choose one song | | | | to play. For the exam you get to choose one song |
| from each list. I recommend trying to learn all the | | | | from each list. I recommend trying to learn all the |
| pieces then choosing the pieces you can play the best, | | | | pieces then choosing the pieces you can play the best, |
| and ones that show off all your skills. From second | | | | and ones that show off all your skills. From second |
| grade to seventh grades you need to present some | | | | grade to seventh grades you need to present some |
| extra list pieces. These can be taken from your exam | | | | extra list pieces. These can be taken from your exam |
| book, or you can find another song at a similar | | | | book, or you can find another song at a similar |
| standard. There are lists of extra list pieces in the | | | | standard. There are lists of extra list pieces in the |
| Manual of Syllabuses. Check it out with your teacher. | | | | Manual of Syllabuses. Check it out with your teacher. |
| TECHNICAL WORK | | | | TECHNICAL WORK |
| Technique books can be bought for your grade level. | | | | Technique books can be bought for your grade level. |
| Usually they have more than one grade in them. | | | | Usually they have more than one grade in them. |
| Technique is stuff like scales, arpeggios, and all types | | | | Technique is stuff like scales, arpeggios, and all types |
| of little exercises, a lot of which, to be played from | | | | of little exercises, a lot of which, to be played from |
| memory. No reading music here! Check with your | | | | memory. No reading music here! Check with your |
| teacher what technique you would have to do from | | | | teacher what technique you would have to do from |
| memory. | | | | memory. |
| AURAL TESTS | | | | AURAL TESTS |
| Depending on what grade you enter into, there are | | | | Depending on what grade you enter into, there are |
| different aural tests the examiner will ask you to do. | | | | different aural tests the examiner will ask you to do. |
| You can guarantee though, there will be some singing | | | | You can guarantee though, there will be some singing |
| required in any grade. So get those vocal chords out | | | | required in any grade. So get those vocal chords out |
| and start practicing. In the lower grades you will be | | | | and start practicing. In the lower grades you will be |
| required to clap a rhythm. Work on your pitch and | | | | required to clap a rhythm. Work on your pitch and |
| rhythm and you should be fine. | | | | rhythm and you should be fine. |
| SIGHT READING | | | | SIGHT READING |
| This section of the exam requires the student to play | | | | This section of the exam requires the student to play |
| a piece of music they have never seen before. They | | | | a piece of music they have never seen before. They |
| will give you a minute or so to look over it before you | | | | will give you a minute or so to look over it before you |
| play. Use this time wisely. Look at the key signature, | | | | play. Use this time wisely. Look at the key signature, |
| the time signature and the speed. | | | | the time signature and the speed. |
| GENERAL KNOWLEDGE | | | | GENERAL KNOWLEDGE |
| In general knowledge, the examiner will look at the | | | | In general knowledge, the examiner will look at the |
| pieces you have played and will ask you some | | | | pieces you have played and will ask you some |
| questions about them. The questions may be as simple | | | | questions about them. The questions may be as simple |
| as “what type of note is that?” but they may | | | | as “what type of note is that?” but they may |
| ask you some harder questions. General Knowledge is | | | | ask you some harder questions. General Knowledge is |
| different for each grade. Check out the syllabus for | | | | different for each grade. Check out the syllabus for |
| more information. | | | | more information. |
| Most of all you should try to enjoy the exam. Stressing | | | | Most of all you should try to enjoy the exam. Stressing |
| out will only make your playing worse! Have fun. | | | | out will only make your playing worse! Have fun.E. |
| What are AMEBexams?written by Elizabeth morgan | | | | Morgan |
| Exam time; It can be stressful, there’s tension and | | | | For more information on your instrument exam, have a |
| there is definitely hours and hours of practice. | | | | talk to your teacher. |