Written By : Olivia Lau Xue Ying (NAFA MUSIC)
Instituted by the UK music board – ABRSM, ARSM known as Associate Royal School of Music Performance Diploma. Which examines complexity en masse the ability of musicality and technique. Over a decade, Mr. Robin Zebaida – an international concert pianist and an alumni of Oxford University has extensively examined students for ARSM. Today, Ms. Jenny Soh – a pianist and educator, interviews him to unravel topical burning questions regarding ARSM and musical development through the years of evolution.
Zebaida admires Singapore dearly and is exhilarated to be back. Mentioning the honourable Queen Elizabeth, kickstarted his musical life which thereafter he studied under mentor Anne Driver – star student of Neil Jacques Dalcroze. Adapting music, movement, percussion to gradually piano performance. Then moving to Oxford for a Music Degree with a postgraduate at Royal College of Music before engrossing into musical education in Hong Kong. Subsequently 2-years later, reuniting back to England, playing worldwide which scouted his talent into examining. Truly believing that students decide their destiny, he analysed to realise looks do deceive people as music brings out confidence to nourish the examiners with awe. Nonetheless, anxiety and awkwardness from the atmosphere still occurs, which Zebaida allows students to warm-up to calm nerves. Furthermore, trusting that examiners put themselves in students’ shoes to understand performance anxiety. In continuation, removal of sight reading and viva-voce. He gave feedback to syllabus refinements, but ultimately it was removed. However he spoke highly of it in fundamental learning to music education. Thus, accentuating the essential and encouraging sight-reading and viva-voce regardless of students being geniuses or not. Ameliorating abilities to greater heights and hitting the jackpot from joy of strong technical interpretation. Moving on, “Pass, Merit, Distinction” controversy. Regarding any grade, Zebaida opinionated more than just pitch and rhythm but performance features. Especially nowadays, with the ease of technology, analysing phrases becomes more convenient, gaining effect on perspectives. Remembering Robert Brown “your grasp should exceed reach” aiming a tier higher statistically showed higher success and mentally strength into reaching achievable goals. Conjunction to learning higher, it does not reflect performing difficult pieces gains amazement. Regardless of piece, ABRSM tests performance skills. One hand, technicality stands but musicality is also a component. Next, the nightmare of memory lapse. Be it lost or slips, Zebaida stands strongly upon improvisation. Embarking on ups and downs, performance can never be perfect. Therefore to excel, learn to embrace and pursue. Longsaying from piano teachers – “never stop playing” officially speaks sense because professionally continuing showcases recovery skills to accomplishment. Reuniting development growth in piano performance for ARSM diploma exams.
In recent times, ABRSM has broadened genres to pop and jazz. Zebaida travelled around the world to teach, concluding there will always be everlasting all-times favourites pop songs that are evergreen. Fun-fact, even some well-known singers are surprisingly classically trained. Classical music takes discipline to master but jazz takes enormous efforts too. Not comparing but appreciating. However, to Zebaida’s eyes, perfecting both is almost impossible due to rules and regulations. Pop is not as glamorous in analytical view of texture writing, lacking character. Nevertheless, he respects the popularity and beauty of music in all forms. Additionally, Zebaida loves Amendeus but agrees Mozart pieces are challenging and tests limits. In contrast, film was a total inspiration, as it portrayed Mozart’s meaningful carefree lifestyle. Moreover, making opposition to his pieces through showing innovation of intertwining life in music. Carrying on, Zebaida reminded audiences to never compare reasoning of grades. His motto — “Focus on your plate” conjoined with, “As students- you play, as examiners- you test.” So definitely, comments express opinions, but do not determine one’s potential. Art has perspectives and Music is art. Thus, a goal for all to pivot onto is truthful art making and rewarding self excellence. Now proceeding onto reasons why people are so competitive and serious. Truthfully, in the real world of competitions, top-critics have unique tastes of identifying talent. On one hand, some may gear on technique, on the other hand, some dive into musicality to depict excellence. Not forgetting that, judges are humans with emotions, not robots and machines that just test technical perfection, which sums up the reason for opinions to exist. Zebaida then elaborated that pitch and rhythm makes form, but for music turning into life, it needs songfulness to separate dead and living. Henceforth, dedicating to competitive parents out there — As cliche as it sounds, victory apprehension takes place from performing both right notes and right lyricism of interpretation. Hereinafter, pointers portray reasoning of advice to educators and students taking ABRSM diploma piano. Internalising music altogether as a form of art rather than a stagnant subject. Finding purpose, goals and success.
Music lives all over the world. Zebaida concluded language and communication interlinking with music performance. Separating a refined musician from another is phrasing. Just like language, music has tonality and articulation. Variations of emotions — joy, sadness, fear, anger. All musicians should learn music like a language. Musically of all spectrum, young prodigies and geniuses win competitions and fill concert auditorium with standing ovations from mastering performing with phrasing. In artistic terms, bringing music out of the printed page grants players communication with music and brings motifs alive. Rewinding, Zebaida found similarities in news-reading and piano playing. Relating BBC news, when scripts come out last-minute, one cannot back-out but to do their best. Just like sight-reading and aural, students accept and do the best of their abilities. Likewise storytelling, crossovers in values and solutions. Adding on, for a storyline to flow accurately, one should bring music out of the printed page. Communicating colours over monochrome scores. Alongside, ABRSM examiners, trained professionally standardised viewing language and expressions. Yet, some examiners’ feedback consists of performance rather than what could be improved. Certainly, students and teachers prefer tips of feedback bearing perspective in mind for improvement. Leading growth and widening horizons to open-minded energy, bettering oneself. Furthermore, Zebaida attended countless performances around the globe. Averaging 99% as pretty routine, but 1% mesmerising in his mind. Mentioning the ARSM exam, mainly of diploma candidates. Especially, a 10 year-old flabbergasted jaw of adults, assuming he was lost. Zebaida double looked at his information,immediately knowing he was gifted. Time passed, Zebada attended Steinway Piano Hong Kong Anniversary. With huge audiences and crowds, the spotlight shone brightly onto Lang Lang, the outstanding prodigy and star which was examined by Zebaida. He spoke highly of Lang Lang as a lovely and legendary performer. Lastly, a lighthearted question upon views towards Singapore. Zebaida raised that Singapore tourist attraction appeals well and specifically found the night safari and orchid garden uniquely magical. On top of that, he expresses enthusiasm with fruits of white flower mangos, loving the taste. In a nutshell, he found Singapore’s culture and lifestyle delightful and relaxed.
Sincerest gratitude to Mr. Robin Zebaida for expressing significant experiences and distinguished advice, leaving an unforgettable impact on the musical world. As such a talented individual, he stated numerous noteworthy reasons for students to develop musical skills through the ABRSM diploma – ARSM. Speaking facts from musicality and technique to universal well-being. Thus inspiring all to keep music education alive and soaring to greater heights with ABRSM. Henceforth, ARSM made it possible and so could you!
