Each type of ABRSM/Trinity diploma has 3 levels of Accrediation system in United Kingdom.
Associate level – The standard is equivalent to the 1st year of a full time music diploma course in Music conservatory/college, candidates obtain diploma certificate in this level is expected to give performance at confident level.
Licentiate level – The standard is equivalent to that of a final year full-time bachelor degree music course at a music conservatory/college and is expected to perform the repertoire at the level of professional pianist during the exam.
Fellowship level – The standard of the dipoloma is equivalent to that of a full-time postgraduate course. candidates are expected to perform their pieces at professional concert pianists level, and being able to express his very own artistic thought and inner most feeling of composer’s musical intention.
Besides working on interpretation of exam pieces, ABRSM diploma piano exam consists of viva voce section, you will also learn to explore a wide repertoire for the performance component widen your knowledge of pieces from different classical composers, and choosing the most appropriate pieces to bring out your strength, jenny also help to practise the viva voce section and she is able to work on most possible questions asked.
ABRSM diploma piano exam also consists of quick study section where candidates will be given a totally new piece to sight read and play on the spot. Teacher Jenny is very experience in coaching sight-reading for the quick study section, she offers a very direct method to help students who are weak in sight reading, after using Jenny’s method, students are able to play a total new piece confidently upon the first sight.
Trinity piano diploma exam doesnt consist of viva voce and quick study sections, and that’s why this exam is more popular among piano students in Singapore. But both above mention piano diploma exams require candidates to submit program notes base on the pieces they play for the diploma exams. Teacher Jenny provides relevant information to help students in writing the program notes, she provide a guidelines for students to follow so that the program notes will meet the expectation of the exam boards.
There are 3 types of piano diploma courses in Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), they are:
– Diploma in Music Performance
– BA (Hons) in Music (Validated by the University of Wales, UK)
-Diploma in Music Teaching
Diploma in Music Performance:
Duration is 3 years, students are required to attend the full time course that comprises of main subjects such as music composition, music harmony, aural, choir, music history, music form and analysis, performance practice and etc.
In addition of those main subjects, students are allowed to choose a few music elective modules such as orchestration, conducting class, music therapy and etc.
Diploma piano students in NAFA are encouraged to join piano ensembles and accompaniment classes also, which means they will be arranged to practise piano duets with another pianist or playing accompaniment for other woodwind or brass instruments, and get chances to perform at the end of school terms to gain performing experience on stage.
BA (Hons) in Music
Duration is 1 year, students are required to attend the full time course that comprises of main subjects such as piano main study, music ensembles, composition writing, piano repertoire, performance practice and they have to submit a thesis before graduating as a holder of music bachelor degree.
Students must clear all subjects and earn enough credits from 3 years diploma course before continuing to pursue BA(Hons) in Music at NAFA. The course is accredited by the University of Wales (UK), and it has a strong focus on performance skills and personal development, it is specially designed as a recommended music study extension for students who has completed NAFA diploma course.
Diploma in Music Teaching
This is a programme designed for MOE (Ministry of Education) to train O’Level holders for Music Teacher Training Scheme. The duration of this course is 4 years which consists of double diploma course, they are: Diploma in Music Teaching & Diploma in Music Education
Students have to attend 3 years at NAFA, and 4th year at NIE (National Institute of Education), after graduating from this course, they will be qualified to teach music at government schools or offered a job as piano teacher in private music schools. The certificate of taching diploma from NAFA is not only widely recognised in Singapore, It will be recognised in other countries such as Australia, Canada, UK and etc.
A music teacher with a Diploma in Music Teaching has a deep knowledge of music theory. They are generally better equipped to teach advance music theory such as ABRSM grade 8 theory .
