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First experience: ANZCA Modern Piano v. AMEB Piano for Leisure

by Tim Topham

Many of you will have read last month’s post about my experience using Trinity College Exams; now I thought it appropriate to let you know about my first experience preparing students for the ANZCA Modern Piano syllabus. This year for the first time, I chose two students who I felt suited an ANZCA exam : ... First experience: ANZCA Modern Piano v. AMEB Piano for Leisure

12/24/2012 Read more

Trinity College Exams – First Impressions

by Tim Topham

In September last year, I wrote a blog post titled Australian piano exams compared: which syllabus is the best? and made a commitment to my readers that I would trial a couple of the alternate (i.e. non-AMEB) examination boards in the coming year and report back regarding my experience. The original post has remained in my ... Trinity College Exams – First Impressions

11/19/2012 Read more

Why Working To Exams Is Anti-Piano

by Tim Topham

OK, so this might be a bit controversial but hear me out. I was reading a fabulous article by Kathryn Page in a recent Pianist Magazine (No 67), entitled “Developing and maintaining repertoire”. The article was about how important it is for pianists and students to play lots of music at one level and style ... Why Working To Exams Is Anti-Piano

11/17/2012 Read more

Preparing for Piano General Knowledge: Questions parents can ask their children.

by Tim Topham

Students need all the help they can get! Parents are probably one of the best resources for assisting students to prepare for the general knowledge section of their practical examinations. This section of the exam, also called “Musical Knowledge” (Trinity) or Viva Voce for some exam boards, is an important component of the practical examination, ... Preparing for Piano General Knowledge: Questions parents can ask their children.

06/13/2012 Read more

Boost Your Piano Scale Practice | Flashcardlet App

by Tim Topham

One of the trickiest things about getting to the upper levels of any graded exam system is the huge number of scales and arpeggios that students have to recall instantly from memory. Remembering the starting notes and correct fingerings for each hand of the 3rd inversions of dominant 7th arpeggios is rarely easy, especially when ... Boost Your Piano Scale Practice | Flashcardlet App

06/08/2012 Read more

Auralbook for iPhone/iPad | Must-have download for students

by Tim Topham

I’ve long been looking for a well-designed, interactive app for aural training on iPhone and iPad and I think I’ve just found it!! Auralbook is the first that I’ve trailed that can actually analyse your singing and give you feedback on whether your answers are correct… and it actually works quite well! I’ve just tested ... Auralbook for iPhone/iPad | Must-have download for students

03/29/2012 Read more
 

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Julie Haskell answers questions on AMEB exams

by Tim Topham

A couple of weeks ago, the VMTA ran a one-day piano teachers’ conference at Piano Time in South Melbourne. I always try to get along to these events as it’s great to network with other teachers and the presenters and learn new tricks and techniques to improve my teaching practice. The most interesting session for ... Julie Haskell answers questions on AMEB exams

03/09/2012 Read more

Preparing For an AMusA Performance Diploma Exam – Why Bother?!

by Tim Topham

I recently sat and passed my Associate Diploma of Performance (called the “AMusA” piano exam in Australia) with Distinction. Needless to say, I was ecstatic! It was a project that I’d been working towards for around two years, having last sat a piano exam when I was 12 and having had a break of around ... Preparing For an AMusA Performance Diploma Exam – Why Bother?!

02/09/2012 Read more

General knowledge/analysis help for your students – Ross Hamilton

by Tim Topham

Have you ever been teaching a piece of music for a student to present at an exam, only to realise a few week’s out that you are not 100% sure of the piece’s analysis/general knowledge requirements? I have, and given the importance that is placed on a student’s understanding of the ‘general knowledge’ surrounding the ... General knowledge/analysis help for your students – Ross Hamilton

01/25/2012 Read more

Deliberate Play v. Deliberate Practice

by Tim Topham

Deliberate Practice I’ve talked at length in previous posts about the importance of “Deliberate Practice”, a phrase made popular in Geoff Colvin’s brilliant book, “Talent is Overrated”, in making your limited practice time more effective. But can you actually do too much practice? We’ve all heard that “too much of anything is a bad thing” ... Deliberate Play v. Deliberate Practice

11/13/2011 Read more

More cool music for the boys – Sonny Chua

by Tim Topham

With a firm belief that instrumental teachers should spend at least an hour a week listening to and playing through new repertoire, I thought it worth sharing with you the music of Sonny Chua as definitely worth your research time. Sonny Chua is a Malaysian-born, Melbourne-based piano teacher and composer who writes music that will appeal ... More cool music for the boys – Sonny Chua

09/07/2011 Read more

Australian piano exams compared: which syllabus is the best?

by Tim Topham

First published in 2011. Which exam board has the most relevant aural and tech work requirements? Which has the most music to choose from? Which system allows students to practise their sight-reading in the exam before being tested? Which has the shortest enrolment lead-times? Which exam board is the cheapest? In this Australian Piano Exams post, ... Australian piano exams compared: which syllabus is the best?

09/04/2011 Read more