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Spanish educational institutions do not use ABRSM at all, it's not even in the picture. Any music teacher in those countries, and by that I mean someone employed by a public official educational institution (not a private teacher), would be horrified to even think of any education systems that teach an instrument before you've spent years properly singing the notes from scores etc. ABRSM is still an option for adult beginners and such, who won't get a place in a conservatoire, to "formalise" what you've learned, but it won't get you a job in the public sector there because it has no official validity.

My wife just told me that it is in theory partially possible to gain official recognition in some places, but only once you've got at least LRSM, so LRSM or FRSM, but it involves further study at a conservatoire. I don't know for how long. Any less than LRSM and it's like you haven't done anything basically.

What are LRSM or FRSM? In Colorado (USA) we have no active ABRSM centers, only some activity in RCM. The testing idea hasn't caught on for most private teachers and faculty in my university school of music were not familiar with any of the exam systems. I won't be getting university degrees in music so the RCM pushes me to focus more on technique and theory than I would in my usual private lessons.

Those are ABRSM's advanced qualifications (Diploma, Licenciate and Fellow of the RSM), usually only done by professionals, that you can study after you've done intermediate performance level (grade 8).

I sat an online AMEB Music Craft grade 3 theory exam yesterday afternoon (Friday) and shortly afterwards wrote I whinging rant here but stopped shy of posting at the last minute. This morning (Saturday) I got the result, a 70/100 pass, despite the site saying it would take up to four working days to mark. Good on you AMEB, suddenly I don't feel quite so bad. Why was I annoyed? I had 1hr 40min to complete the 38 questions but even at that it wasn't enough time and I had to rush high value harmony questions and never made it to two high value ear exercises. No point moaning though, I got the pass and had a year of theory lessons which has broadened my musical knowledge no end.

In a few days I am heading off to the UK to once again cycle top to bottom of the motherland. For some light reading on the plane I will have....you guessed it, grade 4 Music Craft for company.

Congratulations on passing your theory test, earlomar! That is really fast results. ABRSM theory exams take about six weeks to get a result back. The waiting is terrible.

I know what you mean about starting on the next level as soon as you know you have passed! I am already looking at the requirements of the next grade too.

Congrats!

I had 3 hours for AMEB grade 5 theory and also didn't have enough time. The cadences and 4 part-harmony took me so much time! I did terrible at them but managed to pass overall with 74 :-P

Watch out for 4-part harmony when you get to it :-)

Whooohoooo!!! Great news! Congratulations Earlofmar. The little details of writing the exam are SOOOO time intensive. I can totally understand your exam situation. Glad you got the pass.

I just received my ABRSM Grade 7 practical results. I passed with merit - 121! I am absolutely thrilled. It has been a long three weeks waiting for the results, and I managed to convince myself that I had failed. Every night before going to sleep I would add up my probably score, and hope for a 101! I was shocked when my teacher emailed me my result. There will be dinner out and Cava (Champagne) tonight!!!

Congratulations to the recent exam takers, WiseBuff, earlofmar, and SwissMS! Hats off to those of you who put in the long, hard hours of practice and show up on the appointed day to show your stuff!

Congratulations Swiss Miss. That is wonderful and so inspiring.

Congratulations SwissMS! That's a really great score and shows all the hard work pays off.

Congratulations! Great work!

This is great news SwissMS, hearty congratulations. Gives me the sudden urge to get up and practice.

Congrats, SwissMS!

Thanks for the congrats everyone! I am excited about moving on to some really exciting music at grade 8!

Excellent job SwissMS! 121 at grade 7 is quite an achievement! All the best with grade 8 :-)

Great news SwissMS! Guess you proved yourself wrong when you were convinced you wouldn't even pass... lol... Congratulations on the Merit!!

I've decided to start studying for the RCM advanced theory and history exams: Harmony, counterpoint, analysis and history at levels 9, 10, and ARCT.

This is well beyond my playing level. But it fills an urge I've had for a long time, to understand more about basic compositional principles in the common practice period. I'm starting with the similar materials for ABRSM 6, 7, and 8 at mymusictheory.com, and I've ordered the recently published harmony and history books from RCM Publishing.

So I decided to get myself a teacher so that I have someone who can listen to my playing and notice the little things. I have recordings to listen to and record myself but it still seems to sound the same so figured it would be good to have someone who know what they are talking about to help me perfect pieces and also some of the technical stuff I am not as confident on so will be good to have someone to help with that too. I'm only going to go fortnightly for now. I have my first proper lesson monday week so looking forward to that and will be doing a lot of sight reading work as that's where I struggle the most. We are just going to take our time getting ready for the exam and see how I go with it for awhile before setting a time frame.

Congrats to all who got their exam results back it looks like there have been some great results. Well done.