Following in my series of posts looking at the certificate options open to students before Grade 1, this week’s video demonstration explores the components of the LCM Step 2 piano exam.
Step 2 – All the necessary material is available in a single publication
This is the first in a series of posts looking at the certificate options available for young beginners to tackle before they are ready to start working on Grade 1. I have used the ABRSM Prep Test for over a year now which has proved popular with my students, giving them a taste of what exams are like without the pass/fail pressure.
Trinity LCM exams have an exam venue in Chester and offer a range of pre-grade 1 options; Pre-prep, Step 1 and Step 2. The entry fees for these exams in 2011 are £23, £24 and £25 respectively. The closing date for Spring entry is 1st February 2011 and the spring exam session takes place from 19th March – 21st April.
Pre-Prep Test – All the necessary material is available in a single publication
The latest piano syllabus materials will be available for dispatch from 8th July. These pieces can be used in ABRSM piano exams from January 2011 and promise to offer candidates (and their teachers) an exciting new range of repertoire.
As with last year it is also possible to purchase either the Book or CD separately or the two together from £9.95.
From January 2011, some changes will be made to the Aural Tests which will make life slightly easier for candidates as the “Spot the Difference” exercise in the Grade 1 Aurals will be simplified! ABRSM now publish sample tests along with an accompanying CD enabling students to be able to practise their aural tests in between lessons and also making life easier for their teachers.
For some beginners, five-finger arrangements of popular pops and classics prove to be more motivational than lesser known tunes serving purely as exercises.
This simplified version of Beethoven’s Fur Elise for the absolute beginner requires only a slight change of finger in bars 9-13 where RH finger 4 moves from D# to E and RH finger 5 moves from E to F. At bar 14 the fingers return to their original position.
Changing the metre from three to four eliminates the need for a pickup bar and though it elongates the rests, it is an easier rhythm to feel and play along with the backing track below.
To download the backing track you will need to right-click on the download link then click save as…