Certification
Four boards. One rule about when you sit.
Graded and diploma exams from four international boards, entered only when the work is genuinely ready.
The boards
Which one is right depends on the student.
Each suits a different kind of learner, and choosing well matters.
Trinity
Trinity College London
The board our founder is reading her Licentiate with. Its wide choice of repertoire suits the way we teach.
Best forA wide choice of repertoire
ABRSM
Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
The most widely recognised graded exams in the world, and the most structured. Good for students who like a clear path.
Best forA clear, structured path
LCM
London College of Music
Part of the University of West London, with strong contemporary and popular syllabuses beside the classical.
Best forClassical and contemporary
MTB
MTB Exams
Recorded exams, assessed from video: for students far away, nervous in the exam room, or needing their own timing.
Best forRecorded, taken from home
How it works here
Four things that happen before any student sits.
- i.
Readiness, not the calendar
Students are entered when their teacher judges the work ready, never to meet a quota.
- ii.
Forms, three to four months ahead
Forms go in three to four months before the session, with the full syllabus already complete.
- iii.
Preparation in the lesson
Pieces, technical work, sight-reading and aural tests are prepared in the weekly lesson.
- iv.
Mock performances
Every candidate plays their programme to an audience before the day, at our quarterly concerts.
We also run mock exams with written feedback, and provide accompanists for exams and auditions. Mock exams & accompanists →
Theory is not optional at the higher grades.
Most boards require a theory grade before the higher practical grades. We teach theory from early on, so it is a formality rather than a wall.
Theory of Music lessons →Sitting examinations wherever you live.
Students we teach online can sit the same exam at a centre near them, for the same certificate. MTB exams can be taken entirely from home.
Our online courses →Which examination boards are you affiliated with?
Trinity College London, ABRSM, MTB, and the London College of Music.
How do students enter for examinations?
A student is entered when their teacher judges the work to be genuinely ready, not according to a fixed timetable. Forms are filed three to four months before the examination, and the full syllabus must be complete before they are submitted.
Certification
Not sure which board suits your child?
The wrong choice can make years of work harder than it needs to be. Talk to us for a straight recommendation.