50 music students get international accreditation |20 July 2016

Fifty music students have received their accreditation with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) after sitting annual international examinations.

The School of Music Seychelles held the examinations earlier this month and the candidates received their results last Wednesday but they are expected to be certified in three weeks’ time.

ABRSM examiner from the UK, Neil Page with 43 years of experience in music and examinations under the ABRSM, was brought in for the accreditation.

During his visit, which was a first for him in the Seychelles, Mr Page met the media to talk about the framework which the ABRSM provides for teachers to build their teaching around.

He said the aim of international musical exams is to certify that a student is proficient in an instrument and also gives them reassurance of their progress.

“It’s an indication to the candidates of their progress, its confirmation and reassurance to the parents that progress is being made and similarly providing confidence to the teachers,” he said.

He said it is a broad based series of tests from sight reading, technical exercises to oral tests and hopefully try to encourage the candidates to be as positive as possible, point out the strengths and weaknesses

“But we are not here as teachers, we are here to listen and assess,” he said.

Mr Page added: “We are not examining music technique, but rather we are examining the making of music.”

Mr Page pointed out countries often do not trust their own forms of accreditation and therefore seek for a golden standard internationally which is what the ABRSM provides.

Present during the meeting was the director of the National Conservatoire of Performing Arts (NCPA) Pierre Joseph.

Mr Joseph said since the School of Music’s involvement with accreditation in the 1990s and the examination becoming an annual event since 1998, involvement in music at the school has increased greatly.

He said the ABRSM examination also improves music tuition as the grading system in Seychelles is up to the highest level which is grade 8 and it enforces international criteria on the school.

These tests are offered each year in March (theory), (practical), and a final theory test in November in categories such as singing, guitar, piano, violin and percussion entries for all grades.

He noted that as the School of Music simply eases the examination one does not need to be a member of the institution to get accredited for the ABRSM.

A registration and payment fee from R200 for beginners up to R700 for advanced levels is needed to take the exam.