Australian Music Examinations Board South Australia and Northern Territory

On top noteOfficial Newsletter of the Australian Music Examinations Board SA & NT

Volume 18, Issue 1, May 2018

AMEB subjects Practical Music includes: Piano, Piano for Leisure, P Plate Piano, Accordion, Organ, Violin, Viola, Double Bass, Cello, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Recorder, Bassoon, Saxophone, Saxophone for Leisure, Trumpet, Tuba, Trombone, Band, Horn, Euphonium, Percussion, Harp, Classical Guitar, Singing, Singing for Leisure, Musical Theatre and Ensembles Speech and Drama includes: Drama & Communication, Voice & Communication and Drama & Performance Contemporary Popular Music includes: Keyboard, Guitar, Bass, Vocal, Drum kit Theory includes: Music Craft, Theory, Musicianship, Speech & Performance And now examining Rockschool!

Australian Music Examinations Board SA & NT

Postal address: The University of Adelaide, SA 5005

Location: 1st Floor, Hartley Building, Kintore Ave, The University of Adelaide

Telephone: 08 8313 8088Fax: 08 8313 8089Email: ameb@adelaide.edu.au

IndexOne hundred years of AMEB 1

Positive psychology and the mindfulness movement 2

Online exam entries 2

Getting that ‘Plus’ grading 3

Piano for leisure Series 4 3

2017 Showcase performers 4

AMEB welcomes ABODA 4

One hundred years of AMEBIt is quite difficult to believe that 100 years ago, in 1918, the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music joined the universities of Adelaide, Melbourne, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania to create a national organisation offering public examinations in music to be known as the Australian Music Examinations Board.

It was the same year that May Gibbs published Snugglepot and Cuddlepie and Norman Lindsay published The Magic Pudding.

All three, remain iconically Australian. All three, still relevant.

In reading about the early days of the AMEB, I have tried to imagine what setting up this organisation might have been like in the final year of World War 1 and what strikes me is that the motivation and willingness of Australia’s finest musicians and pedagogues to be involved, has not changed.

We are indebted to those who give so much to teaching and examining, for instilling the value of high quality performance in their charges. I am constantly captivated by the quality of the performances I hear at various AMEB celebrations around the country. This tells me that, not only is the teaching and

examining of the highest quality, but that organisation remains relevant and worthy of maintaining these relationships with Australia’s best.

This, however, is not self-perpetuating. We are only too aware that we must move with the times, hence the various new directions taken over the last two decades and those planned for the next. I thank all examiners, teachers and candidates for your trust and loyalty in moving forward.

This year is a great year for celebration and reflection in which events will occur all over the country culminating in the release of an all new and innovative piano syllabus in November.

I am personally however looking forward to the innovation and excitement that beginning our next century will bring.

Mike Tyler Chair, AMEB Federal Board

2 Australian Music Examinations Board SA & NT

Positive psychology and the mindfulness movementAs an examining body, the AMEB, and no doubt many of the teachers preparing students for exams, face issues springing from nervousness on a daily basis.

Recent buzz words of ‘mindfulness’ and ‘positive psychology’ may look like fads, but they are becoming a strong focus for many school-aged children and twenty-somethings.

Positive psychology is a new branch of psychology focussing on life experiences being worthwhile, pleasurable, engaging and purposeful. It’s about feeling good about yourself and doing good – developing positive relationships and encouraging a healthy lifestyle both physically and emotionally. It emphasises flourishing in a life that is filled with meaning, authentic relationships, vitality, engagement, goal-oriented success and optimism.

The movement’s support throughout the education system and business acknowledges that mental health and wellbeing is paramount in our age of technology. Our evolving technological communications allow us to converse with brevity and in isolation, forgetting the need to communicate meaningfully and of treating others with kindness.

Recently in a film called ‘Wonder’ there was a terrific catch-phrase from a parent that, when faced with a choice between doing what’s kind and what’s right, ‘always choose kindness’. In promoting positive psychology a local school uses the characters of ‘Connie Confidence’, ‘Rikki Resilience’, ‘Oscar Organisation’, ‘Pete Persistence’ and ‘Gabbi Get Along’ to represent the attributes we want for children in this highly technological world.

In an exam room, students could bring Connie, Rikki, Oscar, Pete and Gabbi along with them because we need to encourage their engagement in their performances, knowing that what they are doing is worthwhile and hopefully pleasurable! Regardless of the graded outcome, what they are doing in that moment is learning and practising the skills needed for life. They aren’t just being assessed in their ability to play the Cello or Violin, or to sing! They are taking a chance to develop essential skills to meet with the demands and challenges of life that will ensure their success as an adult.

What is happiness? It’s about choosing to be kind and generous, it’s about making all experiences positive, even those we learn from when we make mistakes.

Schools and teachers world-wide are embracing and embedding positive psychology and mindfulness principles in every aspect of their student’s experiences. To remain current and connect with the expectations of our students, this powerful movement could be just what we need. To help alleviate exam nerves while being mindful that exams are positive experiences for our candidates, teachers can help students understand they are learning more than just an instrument, song or scene from a play. They are developing skills for life.

Louise Borgo AMEB Advisor in Speech and Drama

For more information on the positive psychology movement, Google Dr Martin Seligman of Pennsylvania University, considered the founder of the Positive Psychology movement.

Online exam entriesThe AMEB (SA & NT) is proud to announce the launch of Online Exam Entries through the University of Adelaide’s online shop!

In response to requests from a number of teachers and parents, we have been working behind the scenes throughout 2017 to implement this new system for online enrolments. Teachers can now buy exams and enrol their students with the ease and security of the online payment portal. With payment receipts automatically emailed to you, and exam confirmation slips also being sent out electronically, the entire process has now become paperless – good news for those of us who are environmentally-minded!

So how does it work? Well, it’s as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Go to the University of Adelaide’s Online Shop at shop.adelaide.edu.au (also accessible via the AMEB state website). In the Examination section, click on your instrument group, then specific subject - or search for it in the search bar. Then, select the grade and quantity of exams you wish to buy and add to your cart. You can edit or remove items in your cart before proceeding to the checkout. Once you have everything you need, go to the checkout and pay using your card details.

2. You will be redirected to a page displaying your Order Number and links to the various entry forms. Download the relevant entry form and fill out all the teacher and candidate details as usual. In the payment section on the back, simply fill in your Order Number in the box at the bottom right hand corner (this is essential for us to match online payments to the forms we receive). Save and email your completed form to ameb@adelaide.edu.au.

3. Prepare for your exam! You will have received an email payment confirmation and will get a reply from AMEB staff within 1 working day confirming that we have received your form. Sit back and relax (or get practising!), and wait for your exam confirmation slip to be sent to you!

We encourage everyone to trial this new enrolment system, and hope you enjoy the convenience! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the state office on 8313 8088 or at ameb@adelaide.edu.au.

Mitchell BartelExaminations Co-ordinator

Getting that ‘Plus’ grading (A+, B+, C+)What is a “Plus Grading” and how is it achieved? The answer is found in the Syllabus under the Objectives for each level, which outline the areas of achievement required and the detailed Grading Descriptors which report the candidate’s achievement against these objectives.

In Music the objectives are divided into three sections:

• Section I: Technical Work

• Section II: Studies, Pieces and Extra Lists

• Section III: Aural Tests, Sight Reading, General Knowledge

Planned and purposeful preparation in all sections is essential to gaining that Plus Grading.

Begin building these skills early in the exam preparation.

• It is a little late to discover two weeks prior to an exam that a student is unable to pitch notes, an essential skill in Aural Tests.

• General Knowledge information is more likely to be retained and understood if it is taught and tested during the process of learning a piece.

• Sight Reading is a skill that requires regular practice.

The Grading Descriptors report the candidate’s achievement against the syllabus objectives in terms of musicianship, security of technique (including intonation, tone, phrasing, articulation, rhythm) and stylistic awareness.

The additional achievement required to secure a “Plus Grading” is outlined in each plus grading descriptor and begins with the wording “In addition”.

The A grade demonstrates superior achievement in all sections.

In addition, the A+ grade demonstrates outstanding achievement in all sections, including performance flair, consistent technical fluency and penetrating stylistic insight.

The B grade demonstrates overall creditable achievement with some unevenness.

In addition, the B+ grade demonstrates meritorious achievement against most of the syllabus objectives.

The C grade demonstrates an overall adequate level of achievement with considerable unevenness between sections.

In addition, the C+ grade indicates more than adequate achievement against some of the syllabus objectives in each section.

Explore the details of the Syllabus Objectives and Grading Descriptors and obtain those “Plus Gradings”.

Jane Burgess AMEB Examiner in Piano

On top note 3

Piano for Leisure Series 4Piano for Leisure Series 4 is now available for examination and Dr Melanie Walters was keen to explore the new repertoire for her piano students. She attended Tim Topham’s workshop at the AMEB’s Information Day and began using the Series. She shares her views below.

Tim, the Grade Book Consultant for Series 4, is a Melbourne-based piano teacher who is particularly interested in creativity in piano tuition. He hosts the excellent Creative Piano Teaching Podcast, which I would highly recommend to all instrumental music teachers, not just piano teachers – I use many of the ideas from the podcast with my flute students as well as with my piano students.

At the Information Day session, Tim explained his approach to his selection of music, demonstrated much of Grade Book repertoire, and gave examples of creative activities based on selected pieces. The most significant development in the new series is the improved integration of the performance notes. Rather than having the notes at the back of the book, the

performance notes immediately follow each piece, and have been divided in elements and challenges, notes for the student, notes for the teacher, and creative practice ideas. The creative practice ideas not only encourage creativity and a more holistic approach to learning repertoire, but are also a practical way for students to learn concepts such as modes, blues scales, form and structure, and various musical styles.

This new Series includes an excellent selection of music. There is an eclectic mix of styles, covering classical, pop, rock, jazz, blues, musical theatre, movie themes, and folk music, a good gender balance in the composers included in the books, and excellent representation of Australian composers and living composers. A variety

of rhythmic concepts and meters are introduced from as early as Preliminary, and there are plenty of arrangements of well-known songs and pieces including I Still Call Australia Home, I Dreamed a Dream, and Mad World.

The combination of engaging music, and the creative practice ideas in Piano for Leisure Series 4 makes these books an excellent addition to the syllabus.

Dr Melanie Walters Teacher using AMEB syllabi in Flute and Piano

www.ameb.adelaide.edu.au

4 Australian Music Examinations Board SA & NT

Ben LangfordGrade 6 SaxophoneTeacher: Peter Majoros

2017 Showcase performers

Celia TranStudent Accompanist Award WinnerTeacher: Dr David Lockett AM

Emily VaderaGrade 5 Piano for LeisureTeacher: Rosanne Hammer

Haowei YangGrade 8 PianoTeacher: Karen Davis

Isabella RobinsonP Plate PianoTeacher: Julie Candido

Jessye CampbellGrade 6 SingingTeacher: Ian Vayne

Leon Ziyang LinGrade 4 PianoTeacher: Mark Freer

Phuong Ha DoAMusA PianoTeacher: Dr David Lockett AM

Tim TranGrade 8 ViolaTeacher: Keith Crellin OAM

Catherine LloydGrade 8 PianoTeacher: Joanne Barac

Connor WhyteGrade 8 Classical GuitarTeacher: Andras Tuske

Gahyun YooGrade 8 ViolinTeacher: Elizabeth Collins

Holly LittleGrade 6 Double BassTeacher: David Schilling

Isabelle YuGrade 7 CelloTeacher: Jillian Visser

Jiorgina KrinisP Plate PianoTeacher: Koula Raptis

Meredith DickinsGrade 6 Drama and Communication RecitalTeacher: Meredith Dickins

Tahlia WestGrade 6 FluteTeacher: Cassandra Boath

Tom WilsonGrade 5 PianoTeacher: Daniel Sherwood

AMEB welcomes ABODAAMEB welcomes the newest member of the Advisory Board (SA & NT) - ABODA SA – ABODA provides in-service support for school and community band and orchestra directors. On joining the AMEB’s Advisory Board, ABODA SA announced Grade 2 prizes for brass and woodwind students commencing in 2018. The AMEB looks forward to future collaborations with ABODA.

ABODA was pleased to have the opportunity to work more closely with the AMEB and congratulates it on its centenary.

2018 also marks the 15th consecutive year of ABODA’s highly successful South Australian Band Festival, providing performance opportunities for over 120 different ensembles in 11 different categories. Close to 3,000 students will take the stage over 3 days in Westminster’s 800 seat auditorium.

The festival has grown to include String Ensembles, Orchestras, Percussion Ensemble, Drum Corps and now accommodates different categories and standards of Concert Band, Big Band and Novice Ensembles.

Participating schools come from South Australia and interstate with students receiving expert feedback from specialist conductors and adjudicators from Adelaide, interstate and overseas. Ensemble performances are recorded courtesy of Keith Huxtable of Music Ednet.

The suggested works in most categories are ever-developing, with many local and aspiring musicians and arrangers commissioned to write works for the various categories. The repertoire is challenging and of high quality.

The ABODA executive is thankful for the tremendous support given by staff and students to the festival. Major sponsors this year are Size Music and Music Ednet.

Michael DegenhartVice President-ABODA SA

Yian ZhaoCertificate of Performance PianoTeacher: Debra Andreacchio

Victoria PhanGrade 4 ViolinTeacher: Bogdan Kazimierczak