 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Sat 1 July
Student Concert
Sat 7 July
organ recital at Boston Stump
Sun 9 July and more
Training Children's Choir for performances of Jonathan Dove's Tobias and the Angel at Oundle Festival
Thu 20 Dec
conducting St Martin's Singers Concert at Stamford
2008
Sat 26 April
conducting Vivaldi Gloria and other works at Stamford
|
 |
FERGUS BLACK
Werrington
PETERBOROUGH
PE4 6LW
Tel and FAX :
01733 704281
Mobile :
07843 058994
or send an e-mail :
|
|
|
|
|
|
Singing Teaching - EXAMS AND COMPETITIONS
In 2006, 35 of Fergus Black's students passed music exams. Click here to look at the full results and previous years. There were also good results at the Peterborough Music Festival
I encourage my students to enter exams and competitions: it gives an independent assessment and encourages practice - after all, no-one would turn up deliberately unprepared for an exam or a festival. Exams and competitions are not for everyone, but I find that those who don’t play publicly or take exams suffer from two side-effects. (a) they tend not to resolve difficulties in pieces (on which progress relies), and (b) they do not usually follow a balanced syllabus: I think their rationale goes something like this. "Scales and sight-reading aren't are satisfying as learning pieces; I don't see an immediate benefit, and since I'm not doing exams, I'll miss them out for the time being". The time-being of course stretches for ever.
The apprehension that naturally comes with testing is offset by the sense of achievement that comes with passing. Even the cloud of failure sometimes has a silver lining - failing is often the catalyst for addressing the difficult decision to stop lessons, change teachers, or to reflect on the student’s own preparation (or more likely the lack of it!).
If these philosophical arguments don't convince you, then take a look at this article from the Associated Board about how exam passes at higher grades earn UCAS points:-
In 2003, students applying for places at universities and colleges in the UK received official recognition for their Associated Board qualifications for the first time. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has now included Grades 6, 7 and 8 in the tariff for university entrance and these higher-grade exams are now allocated points in the same way that they are allocated to AS and A levels and other qualifications.
|
|
Practical
|
Theory
|
Grade 8
|
Distinction
|
75
|
30
|
|
Merit
|
70
|
25
|
|
Pass
|
55
|
20
|
Grade 7
|
Distinction
|
60
|
20
|
|
Merit
|
55
|
1 5
|
|
Pass
|
40
|
10
|
Grade 6
|
Distinction
|
45
|
15
|
|
Merit
|
40
|
10
|
|
Pass
|
25
|
5
|
Students applying for university and college entrance can now benefit from the following points:To put this in context, AS levels are allocated between 20 and 60 points and A levels between 40 and 120. The inclusion of Associated Board qualifications in the UCAS Tariff provides further recognition of the considerable dedication and commitment required in order to be successful at these higher grades. It confirms the educational value of graded music exams within the context of the wider curriculum. More information about UCAS is available at www.ucas.ac.uk
reprinted from Libretto, the magazine of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
back to
|
|
|
