> Accompaniment
> Electronic exam reporting
> Notices of Examination
> Page turning
> Photocopies
> Reports
> Recording Practical examinations
> Syllabus Objectives
> Timetables
> Tuning of instruments
> Trainee examiners
> Warm-up
> Certificates – completion of Additional Requirements
> How we program Practical exams
> Child safety

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Accompaniment

Accompaniment is essential for AMEB Practical examinations wherever the pieces presented are provided with piano accompaniments, with the exception of Extra List pieces.

As it is the examining authority, it is not appropriate for AMEB Victoria to recommend teachers or accompanists for AMEB examinations. The Melbourne Conservatorium of Music has a list of accompanists which can be found on this page. In addition, the Victorian Music Teachers’ Association (VMTA) has a list of music teachers and accompanists on this page.

Pieces presented for some subjects can be accompanied by an official AMEB digital recorded accompaniment.

Digital recorded accompaniments are currently available for the following subjects:

Cello Series 2 (Preliminary to Grade 3)
Clarinet Series 3 (Preliminary – Grade 3)
Flute Series 3 (Preliminary to Grade 3)
Flute Series 4 (Preliminary to Grade 3)
Horn Series 2 (Preliminary to Grade 3)
Musical Theatre Series 1 (Preliminary to Grade 3)
Oboe Series 1 (Preliminary to Grade 3)
Percussion Series 1 (Preliminary to Grade 4)
Alto and Tenor Saxophone Series 2 (Grade 1 to Grade 3)
Singing for Leisure Series 1 (Preliminary to Grade 4)
Trumpet Series 2 (Preliminary to Grade 3)
Trombone and Euphonium Series 2 (Preliminary to Grade 3)
Violin Series 9 (Preliminary to Grade 3)
Violin Series 10 (Preliminary to Grade 3)
Rockschool

Recorded accompaniments in digital format are available from the AMEB Federal Office and some online digital music outlets such as Apple Music and Spotify.

For all other subjects, candidates must provide their own accompanist (who may be the teacher), but the accompanist may remain in the examination room only when actually required. If the necessary accompaniment is not offered in the examination, the following procedure will apply (Regulation 24):

List works which require accompaniment may not be heard or assessed without the necessary accompaniment. The examiner is not permitted to play the accompaniment for the candidate. If there is one such work lacking accompaniment the result will be reduced by one level; e.g. A down to B, etc. If there are two or more such pieces then the result will either be reduced by two levels, from A to C or, if the result would have been other than an A, ‘unable to assess’ will be stated on the report sheet, and an explanation made in the general remarks.

Electronic exam reporting

Progressively, AMEB Victoria will move towards electronic reporting of grade examinations. An Examiner may use a notebook or tablet computer in the examination room to type reports, and it is possible that keystroke sounds might be audible at times.

Notices of Examination

Candidates’ examination notices will be forwarded to enrollers at least three weeks prior to the commencement of the examination session. Enrollers should check examination notices and immediately advise AMEB Victoria of any errors or inaccuracies. Please advise our office immediately if you have not received examination notices three weeks prior to the commencement of the examination session.

As scheduling progresses provisional exam dates may be viewed on AMEB Connect after selecting ‘My Candidates.’ The notification ‘Scheduled – official notice pending’ will appear in orange while the exam date and time are being finalised but are not yet confirmed. All exam details are subject to change until the Notice of Examination is issued.

Each candidate must bring his/her notice to the examination. Candidates for Practical examinations must write on the notice the titles of the pieces to be presented for examination and present the notice to the examiner, for information.

Page turning

A page-turner may be used by candidates and/or accompanists. Accompanists and page-turners may only remain in the examination room when actually required.

Photocopies

In general, the Copyright Act prohibits the use of photocopied music. Photocopies should not be used by candidates in AMEB examinations, unless an exception to copyright applies, or the relevant music publisher has granted permission for the candidate to make a copy.

In some circumstances, a copy of sheet music may be required for use by the examiner. If performing from memory, candidates should provide a published edition of the music to the examiner.

APRA/AMCOS permit a temporary copy of legal sheet music to be made for use by an examiner. Information on each musical work to be performed should be listed on the APRA/AMCOS Copyright Declaration Form (available here), which must be presented to the examiner together with the copies of the sheet music. Copies of sheet music will not be returned to the candidate and will be destroyed by AMEB. The candidate is obliged to destroy any other copy of the sheet music, including any digital copy made through a scanning/printing process.

If you are unsure of the provisions of the Copyright Act, please refer to the Guide to Music Copyright for Instrumental Teachers on the APRA/AMCOS website or contact APRA/ AMCOS on 1300 852 388 or apra@apra.com.au.

Reports

A candidate who presents for a practical examination will receive the report and certificate, where applicable, within two weeks of the completing the exam.

Recording face-to-face Practical examinations

Teachers or parents are not authorised to record a face-to-face practical examination conducted in a studio with or without the knowledge of the examiner.

Syllabus Objectives

The syllabus objectives introduce each of the three levels of a syllabus. They specify the required areas of achievement within each syllabus and are the basis upon which candidates and teachers work and upon which candidates expect to be assessed. The detailed Grading Descriptors report the candidate’s achievement against the objectives for the level and the specific syllabus requirements for the grade.

Timetables

A teacher or school may not change the order of candidates in a particular examining program. AMEB practical examination timetables may not to be altered or amended except by AMEB Victoria.

Tuning of instruments

Candidates presenting for string examinations (Violin, Viola, etc.) at Fifth Grade and above are required to tune their own instruments.

Trainee examiners

AMEB has a comprehensive and rigorous program for examiner training and professional development. A Trainee Examiner may be present during an examination and may conduct all or part of an examination. However, the Supervising Examiner will be responsible for the examination and will provide the official assessment and written report.

Warm-up

For candidates presenting for examinations at the AMEB Studios in Hawthorn, warm-up facilities will be offered for a period of approximately 10 minutes to candidates in Piano Grades 7 and 8 Collaborative, Grade 8 Solo, Certificate of Performance, Associate and Licentiate; all voice and instrumental subjects. Candidates may be accompanied to the warm-up room by their accompanist/associate artist and teacher. Warm-up facilities are provided for the purpose of warming-up and tuning instruments; candidates and accompanists should not expect to have sufficient time to rehearse repertoire. Note also that the availability of warm-up facilities at other examination venues cannot be guaranteed and should not necessarily be expected.

Certificates – completion of Additional Requirements

Certificates for successful candidates in AMEB Practice of Music Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Certificate of Performance, Associate Diploma or Licentiate Diploma cannot be released until the examination is completed by the achievement of the Additional Requirement in theory (refer to Regulation 19). The candidate should notify AMEB Victoria following completion of the Additional Requirement; this will allow the Grade exam certificate to be released. Each successful Diploma candidate who has completed the Additional Requirement will receive an invitation to receive their diploma award at the next AMEB Victoria Conferring of Diplomas Ceremony.

Child safety

Read AMEB Victoria’s Statement of Commitment to Child Safety >