Practical music exam information

Accompaniment is compulsory for AMEB Practical exams wherever the pieces are provided with piano accompaniments, with the exception of Extra List pieces.

AMEB Victoria cannot recommend teachers or accompanists. You may search for an accompanist with the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music list of accompanists or the Victorian Music Teachers’ Association (VMTA).

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

Digital recorded accompaniments are available from the AMEB Federal Office, 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 exam room only when actually required.

The syllabus objectives specify the required areas of achievement within the exam and form the basis of the assessment by the examiner. A list of syllabus objectives can be found in the syllabus for each Level 1, 2 and 3. Teachers and candidates are encouraged to prepare each exam component with an eye on the syllabus objectives for the chosen grade.

Candidates may use printed sheet music, music books, or legally purchased digital downloads in their AMEB exam.

All music scores are subject to the Copyright Act. It is the candidate’s responsibility to make sure that any music they use, including photocopies, complies with copyright law.

Free digital downloads are allowed only if they are legally obtained and comply with the Copyright Act. For more information, see the APRA/AMCOS Guide to Music Copyright for Teachers.

If you are asked to provide a copy of your music for an AMEB exam, you must:

• Complete a Copyright Declaration Form and bring it to the exam.
• Bring the original score with you on the day.

In exams with a General Knowledge section, the accompanist’s score will be used for the questions.

Diploma candidates must provide original scores or one authorised copy of each piece for the examiners.

To make page turns easier, you may copy a small number of pages from a work, but you cannot copy an entire piece or movement.

For every piece being performed, candidates must bring:

• One original score (even if performing from memory)
• The accompanist’s part (if applicable)

In AMEB exams 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.

Page turners are not allowed in Rockschool exams.

Progressively, AMEB Victoria will move towards electronic reporting of grade exams. An examiner may use a laptop in the exam room to type reports, and it is possible that keystroke sounds might be audible at times.

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

Teachers or parents are not authorised to record a face-to-face practical exam with or without the knowledge of the examiner. AMEB does not record face-to-face practical exams.

A warm-up room is provided at Hawthorn for 10-minutes for the following candidates:

• All voice and instrumental subjects
• Collaborative Piano Grades 7 & 8
• Piano solo Grade 8 & Certificate of Performance

A 30-minute warm-up is provided to Associate & Licentiate candidates.

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.

The availability of warm-up facilities at other exam venues cannot be guaranteed and should not be expected.

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

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

After a Practical exam, the report will usually be available via the enroller’s AMEB Connect account within two weeks. An email will be sent to the enroller when the report has been released.

After a Practical exam, the successful candidate will receive certificate sent to the enroller’s postal address.

Some exams have a Corequisite Requirement which must be complete before the certificate is released (see below).

An additional theory exam is required (formerly known as the Additional Requirement) before certificates can be released for the following grade/levels:

• Grades 6, 7 & 8
• Certificate of Performance
• Associate (AMusA) & Licentiate (LMusA) diplomas

For details, please refer to Regulation 8 in the Manual of Syllabuses. There is no time limit for the completion of a corequisite requirement. It is the responsibility of the candidate to notify AMEB Victoria when the corequisite requirement is complete.