Music Medals go live!
The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music is delighted to announce that Music Medals – the innovative new assessments for young, group-taught musicians – have now officially gone live. This means that:
- entries for the first Music Medals candidates can now be made online at www.musicmedals.org
- lists of music repertoire for 15 commonly group-taught instruments can also be downloaded from the Music Medals website www.musicmedals.org/publications
- Music Medals Ensemble Books and Options Practice Books are now available in music shops worldwide
15 instruments can now be assessed using Music Medals: violin, viola, cello, guitar, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn, E flat horn, French horn, euphonium, baritone and tuba. From mid-November trombone and recorder will be added to this list. For more information, visit www.musicmedals.org/repertoire
New, dedicated website - www.musicmedals.org
This brand new website has been specially created to accompany the launch of Music Medals, featuring:
- detailed information on Music Medals assessments, publications and repertoire
- a dedicated section for Teacher-Assessors where candidates can be entered
- a facility for teachers and parents to pre-pay for Music Medals assessments (payment is accepted by credit/debit card, cheque and BACS transfer)
Additionally, pre-registered Teacher-Assessors, Music Services and schools can view results online and obtain valuable performance statistics.
3 more reasons to celebrate
To celebrate the launch of Music Medals all newly-registered Teacher-Assessors have been given an online token that entitles them to a free Music Medals assessment for one of their pupils. This means that they will be among the first to try out the scheme and discover the benefits of Music Medals.
Music Medals are video-recorded for moderation purposes. To make this process easier, the Associated Board will loan video cameras and tripods free of charge to Music Medals Partners (registered local schools or Music Services) where the total number of Music Medals candidates is 175 or more per year.
ABRSM Publishing is giving free copies of the Music Medals Ensemble Books to teachers of group-taught instruments. To claim a free ensemble publication for flute, violin, guitar, brass or clarinet, teachers have to register at: www.musicmedals.org/publications/libretto.html
What are Music Medals?
Music Medals inspire and motivate pupils to fulfil their musical ambitions and reward their achievements. Reflecting the full range of musical achievement in the early stages of learning, Music Medals are awarded in five ascending categories – starting at copper and moving through bronze to silver, gold and platinum. While the assessments take place in groups – of equal or mixed ability – only one member of the group is assessed per Medal. This ensures that full attention is given to their contribution and that individual, rather than group, attainment is recognised and rewarded.
Richard Morris, the Associated Board’s Chief Executive, writes:
‘More and more pupils nowadays are being taught their instruments in groups, learning to make music as an ensemble as well as on their own. Music Medals are tailor-made to encourage and motivate these youngsters during the crucial early years of learning. They celebrate their achievements with a series of medals and provide qualifications which are nationally accredited alongside graded music exams and GCSEs.’
STOP PRESS
At the Music Industries Association (MIA) annual awards on 6 October, the 2004 'Innovation in Printed Music Publishing' award went to ABRSM Publishing for the Music Medals Ensemble Pieces books and the accompanying group-teaching guide All Together!.
For further information on Music Medals visit www.musicmedals.org
For press information contact Katherine Howard at KHPR:
telephone 01379 678811
fax 08700 511722
mobile 07961 377422
or click here to send an email
For general Music Medals queries please contact the Music Medals office at The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music:
To request a copy of the Associated Board's logo, the Music Medals logo or cover pictures of the Music Medals publication range, please contact Christine Morris:
telephone 020 7467 8244
or click here to send an email
The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music is the world's leading provider of music exams and assessments. Exams are available for over 35 instruments, singing, practical musicianship and theory of music. Each year over 600,000 candidates take Associated Board music exams in more than 90 countries around the world, knowing that their achievements will be recognised internationally.
For details of schools or Music Services in your press area that are using Music Medals, please contact the Music Medals office (details above).