Alternatives to ABRSM

As a music school in Singapore, we are often asked about the alternatives to ABRSM for piano lessons. The common reason why parents are less keen on sending their child to classical piano is usually because it is irrelevant. At face value, piano lessons are about the ability to play beautiful classical pieces. But if we dive deeper, the benefits that come along are reasons why classical pieces are still very relevant. However, we shall leave those in our next article and focus on the alternatives to ARBSM today.

Some examples of ABRSM alternatives

Before we share more about the available alternatives to ARBSM, do take a look at what our students have put up. The Vinnie Classroom Piano Series  is a series of performances done by our students using songs from the ANZCA syllabus. As shown in the videos, students were enjoying their lessons and excited to share what they can do on the piano. As music teachers, it is important for us to keep out students motivated, a good syllabus definitely makes it easier. More on ANZCA later this article.

List of Piano Syllabus available in Singapore

To help with your research, here is a list of piano syllabi offered by music schools in Singapore with piano lessons.

• ABRSM : Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
• ANZCA : Australian and New Zealand Cultural Arts
• TCL : Trinity College London
• LCME : London College of Music Examinations
• RSL : Rockschool London

Broadly speaking, every music school in Singapore can create its syllabus. Yamaha is one example where they have their in-house syllabus that is not related to any others on this list. The question should be about why we choose one syllabus from another.

Australian and New Zealand Cultural Arts (ANZCA)

One of the most well-established alternatives to ABRSM is ANZCA. ANZCA’s music exams offer a broad range of options for musicians of all levels. Their repertoire includes genre such as blues, jazz and pop!

• Wide Genre Options: ANZCA allows students to choose from a wider variety of pieces, offering more flexibility in exploring different genres and styles.
• Performance-Oriented: ANZCA uses pieces that are often more upbeat and modern, setting students up to be performance-oriented.

Piano Lessons in Singapore have changed drastically!

In our previous article, we shared how Piano lessons in Singapore have changed drastically. In the article, we focus on how ANZCA benefited our piano lessons.

Trinity College London (TCL)

One of the most well-established alternatives to ABRSM is Trinity College London. What sets Trinity apart is its flexibility in exam repertoire and the ability to focus more on practical skills than theory for some students.

• Repertoire Freedom: Trinity allows students to choose from a wider variety of pieces, offering more flexibility.
• Performance-Oriented: Trinity places greater emphasis on musicality and performance, allowing students to express themselves through their playing.
• Rock & Pop Exams: In addition to classical exams, Trinity offers Rock & Pop assessments for students who are more inclined toward contemporary genres. This includes vocals, guitar, drums, and more.

London College of Music Examinations (LCME)

London College of Music Examinations (LCME), part of the University of West London, provides another highly regarded alternative. LCME’s exams are recognized internationally and cover a broad spectrum of musical disciplines.

• Comprehensive Subject Choices: LCME also offers contemporary music, music technology, and even composition.
• Digital Exams: LCME has embraced modern technology by offering online and recorded assessment options. This makes it easier for students to take exams remotely.
• Flexible Syllabus: The LCME syllabus is designed to be flexible, catering to different learning paces and preferences. Students can mix classical and contemporary pieces to reflect their individual music journeys.

Rockschool (RSL)

For students with a passion for contemporary music styles like rock, pop, and metal, Rockschool (RSL) is an excellent choice. Specializing in graded exams for popular music instruments like guitar, bass, drums, vocals, and piano, Rockschool offers an exciting alternative to the more traditional classical path.

• Pop & Rock Focus: With its focus on genres that are more popular in today’s music scene, Rockschool’s syllabus caters to students looking to learn and perform contemporary music.
• Skills Beyond Playing: RSL exams emphasize broader musical skills, such as improvisation, composition, and playing in bands, which are essential for many professional musicians today.
• Accessible Learning: Rockschool is ideal for students who may not connect as deeply with classical music but still want to achieve measurable musical progress.

Conclusion on Alternatives to ABRSM

Do we actually need any alternatives to ABRSM? The answer is largely based on how you want your piano lessons to be. In Singapore, we are pampered with the wide options available for music lessons! Choice overloading is a real situation, it is a cognitive impairment.  It often leads us to lesser confidence, greater regrets, and overall dissatisfaction. So while nothing is conclusive, we hope our article helped shed some lights on the options on your plate.