Singing Exams

Should you decide you would like to go through the grades in singing, there are a number of options. You can take an exam which covers all bases, or specialise in musical theatre and acting. In order to enter these exams you have to register with the awarding body, or alternatively I can enter you into the exam.

Here are some of the options:

• MTB (Music Teachers Board)

This is by far my most preferred board these days. Despite decades of experience with ABRSM, I no longer find them a good fit for amateur singers, those who sing for a hobby, and those who have no desire to pursue a career in music. I switched to MTB two years ago, and since then I have had a 100% pass rate. Eleven students have gained exams from grade 3 to grade 8: six with distinction, three with merit and two passes. 

MTB follow a slightly different format from ABRSM/Trinity. All exams are recorded video 'recitals', and each grade require the programme to meet a specific time:

Grade 1 – Target Duration: 5 minutes
Grade 2 – Target Duration: 6 minutes
Grade 3 – Target Duration: 8 minutes
Grade 4 – Target Duration:10 minutes
Grade 5 – Target Duration:12 minutes
Grade 6 – Target Duration: 15 minutes (Minimum 12 minutes – maximum 18 minutes)
Grade 7 – Target Duration: 18 minutes (Minimum 15 minutes – maximum 21 minutes)
Grade 8 – Target Duration: 22 minutes (Minimum 19 minutes – maximum 25 minutes)

Songs can be chosen from any published syllabus, or you want to sing an own choice piece that isn't already graded, you can request pre-approval of the piece for your set grade.

Out of 100, 75 marks are awarded for Technical Ability (25 for accuracy, 25 for expression, 25 for technique), then 15 marks  for Stagecraft and Sense of Performance and finally 10 marks are awarded for Programming.

My preference for this board is not only that it allows you to make up marks if you're a good performer, avoids you losing marks repeatedly for the same error but it also rewards good programme planning. Finally my favourite thing about MTB is that all exams are marked by instrument specialists, so you won't find your singing exam being marked by a violinist! 

If you take exams with me, you can choose to use backing tracks or Guy can accompany you for a fee:

Grade 1 – £40
Grade 2 – £45
Grade 3 – £50
Grade 4 – £55
Grade 5 – £60
Grade 6 – £70
Grade 7 – £80
Grade 8 – £90

Exams also cost money, although MTB is cheaper than ABRSM and Trinity! Worth factoring in though, if you do want to have a go:

Grade 1: £46.00
Grade 2: £52.00
Grade 3: £58.00
Grade 4: £65.00
Grade 5: £71.00
Grade 6: £79.00
Grade 7: £87.00
Grade 8: £94.00

• ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) ​​

​These are the 'standard' pathway and include all genres of music. For these exams you sing a range of songs from early classical right through to musical theatre and pop.

There are 8 grades in total, preceded by a 'prep test', and after the grades there are a range of diplomas. For all grades you are expected to prepare and sing (from memory) three songs from the listed repertoire, plus one unaccompanied traditional song.

After Grade 5 you must pass Grade 5 Music Theory (or a set alternative, see the syllabus for details) in order to progress to Grade 6 singing. For details of how to start learning Music Theory please get in touch.

The advantages of the ABRSM grades are that they are the most 'rounded' approach to singing - since they don't focus on one genre but span a range of styles and traditions - from baroque Italian to French art songs to English contemporary and musical theatre.

Since Covid-19 there have been some significant changes to the way usic exams work. A new introduction from ABRSM, Performance Grades, allows singers to pre-record four songs (in one take) and submit these for examination. This is still a challenging exam but removes both the face-to-face and theory elements of the Practical Grade exams.

​To see the Practical Grades syllabus click here

ABRSM Singing for Musical Theatre

A recent introduction, this qualification removes the classical aspects of the exams and focuses entirely on musical theatre singing. Again, the grades go up to Grade 8, and require (Practical Grades) either three accompanied and one unaccompanied song, and sight reading/aural tests, or for the Performance Grades four accompanied songs recorded in one take and submitted online for marking.

To see the syllabus click here

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• LCM (London College of Music) Musical Theatre

If you are considering musical theatre as your favoured genre but don't really want to get into the professional acting game, this would be a good route to look into.

There are eight LCM Music Theatre grades, plus two introductory levels, four performance diplomas and three teaching diplomas.

The standard graded exams consist of a performance of two to four pieces and a discussion. At Grade 8 you also have to read at sight one part of a dialogue from a libretto.

For more information and to see the syllabus, click here.

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• Trinity College Musical Theatre

If your goal is serious musical theatre - to excel on the stage - you really couldn't do better than consider the Trinity College grade system. Trinity aim for a complete theatrical performance, so their exams consist of singing, dance and improvisation.

I have less experience with Trinity but can recommend teachers who specialise here if this is the route you would like to take. For more information and to see the syllabus, click here.