Music Teaching Tips : Missouri Music Teachers Association

by Jennifer Spohr

The Royal American Conservatory Examinations Certificate Program is a many-faceted gem for parents, students, and teachers alike. It's new to us in the United States, but it's based on Canada's Royal Conservatory of Music exams that have been around for most of the past century. RACE is a national music testing program that provides consistent, high-quality third party evaluations in repertoire, theory, technique, sight reading, and ear training. Its structured, well-sequenced, comprehensive curriculum assists teachers in ensuring that students receive the full benefits of a well-rounded music education from beginner all the way to conservatory prep level. Parents appreciate the RACE program because it helps them understand how their child is progressing compared to a national average which is particularly helpful for parents who have never studied music. Even very young students who participate experience a much greater level of confidence in their understanding and knowledge of music which in turn fuels their drive to learn even more, paving the way for a lifetime of playing.

Currently, all scheduling and transactions are handled in Toronto at RCM headquarters. Exams are held twice a year, in December and May at local testing centers. Examiners are chosen only from qualified, experienced teachers and musicians and are trained by RCM to grade within a range of two percentage points of each other. Their scores are tracked to ensure that there is a consistent standard among them.

New local centers may be established where there are 30-50 students who would like to participate. All that is needed is a venue and a center representative, whose role is to help coordinate logistics and oversee the examinations. For more information about how to get started in your area go to www.royalamericanconservatory.org. Or you may contact me at jennifer@spohrpiano.com/636-230-9884.

MMTA member Jennifer Spohr wrote this article for the Fall 2005 issue of MMTA Notes

posted by Brent Hugh at 10/09/2005
permanent link to article: RACE . . . Should This Be Your Next Step?

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