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This month we share resources for those thinking about doing a Recorder exam this year. There are three main recorder syllabuses: Trinity, ABRSM and AMEB. Below we list each Syllabus so that you can compare and decide which one is the best for you (or your students).
We also share the sad news of the passing of Donald Bousted (1957-2021), a deeply passionate composer who wrote many works for the recorder and ukulele.
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Great to see the enrolments coming in for the Orpheus Recorder Gathering in April 19-24 Armidale.
So far we have people from SA, VIC, QLD and NSW.
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Below we have listed the three main recorder syllabuses, grades, diplomas on offer. This includes rules & regulations and any other extra requirements, so that you can quickly decide which syllabus is most appropriate for your situation.
In Australia there are three main recorder examination boards whose syllabuses can be used. Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and Trinity College London (TCL) are international, whilst Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB) is Australian based (currently starting to branch out to other countries). Less well-known are Australia and New Zealand Cultural Arts (ANZCA) and Music Teachers Board (MTB) which also offer recorder syllabuses.
All three syllabuses offer grades one to eight, incrementally getting harder. Some syllabuses offer prep or initial exams for very young children who might not be ready to start taking exams.
After you've completed the grades in one of the recorder Syllabuses you can take diplomas. Anyone undertaking a Diploma is expected to deliver a professional level recital on the recorder. ABRSM, AMEB and TRINITY all offer diplomas, entitled Associate, Licentiate and Fellowship. The repertoire for each diploma becomes progressively more difficult from Associate through to Fellowship.
*Due to Covid-19, all institutions are currently postponing face to face examinations and are finding ways for exam candidates to submit video recordings. It is best to stay up to date with the examination board’s official websites.
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TCL - Trinity College London
Trinity College London (TCL) is a UK-based examination board that has branched out internationally and that offers a recorder syllabus.
Out of the three recorder syllabuses, TCL has the most flexibility for candidates, offering many options such as the opportunity to submit their own compositions, improvisation and orchestral extracts along with the usual aural tests, sight reading and scales.
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ABRSM - Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
ABRSM has a regularly updated and free Syllabus that students and teachers can access.
ABRSM is a little different to AMEB and Trinity. They have separate exam Syllabuses for descant/soprano recorder (grades 1 - 5), then treble/alto (grades 1 - 8). After grade 5 the syllabus includes both descant and treble as by 5th grade they expect candidates will be able to play both C and F fingerings.
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AMEB - Australian Music Examinations Board
While AMEB regularly update other instrument’s syllabuses, AMEB have not updated their syllabus for the recorder since 1988.
There are several consequences of this:
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The recorder syllabus ignores thirty years worth of contemporary music.
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Both the technical work and the compositions chosen for the 1988 syllabus are now considered to be much easier than when the syllabus was created. For example Music for a Bird by Hans Martin Linde is Grade 6 in Trinity College London but in AMEB it is in their Licentiate diploma.
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Many of the listed publications are now out of print and can no longer be purchased.
When comparing syllabuses, the central issue is the currency of the syllabuses. The AMEB Recorder Syllabus is many years out of date and needs to be reviewed in order to remain relevant to Australian recorder players.
If you would like to consult the AMEB syllabus it is available for $9.95 to download from their website.
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Other Recorder Exam Syllabuses - ANZCA & MTB
ANZCA is a non-profit examining body of the performing arts, who aim to make the entire examination process more exciting and rewarding for students and teachers. Their practical exams and written theory exams have an emphasis on a wide range of choices and flexibility within each syllabus and opportunities for creativity through improvisation. Their syllabus is updated every three years.
The Music Teachers’ Board (MTB), is a teacher led examination board, with grades 1-8 offered. MTB differs completely from the other syllabuses as exams are recorded in the lesson by the teacher, submitted online and marked by specialist examiners.
The reason they have created this examination board is to make exams less stressful for pupils and teachers, complete flexibility over exam dates, specialist examiners, convenience with no need to travel, optimised rate of progress, lower costs and a continually renewing syllabus.
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Looking for an entry level wooden recorder? Not sure where to start? See our recommendation below for the Kung Studio series or the Mollenhaur Canta series. Both of these models are ideal for those who want to upgrade from a plastic recorder this year.
In general choosing between the Studio pearwood and the Canta:
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The Kung Studio has a stronger sound, but requires a little more air.
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The Canta is a little more on the clear/bright side, Kung is a bit warmer.
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KUNG STUDIO - The recorders with the warm and pleasant sound
A good choice for beginners and for ensemble playing
The sound of the studio recorders is warm and combines well with other recorders.
- The soprano recorders have a warm sound, are easy to use and are very suitable for beginners.
- The alto recorders have an extra rich and clear tone.
- The tenor recorders have a dark sound and are comfortable to hold thanks to the close arrangement of the finger holes.
- The angled tenor is specifically suitable for players with small hands.
The STUDIO models are manufactured using local types of wood including Pearwood, Maple and Cherry.
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Canta – the joy of ensemble playing
Versatile, reliable recorder ensemble with an homogenous sound, made from pearwood
Pleasantly clear sound – speaks easily: for use in ensembles or as a solo instrument, Canta is the model that offers versatility.
Especially resilient and reliable due to the choice of wood and robust, practical design.
Relaxed holding position due to the well-balanced weight distribution, light construction and slender, ergonomic design.
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Descant & Treble Recorder Hard Case
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Hard Case for: Sopranino/Descant/Treble/Tenor Recorder Hard Case (with Lock).
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Donald Bousted (1957-2021)
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We were saddened to hear of the death of composer Donald Bousted who passed away peacefully in a hospice in Norfolk, UK with his daughter by his side on Saturday 4th December 2021.
People may have been aware of the many recordings on Soundcloud, YouTube, digital releases of his microtonal trumpet works, including, what he called his most important microtonal work, 19.5 for duo Contour (19-div trumpet and malletKat). Donald's output of compositions for the recorder was vast.
In 1995-6 he wrote a tour de force for two recorders in quarter-tones, the nine movement A Journey Among Travellers which was recorded, by Kathryn Bennetts and Peter Bowman.
With Orpheus Music he published several of his compositions including New Horizon, Leaves Fall, Winter Comes, Two Responses to Silence and Whale Song.
For recorders players, he was a joint author of The Quarter-Tone Recorder Manual (Moeck, co-authored with Kathryn Bennetts and Peter Bowman) and composed some 22 pieces for recorder from beginners pieces to very advanced. His two collections for early grades are both represented in the current Trinity College of Music Syllabus (Grades 1 and 2).
His website will remain active to allow the promotion of his own compositions (Donald Bousted Edition), the works he commissioned for Ukulele (Donald Bousted Ukulele Edition) and his CDs and digital albums.
Donald was an incredibly productive artist: as a composer of acoustic (microtonal and non-microtonal) and electronic music, as sound artist, as film maker and as Artistic Director (Microtonal Projects, UKMicroFest, Wild Dog and EUROMicroFest) and as a Classical Ukulele player. He worked very hard, he was very serious about art and music, and he was very determined to achieve high standards in these fields.
His last short film, almost a biopic, for the Ukulele Group on Facebook can be viewed below.
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Solo Ukulele - 5 Minute Showcase - Donald Bousted
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Click here to read past issues of Gecko.
Click here to see the Prize winners for the OMCC21 and Orpheus Music more well-known publications.
Click here to read our 2021 best sellers and Interview with Alicia Crossley.
Click here to read our Ruth Wilkinson interview and Back to School Edition.
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