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Listen "E20: LCM (London College of Music) 2021 Piano Syllabus- Review"
Episode Synopsis
After a long wait, LCM have published a brand new piano syllabus- which covers exams from Pre-Preparatory level to Grade 8. Find out how it compares to ABRSM, Trinity, and Rockschool Classical's recent new syllabuses.
A written summary of this review is available here: https://heartofthepiano.com/summary-of-podcast-review-lcm-london-college-of-music-2021-piano-syllabus/
Show Notes
Who are LCM/ London College of Music? [0:50]
The previous 2018-2020 LCM Piano Syllabus [2:15]
Some general impressions of the new syllabus: [5:15]
Longer larger-scale pieces, longer exams than other examination boards
Bold extrovert pieces often with many character and mood shifts within a piece
Excellent finds of relatively obscure high quality music
New List A,B & C categories similar to ABRSM's new lists but often unclear logic to the categorisation
Who is this new syllabus for? [11:45]
Difficulty level on the high side- could be rigorous path for traditional classical music (defining contemporary classical within the tradition)
Rigorous & comprehensive scales (or studies)
Concern- weak benchmarking- big difference in difficulty levels within each grade. But also a concern about being harder to pass than other boards- not only scales/studies, but also that most pieces are much longer, therefore the longer exam needs more focus and stamina
Huge emphasis on women composers, therefore of particular interest to female students
The different exam options available with LCM [19:50]
Grades, Recital Grades, Leisure Play and Performance Awards, with Covid-friendly online options available for the first three as well.
Huge alternative list for pieces [25:30]
but many unlikely to be used as obscure & hard to listen to, or to check out the sheet music
Would like to see more variety of styles in some grade books [28:00]
Problematic editing and typesetting [30:00]
Editing too minimal, would like to see at least some suggestions & notes. No courtesy accidentals where desperately needed
Some very unhelpful visual distribution of rhythms
Pre, Step 1 & Step 2 comes across as a 'Melanie Spanswick and Friends' method book [33:35]
I'd personally prefer to use a different method book
The problem of lack of non 'white European/American' composers in the books, especially given LCM's strong mission to represent more women composers as role models [37:10]
Also tone-deafness to race issues when they do come up in the books- ie the use of 'gypsy' and issues with representation of Jewish identity
Conclusion [50:45]
For most students, I prefer Trinity: value for money, variety of pieces, rigorous enough, good benchmarking, motivational
LCM has edge for 'serious' traditional (including contemporary) classical music (serious doesn't mean boring! Pieces are full of emotional expression and colour). Talented classical disciplined students will really benefit from this syllabus
Final comparision between the different boards: ABRSM, Trinity, Rockschool Classical, and LCM
Notes:
When I was quoting the figure of only 2 non-white Europeans represented in the Grades 5-8 books, I meant to say non-white Europeans or Americans
Oops, I think I was mis-remembering this article when I said Gershwin married a Jewish woman- the article says he actually never married because he apparently wanted a Jewish wife- https://www.jweekly.com/2007/09/06/definitive-book-on-gershwin-should-come-with-comfy-chair/
The old LCM syllabus is valid until the end of the Summer 2022 exam session
Links:
LCM's piano syllabus website: https://lcme.uwl.ac.uk/exams/piano/piano
The Heart of the Piano review of the 2021 ABRSM and Trinity syllabuses: https://heartofthepiano.com/e17-why-im-moving-my-students-from-abrsm-to-trinity-reviews-of-their-new-2021-piano-syllabuses/
The Heart of the Piano review of the 2021 Rockschool Classical syllab...
A written summary of this review is available here: https://heartofthepiano.com/summary-of-podcast-review-lcm-london-college-of-music-2021-piano-syllabus/
Show Notes
Who are LCM/ London College of Music? [0:50]
The previous 2018-2020 LCM Piano Syllabus [2:15]
Some general impressions of the new syllabus: [5:15]
Longer larger-scale pieces, longer exams than other examination boards
Bold extrovert pieces often with many character and mood shifts within a piece
Excellent finds of relatively obscure high quality music
New List A,B & C categories similar to ABRSM's new lists but often unclear logic to the categorisation
Who is this new syllabus for? [11:45]
Difficulty level on the high side- could be rigorous path for traditional classical music (defining contemporary classical within the tradition)
Rigorous & comprehensive scales (or studies)
Concern- weak benchmarking- big difference in difficulty levels within each grade. But also a concern about being harder to pass than other boards- not only scales/studies, but also that most pieces are much longer, therefore the longer exam needs more focus and stamina
Huge emphasis on women composers, therefore of particular interest to female students
The different exam options available with LCM [19:50]
Grades, Recital Grades, Leisure Play and Performance Awards, with Covid-friendly online options available for the first three as well.
Huge alternative list for pieces [25:30]
but many unlikely to be used as obscure & hard to listen to, or to check out the sheet music
Would like to see more variety of styles in some grade books [28:00]
Problematic editing and typesetting [30:00]
Editing too minimal, would like to see at least some suggestions & notes. No courtesy accidentals where desperately needed
Some very unhelpful visual distribution of rhythms
Pre, Step 1 & Step 2 comes across as a 'Melanie Spanswick and Friends' method book [33:35]
I'd personally prefer to use a different method book
The problem of lack of non 'white European/American' composers in the books, especially given LCM's strong mission to represent more women composers as role models [37:10]
Also tone-deafness to race issues when they do come up in the books- ie the use of 'gypsy' and issues with representation of Jewish identity
Conclusion [50:45]
For most students, I prefer Trinity: value for money, variety of pieces, rigorous enough, good benchmarking, motivational
LCM has edge for 'serious' traditional (including contemporary) classical music (serious doesn't mean boring! Pieces are full of emotional expression and colour). Talented classical disciplined students will really benefit from this syllabus
Final comparision between the different boards: ABRSM, Trinity, Rockschool Classical, and LCM
Notes:
When I was quoting the figure of only 2 non-white Europeans represented in the Grades 5-8 books, I meant to say non-white Europeans or Americans
Oops, I think I was mis-remembering this article when I said Gershwin married a Jewish woman- the article says he actually never married because he apparently wanted a Jewish wife- https://www.jweekly.com/2007/09/06/definitive-book-on-gershwin-should-come-with-comfy-chair/
The old LCM syllabus is valid until the end of the Summer 2022 exam session
Links:
LCM's piano syllabus website: https://lcme.uwl.ac.uk/exams/piano/piano
The Heart of the Piano review of the 2021 ABRSM and Trinity syllabuses: https://heartofthepiano.com/e17-why-im-moving-my-students-from-abrsm-to-trinity-reviews-of-their-new-2021-piano-syllabuses/
The Heart of the Piano review of the 2021 Rockschool Classical syllab...
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