A new music exam that focuses on students’ performance, lets them choose what to play and is 100% assessed online via video recordings has outstripped all expectations after almost 15,000 students - triple the expected number - signed up.
Examining board ABRSM introduced remote assessment after 131 years running traditional exams, and says the take-up of the new Performance Grade “points to a permanent post COVID-19 shift in UK music learning”.
ABRSM has been working on digital resources and opportunities for a long time, but has accelerated its efforts due to the pandemic. A survey showed that 87% of music teaching had moved online within weeks of lockdown taking effect.
Digital sheet music downloads and an online platform, Play On, will be available to support learners both during and beyond lockdown.