Guide
AMEB piano exams, explained.
A plain-English guide for students and parents in Melbourne: what the grades are, what happens in the exam room and how to prepare.
The basics
What is AMEB?
AMEB, the Australian Music Examinations Board, runs graded music exams across Australia. For piano, a student moves through a series of levels, each with its own published syllabus, and plays for an examiner who marks the exam.
The piano levels begin with Preliminary, then run from Grade 1 to Grade 8. Beyond Grade 8 there are diploma levels such as AMusA and LMusA.
The exam
What happens in the exam room.
In a practical piano exam the student plays for an examiner. Depending on the grade, that can include technical work such as scales and arpeggios, pieces chosen from different lists, studies, sight-reading, aural tests and general knowledge questions.
The requirements change from grade to grade, so it is always worth checking the current syllabus on the AMEB website before choosing pieces.
Planning
Theory, pacing and goals.
Higher practical grades come with theory or musicianship requirements, so it helps to build theory alongside playing from the middle grades. Check AMEB's current rules for exactly which grade needs what.
There is no fixed pace. How quickly a student moves through the grades depends on age, practice and goals, and exams are optional: some students prefer concerts, or simply playing well.
Other exams
AMEB and ANZCA.
ANZCA (Australian and New Zealand Cultural Arts) offers another graded exam pathway with its own syllabus. I prepare students for both AMEB and ANZCA exams.
Preparation
How I prepare students.
We work through the syllabus step by step: technical work, studies, pieces, sight-reading, aural and general knowledge as the grade requires, with practice run-throughs before exam day. The aim is structured goals, visible progress and the confidence of knowing what the examiner expects.
Ready to find your musical voice?
Tell me about the student and what you would like to achieve. I reply within a day or two.