2023 Syllabus updates

A few things. While we haven't launched any new syllabuses, we do have a few tweaks that we think you'll appreciate. Please have a read through whatever relates to your teaching and learning and get in touch if you'd like to know more.

Speech and Drama friends - you have an easy year! No changes for you but don't forget to check out the new PAA syllabuses for Acting and Screen Acting to further complement our existing syllabuses!

FOR LEISURE OWN CHOICE WORKS
IMPORTANT: Examiners can now ask General Knowledge questions relating to all List pieces AND all Own Choice works. This relates to Comprehensive exams for Piano for Leisure, Singing for Leisure, and Saxophone for Leisure.
Why? That's a reasonable question. General Knowledge has previously been asked only of List works however, during recent national discussions, this was found to be inconsistent with the intention of the syllabus. Candidates may choose to perform a program of List works OR substitute one List for an Own Choice piece. The intention of the syllabus is that the full program may be the subject of General Knowledge discussions, thus Own Choice works should be included in those discussions. It really makes it a bit fairer - there shouldn't be a penalty (or advantage, depending on how you look at it) for choosing all List works for your program.

A further update for our For Leisure candidates is that we're now asking you to please provide copies of your Own Choice works for Repertoire exams. This is a requirement for Comprehensive exams but we'd like to request your assistance in extending that to Repertoire as well.  Why? I'm glad you asked. One of the greatest benefits of these syllabuses is that they offer such a wide variety of genres for candidates to choose from - a chance to explore and engage with a plethora of styles and works. Our Examiners are amazing but being expected to know  every single work available is a pretty big ask. They've asked for copies of the music so that they can read along to see just how brilliant the performances are, and to be able to provide relevant comments and guidance in their reports.

FLUTE
We've just released Series 4 - a brand new  set of Grade books for Level 1. There are no changes to the technical work requirements or manual lists, other than to add these new works to the options available to candidates. These new Grade books are also complemented by Recorded Accompaniments from Preliminary to Grade 3, which may be used for exams as well as practice.

OBOE MANUAL LISTS
The Manual lists for Grades 6 through to Licentiate have been refreshed with new works being added. The timing requirements for Diploma exams have also been changed and, to better suit those requirements, some of the existing listings have been altered. This may mean that only one or two movements of a concerto might be required, where previously the full work was the expectation. No List pieces have been removed entirely.

The length of Diploma programs has been revised to:
Associate must be between 25 and 40 minutes.
Licentiate must be between 35 and 50 minutes.
These timings include gaps between pieces.

These adjustments have been made to bring greater consistency across our woodwind syllabuses. If you’d like to see a full list of those Manual List changes, please visit our AMEB Online Shop here.

CLARINET MANUAL LISTS
The Manual lists for Level 3 have been refreshed including the addition of new works. The timing requirements for Diploma exams have also been changed and, to better suit those requirements, some of the existing listings have been altered. This may mean that one or two movements of a concerto are required, where previously the full work was the expectation. No List pieces have been removed entirely.

The length of program has also been revised:
Associate must be between 25 and 40 minutes.
Licentiate must be between 35 and 50 minutes.
These timings include gaps between pieces.

These adjustments have been made to bring greater consistency across our woodwind syllabuses. If you’d like to see a full list of those Manual List changes, please visit our AMEB Online Shop here.

TRUMPET GRADE BOOKS
Grades 5 and 6 now have new resources! We've just released an extension of the Level 1 books in Series 2 to provide learners with more amazing repertoire to fuel their journey. There are no changes to the technical work requirements or manual lists, other than to add these new works to the options available to candidates. And, for the first time, these books include additional orchestral excerpts to expand all Lists. Head to your favourite local retailer or the AMEB Online Shop to get your copy.

ROCKSCHOOL BACKING TRACKS
Due to cyber security risks, we’ll be phasing out the use of USB sticks for Free Choice (and transposed) backing tracks in the exam room. After 2023, all Free Choice backing tracks must be brought on a personal device. We’ll be providing adaptors for candidates to plug into amps in each venue but please help your students prepare ahead of time: get them used to practicing with their tracks on their personal devices well ahead of the exam day. Please note that tracks should be downloaded ahead of time as internet is not guaranteed (particularly in our regional venues) and streaming issues may result in the candidate performing without their accompaniment. This year will be a bit of a trial of using devices, so please provide us with your feedback about how things are working (or not) and what information you’d find helpful in preparing for exam days.

ROCKSCHOOL BAND
This syllabus will discontinue at the end of 2023. Based on low enrolment numbers, this syllabus doesn't seem to have been as exciting as we'd hoped for classroom bands. As an alternative, though, candidates can now work with a live accompanist for their exams.

ROCKSCHOOL VIDEO EXAMS
Please ensure you double check any requirements as the guidelines have been updated for 2023.

THEORY OF MUSIC GRADE 5 ONLINE COURSE
It's here! You can now continue your studies through to Grade 5 online, any time. We've just released this most recent course to take learners through the syllabus requirements and help prepare them for the Grade 5 exam. You can enrol through SCORE at any time and have access for up to 12 months, including unlimited free practice exams.

SYLLABUS WITHDRAWALS
Don't forget that the following syllabuses are currently being phased out and will no longer be available after December 2023:

• Piano for Leisure Technical Work
• Violin
• Horn
• Rockschool Band (being discontinued)

And remember - you can't mix and match. Pick EITHER the old OR the new syllabus and prepare the entire exam from the one set of materials.

And a reminder that the following "old" syllabuses have recently concluded and are no longer available for examining:

• Harp
• Accordion
• Lower brass (Euphonium, Trombone, Bass Trombone, Tuba)
• Rockschool Vocals

UCP & TCE
If that alphabet soup is of interest, we are very happy to advise that UTAS have refreshed the UCP course outlines, and the new version doesn't prevent students from achieving both AMEB exams AND UCP concurrently. You can even use the same repertoire (although that's discouraged because that sounds pretty boring). This acknowledges the different assessment requirements and objectives of each and recognises the immense amount of work that we know goes into achieving both of these worthy undertakings!

And don't forget that any practical exams (Grade 4 and upwards) and theory exams (Grade 2 and upwards) are eligible for bonus TCE points. Just include your details in your enrolment and we'll even report everything to TASC for you.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Our publishing team is working on Teaching and Viola syllabuses at the moment so watch this space!