BBE Webinar: Introducing ABRSM’s Performance Grades

This webinar will provide you with helpful insights and understanding of this recent addition to ABRSM’s music exam offer. Performance Grades provide exciting new flexibility and accessibility in terms of where, when and how you take your exam. They provide an opportunity for students to put together their own personal programme of music to perform and video-record, including one free-choice repertoire item. These digital exams now sit alongside ABRSM’s familiar Practical Grades, providing equal recognition, reliability and quality of feedback from the same ABRSM examiner team.

During the webinar, John Holmes will explain the rationale behind these assessments, how ABRSM examiners mark Performance Grades and how this different kind of exam can benefit a student as part of their musical learning journey. John will also introduce the ARSM, the performance-only diploma.

Register for the Zoom webinar for your chance to ask questions. If you prefer, you can also tune-in to watch the webinar via a Facebook Live-stream from the Brass Bands England Facebook page.

About the speakers

John Holmes: ABRSM Chief Examiner

John Holmes is Chief Examiner and an Executive Director of ABRSM, the UK’s largest music education body.

As Chief Examiner, John has strategic leadership of the ABRSM examining community of around 700 examiners and a department of 20 staff who manage the examining standards, quality and approach of ABRSM assessment. A teacher himself of over 30 years’ experience, John is committed to supporting progress in music teaching and learning worldwide, setting the musical and educational direction of ABRSM’s professional development offer for music teachers.

Kerry Baldwin: ABRSM Regional Development Executive, Trombonist and Teacher

Kerry has 25 years’ experience as a brass teacher in a range of education settings including MMU and the RNCM Juniors as well as in private practice. She completed a BA and MA in music at MMU before undertaking a PhD in trombone performance at the RNCM. Based in the North West, Kerry learned through the local youth bands including Lions Youth Brass and is a former member of the Leyland brass band. Since 2018, Kerry has taken the role of Regional Development Executive at ABRSM, developing meaningful and long lasting relationships with key teachers and music organisations across the North West.

About ABRSM

Founded in 1889, ABRSM is the world’s leading provider of music exams, and as a registered charity, also contributes towards music education initiatives around the world. ABRSM’s mission is to nurture a love of music, and to inspire musical achievement.