Not what I wanted to hear, I tend to stop doing something once it becomes the subject of exams:
from today's newsfeeds -
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The Registry of Guitar Tutors (RGT) has announced new formal qualifications for would-be Bob Dylans and K.T. Tunstalls with the launch of the first graded exams for acoustic guitarists. Although graded exams for classical and electric guitar have been available for some years, up until now there have been no specialist qualifications available for acoustic guitar players anywhere in the world.
The exams have been developed by the RGT (the UK’s only specialist guitar education examination body) whose Board of Patrons includes Gordon Giltrap, one of the UK’s most respected acoustic guitar players, alongside other popular music grandees such as Sir Paul McCartney, Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd.
The focus of these exams is on practical making-music and includes music from a wide range of popular styles including folk, pop, blues, rock and country. There are two entry-level examinations designed specifically for children and beginners, whilst the higher grades aim to help candidates develop their own musical personality.
RGT Director Tony Skinner says: “Acoustic guitar is one of the most popular instruments taught in schools and many rock and pop bands now prominently feature acoustic guitar. These exams are the first formal recognition of the talents of acoustic guitar players and provide acoustic guitarist students with a structured course to follow.”
The exams are certificated by London College of Music Exams and Thames Valley University and have been accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and placed on the National Qualifications Framework. The higher grades also attract UCAS points for university entrance.
The exams will be available from June 2008. A free Exam Information Booklet, detailing the requirements for every grade, is available online at www.RGT.org.uk. For more information contact RGT on 01424 222222
> Not what I wanted to hear, I tend to stop doing something once it becomes > the subject of exams:
> from today's newsfeeds -
> ---------
> The Registry of Guitar Tutors (RGT) has announced new formal > qualifications for would-be Bob Dylans and K.T. Tunstalls with the launch > of the first graded exams for acoustic guitarists. Although graded exams > for classical and electric guitar have been available for some years, up > until now there have been no specialist qualifications available for > acoustic guitar players anywhere in the world.
> The exams have been developed by the RGT (the UK’s only specialist guitar > education examination body) whose Board of Patrons includes Gordon > Giltrap, one of the UK’s most respected acoustic guitar players, alongside > other popular music grandees such as Sir Paul McCartney, Ronnie Wood of > the Rolling Stones and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd.
> The focus of these exams is on practical making-music and includes music > from a wide range of popular styles including folk, pop, blues, rock and > country. There are two entry-level examinations designed specifically for > children and beginners, whilst the higher grades aim to help candidates > develop their own musical personality.
> RGT Director Tony Skinner says: “Acoustic guitar is one of the most > popular instruments taught in schools and many rock and pop bands now > prominently feature acoustic guitar. These exams are the first formal > recognition of the talents of acoustic guitar players and provide acoustic > guitarist students with a structured course to follow.”
> The exams are certificated by London College of Music Exams and Thames > Valley University and have been accredited by the Qualifications and > Curriculum Authority and placed on the National Qualifications Framework. > The higher grades also attract UCAS points for university entrance.
> The exams will be available from June 2008. A free Exam Information > Booklet, detailing the requirements for every grade, is available online > at www.RGT.org.uk. > For more information contact RGT on 01424 222222
Angof wrote: > Thousands and thousands of people play guitar without taking exams. Why does > this worry you?
Because far fewer people play instruments for which the exam route is normal!
It worries me because it's almost impossible to do without setting a curriculum with certain fixed styles, pieces etc. Within five years, these styles and pieces become totally un-hip because they are in the exams.
I think the reason a lot of adult acoustic players don't touch nylon string is because it's what was handed out at school for learning guitar. They miss out of course.
> Angof wrote: >> Thousands and thousands of people play guitar without taking exams. Why >> does this worry you?
> Because far fewer people play instruments for which the exam route is > normal!
> It worries me because it's almost impossible to do without setting a > curriculum with certain fixed styles, pieces etc. Within five years, these > styles and pieces become totally un-hip because they are in the exams.
> I think the reason a lot of adult acoustic players don't touch nylon > string is because it's what was handed out at school for learning guitar. > They miss out of course.
> David
I would disagree, I think many people dont pick up a nylon string because of the music that is associated with it, namely classical music. I dont think you see nylon string guitars in popular culture and it is associated with high culture and thus it isn't as attractive. Also steel strung acoustics are more prominently sold in music shops. It is a cultural thing I think.
I think you're hypothesis has some bearing for those who played guitar at school, but I personally think it is a minor consideration in terms of general culture.
The Rock School and RGT exams have been around for years, and I don't see any decline in electric guitar playing. Some people just like an objective benchmark of how well they're doing.
On Thu, 8 May 2008 15:21:50 +0100, "Angof" <an...@nospam.com> wrote:
>"David Kilpatrick" <iconma...@btconnect.com> wrote in message >news:b5ednXOAfb6_mb7VnZ2dnUVZ8sjinZ2d@bt.com... >> Angof wrote: >>> Thousands and thousands of people play guitar without taking exams. Why >>> does this worry you?
>> Because far fewer people play instruments for which the exam route is >> normal!
>> It worries me because it's almost impossible to do without setting a >> curriculum with certain fixed styles, pieces etc. Within five years, these >> styles and pieces become totally un-hip because they are in the exams.
>> I think the reason a lot of adult acoustic players don't touch nylon >> string is because it's what was handed out at school for learning guitar. >> They miss out of course.
>> David
>I would disagree, I think many people dont pick up a nylon string because of >the music that is associated with it, namely classical music. I dont think >you see nylon string guitars in popular culture and it is associated with >high culture and thus it isn't as attractive. Also steel strung acoustics >are more prominently sold in music shops. It is a cultural thing I think.
>I think you're hypothesis has some bearing for those who played guitar at >school, but I personally think it is a minor consideration in terms of >general culture.
>I agree that people are missing out though.
>Angof
Actually, over here in germany, nylon string guitars are considerably more visible than in the UK, because of German folk music.
> The Rock School and RGT exams have been around for years, and I don't > see any decline in electric guitar playing. Some people just like an > objective benchmark of how well they're doing.
> adrian
Yes, David, Adrian's right! Don't worry a jot, it'll make no difference.
Grades are very different now too - they have a good deal more practical use to a learning guitarist than the old grades did for non-classical guitar. They were too similar to the classical model. I'd happily teach someone to the syllabus WITHOUT them doing the exams! It's a good syllabus (I'm talking here about the electric version of these new acoustic grades).
Although, I am 100% with you. I don't think exams are what learning music should be about at all. THere is simply no need for them with talented and creative pupils. They do serve a purpose though, and that purpose is NOT "grading" the pupil. The purpose is maintaining motivation to pratice because of a somewhat imposing goal.
<performingch...@spam.spam> wrote: >Adrian Clark wrote: >> *shrug*
>> The Rock School and RGT exams have been around for years, and I don't >> see any decline in electric guitar playing. Some people just like an >> objective benchmark of how well they're doing.
>> adrian
>Yes, David, Adrian's right! Don't worry a jot, it'll make no difference.
>Grades are very different now too - they have a good deal more practical >use to a learning guitarist than the old grades did for non-classical >guitar. They were too similar to the classical model. I'd happily teach >someone to the syllabus WITHOUT them doing the exams! It's a good >syllabus (I'm talking here about the electric version of these new >acoustic grades).
>Although, I am 100% with you. I don't think exams are what learning >music should be about at all. THere is simply no need for them with >talented and creative pupils. They do serve a purpose though, and that >purpose is NOT "grading" the pupil. The purpose is maintaining >motivation to pratice because of a somewhat imposing goal.
Hear, hear!
I really don't think it matters how you learn guitar - or anything for pleasure come to that - as long as it's enjoyable and it works for you and helps you achieve whatever incidental goals you may have.
However, some people like the discipline that syllabuses like Rockschool offer and, having used it for the past year intensively in one school I teach at, it isn't at all restrictive as far as the electric aspect is concerned. There's an importance attached to improv and although theory is involved, what there is is practical and useful to know.
At the same time, I teach kids who just seem to be able to provide the necessary structure themselves and are very goal-driven in terms of personal achievement - with some it's just a question of me pointing them in certain directions and being there to answer any queries along the way.
We all approach learning in a variety of ways - either separately or in combination and grades simply offer one such approach. I'd hate to see the whole process reduced to formal methods, but I really don't see that happening and I don't think it's anyone's intention to establish the 'one true way'.
In fact, it's helping to establish the guitar - outside of the classical sphere - by paying some limited lip service to those who see the instrument as somehow not worthy of academic status when it comes to integration into the exam system. I've seen GCSE Music and B Tech courses achieve far more success for kids who used to have to struggle to submit guitar solos. Now the examiners are far more open to the rather less restrictive nature of the instrument as they now have a score to relate the performance to. Previously it was a real struggle to stop kids trying to submit aimless solos and chord sequences that really didn't constitute a solo performance. Now the examiners seem far more prepared to accept what is becoming a truer representation of the instrument in terms of a slightly more structured format.
I think that's essentially a good thing and it certainly doesn't preclude personal goals and achievements.
> In fact, it's helping to establish the guitar - outside of the > classical sphere - by paying some limited lip service to those who see > the instrument as somehow not worthy of academic status when it comes > to integration into the exam system. I've seen GCSE Music and B Tech > courses achieve far more success for kids who used to have to struggle > to submit guitar solos. Now the examiners are far more open to the > rather less restrictive nature of the instrument as they now have a > score to relate the performance to. Previously it was a real struggle > to stop kids trying to submit aimless solos and chord sequences that > really didn't constitute a solo performance. Now the examiners seem > far more prepared to accept what is becoming a truer representation of > the instrument in terms of a slightly more structured format.
It's a double-edged sword though, in that the more "pop" music and particularly rock guitar are integrated into mainstream education and indeed mainstream culture, the less cool it becomes! Being on the outside was a great apeal for me. The idea of my guitar being a prt of regular school life might have killed it for me.
>> In fact, it's helping to establish the guitar - outside of the >> classical sphere - by paying some limited lip service to those who see >> the instrument as somehow not worthy of academic status when it comes >> to integration into the exam system. I've seen GCSE Music and B Tech >> courses achieve far more success for kids who used to have to struggle >> to submit guitar solos. Now the examiners are far more open to the >> rather less restrictive nature of the instrument as they now have a >> score to relate the performance to. Previously it was a real struggle >> to stop kids trying to submit aimless solos and chord sequences that >> really didn't constitute a solo performance. Now the examiners seem >> far more prepared to accept what is becoming a truer representation of >> the instrument in terms of a slightly more structured format.
>It's a double-edged sword though, in that the more "pop" music and >particularly rock guitar are integrated into mainstream education
It already is, surely?
I can't be the only freelance peripatetic guitar teacher in the country. I teach in two schools - one a fairly challenging large city comprehensive and the other a fee-paying school.
>and >indeed mainstream culture,
It already is, surely?
It's a long time since guitarists were regarded as outsiders, misfits and deviants.
>the less cool it becomes!
Nah - guitar has been cool since at least 1965 ;) and shows no signs of stopping.
>Being on the >outside was a great apeal for me. The idea of my guitar being a prt of >regular school life might have killed it for me.
Well, our (grammar) school must have been an unusual one but when I was playing guitar there - 1966 to 1970 - we were actively encouraged and given time and space for rehearsals, allowed to organise our own school gigs - we booked Juicy Lucy once....all of which did the reverse to killing it for those of us who benefited from the school's attitude towards the guitar.
As far as I can tell, the kids' reactions to school encouragement are still positive - both schools I teach at have active bands and enthusiasm for the instrument is unstoppable.
