David Barton’s article on local music festivals (MT, April 2024) is to be highly recommended and should be staple reading for all music teachers, perhaps passed on, developed and encouraged by leaders of local authority music education providers. It should also be required reading for all classroom music teachers – even part of pre-service training.
Graded exams for instrumental or vocal learners have their place. The exams serve an essential need to measure progress, and support application for extended studies at universities or music conservatoires. But Barton’s point about performance is spot-on. An exam may involve the act of performing but is not necessarily a performance (other than to one person), whereas a live, venue-held performance with, as he says, an audience of parents, friends, volunteers and so on brings the act of performing to a new level of experience.
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