The recent launch of a drum kit syllabus by ABRSM has been keenly awaited. The syllabus arrives in a much-changed scene compared with the last occasion I reviewed drum grades for Music Teacher (MT July 2015).
By far the biggest factor that has changed the way we teach and examine students has been the Covid pandemic, with digital exams becoming the favoured choice for students. It is hardly surprising to find that ABRSM drum kit grades are digital exams, with no mention of exam centre options in the books at all.
I received Grades 1–5 for review; Initial grade and Grades 6–8 are, of course, also available. The factors I wanted to explore were how ABRSM would fit into the current drum grade scene, what might differentiate them from the competition, and, most importantly, how they may appeal to drum students.
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