Assessments

Formal assessments are usually held each year for students in years 8 (Summer term) and 11 (late Autumn term/early Spring term), and students in year 3-7 are also assessed towards the end of their second year in the Department. However your teacher or the Head of Junior Programmes can request an assessment at any time if there are areas of concern.

We will give you plenty of notice of your assessment and ensure that your assessment is a positive experience.

What formal assessments involve

• One prepared piece on each instrument/voice (see below)
• First study sight-reading
• Musicianship and aural tests

Please talk to your teacher as soon as you know about your assessment to ensure that you have appropriate pieces to play/sing (composers, percussionists, guitarists, harpists and pianists please read the special instructions below).

RCMJD assessment special instructions

An accompanist is provided by JD and students are not permitted to use their own accompanist unless permission has been given by the Head of Junior Programmes in advance. There will the opportunity to warm up and run through your assessment piece(s) 15 minutes before your assessment.

If you learn your first study instrument outside JD, we expect you to play it in your assessment. If you learn a second and/or third study outside JD, and wish to be considered for future inclusion in orchestras/ensembles on this instrument, you need to prepare something for your assessment; if not, then we would prefer it if you prepared a short piece, but it is not mandatory.

In your assessment, there will also be an opportunity to discuss progress, any issues relating to your timetable (including start/finish times) and suggestions for future timetable provision.