Music teachers fear loss of specialist assessors in tests by Australian Music Examinations Board

ABC NEWS (Australia)

It's considered the gold standard in musical exams, the benchmark for aspiring classical musicians across the country. But there are claims the Australian Music Examinations Board is slipping in its standards by failing to send specialist assessors to the regions.

Transcript

00:00A watchful eye and a sharp ear.

00:06How loud can you get on? Just the D. Play that first note.

00:10Oh, wow, look at that. You've engaged your arm.

00:14Where's that been hiding?

00:15Mike Hyder has been teaching music for 30 years.

00:19During that time, he's helped hundreds of students

00:22tackle a litmus test for any aspiring musician,

00:26exams run by the Australian Music Examinations Board.

00:29It's a very hard exam, but the kids really prosper if they do well.

00:34For all its importance, Mike Hyder worries the AMEB's standards are slipping.

00:39He says the board is using generalist examiners to assess students,

00:44even advanced levels.

00:46It means students can be examined by someone unable to play their particular instrument.

00:52Unless you are a player, you really cannot understand what it takes to play at a high level.

00:58The AMEB says its generalist examiners are highly qualified.

01:03A generalist doesn't make them lesser. It makes them having gone through an added layer of training.

01:10The board says it's the only branch in Australia that sends assessors to regional areas,

01:15but there are limits to the services it can provide.

01:19Parents and teachers say they've been receiving specialist examiners in the regions until recently,

01:24and the generalist assessors represent a change in direction.

01:28The board denies any change.

01:31I think that is the most important part of that you feel as though you can trust what the examination procedure is like.

01:40There's no way AMEB would subject string players in Perth to anything but a string specialist.

01:46A teacher's pitch for the right notes.

01:49A teacher's pitch for the right notes.

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