ATG Exams

[breezybellows]

Has anyone taken the exams from the Accordionists and Teachers Guild (USA)? They have a curriculum for 8 levels that is available for both Stradella and Free Bass.
I've been taking free bass lessons for a year now and I'm preparing for Level 3 exams. Wanted to see if anyone else is planning to take the exams so that we can discuss about our preparations.

 

[micahcowan]

If you don't get any response from others preparing for it here, please do update the thread anyway with your own experiences, after you've taken them!

 

[JerryPH]

Three-four years ago I went through the process of getting all the materials for the first 5 exams from the Royal conservatory (and more after that). I was convinced that I wanted to do the exams. Once I got the materials and started laying in to it, I sat down and really thought about it... so if I passed the exams, what would it REALLY give me?

One of the things it would definitely do is stress the hell out of me, was it worth it?

Ultimately I would only have a piece of paper on my wall that had no real monetary value and wasn't a "real" degree, so why would I need this? Yet if I still worked the materials I would be improved as a musician. Do I *really* need to have someone else tell me I can play a piece or do a set of exercises?

I decided to proceed at my own pace and do the materials and save the approximate $4000cdn. Turns out that this saved money was put to better use, paying off a big chunk in getting my trip to Europe to get my Hohner Gola... and I *still* will do the same materials and improve as a musician. I don't need a piece of paper nor at this stage of my life do I feel I need someone else to tell me I played something properly or not via a testing session.

Should everyone do this? ABSOLUTELY NOT. If you see value in it, go for it... for me, I'm not seeing the value.

Just my personal choice.

 

[breezybellows]

Three-four years ago I went through the process of getting all the materials for the first 5 exams from the Royal conservatory (and more after that). I was convinced that I wanted to do the exams. Once I got the materials and started laying in to it, I sat down and really thought about it... so if I passed the exams, what would it REALLY give me?

One of the things it would definitely do is stress the hell out of me, was it worth it?

Ultimately I would only have a piece of paper on my wall that had no real monetary value and wasn't a "real" degree, so why would I need this? Yet if I still worked the materials I would be improved as a musician. Do I *really* need to have someone else tell me I can play a piece or do a set of exercises?

I decided to proceed at my own pace and do the materials and save the approximate $4000cdn. Turns out that this saved money was put to better use, paying off a big chunk in getting my trip to Europe to get my Hohner Gola... and I *still* will do the same materials and improve as a musician. I don't need a piece of paper nor at this stage of my life do I feel I need someone else to tell me I played something properly or not via a testing session.

Should everyone do this? ABSOLUTELY NOT. If you see value in it, go for it... for me, I'm not seeing the value.

Just my personal choice.

I never formally learned music so I do see a lot of value in it for someone like me. That's one of the main reasons why I go for competitions. Make me practice harder. It doesn't really matter what place I finish in. Of course it will make me happy if I win, but thats besides the point. Even if I win first place in the professional category (hypothetically), the trophy doesn't mean I'm the best player. Preparing for a competition and making a submission has other benefits. It makes me learn harder songs. It pushes me a bit more to play it better. I loved learning Pink Panther, Pirates of the Caribbean and Frank Marocco arrangements of Under Paris skies and Moon River. I wouldn't have worked as hard as I did on those songs if it weren't for competitions. I didn't win the competition but for me the competition wasn't with other participants. It was with myself and it was ver satisfying (and incredibly stressful).

I see exams the same way. I started accordion 7 year ago when I was 29. I did not have a piano background or any other instrument for that matter (except for strumming guitars). The exams can be a great way to benchmark my progress. I love taking exams, so it isn't as stressful as competitions. I did look at the RCM syllabus as well. ATG syllabus is comparable. They have a annual festival and I'm planning to go. My daughters and I are planning to take the exams.

 

[breezybellows]

If you don't get any response from others preparing for it here, please do update the thread anyway with your own experiences, after you've taken them!

Anyone that is interested can get the syllabus from the ATG website https://www.atgaccordions.com/shop

There are 8 graded levels (plus a preparatory level).

I'm thinking about preparatory level for my younger daughter and level 1 for my older daughter.
I'm preparing for level 3 (free bass) myself.
These are the requirements for Level 3.

1)Technical tests

A and Eb major scales 2 octaves both hands together. Triads, four note form and arpeggios
F# and C Harmonic and Melodic minor scales 1 octave hands separate. Triads, four note form and arpeggios

2) Studies: Choose one from list of 5 options for exercises.
3) Repertoire: Chose 3 from a list of 21 songs. Four of these are from my teacher Joe Natoli. I've picked 3 from that (two of his original compositions and the other one being an easy arrangement of Bach's Jesu, Joy).
4) Aural Tests
5) Sight Reading
6) General Knowledge.

I have until July. So I'm preparing for level 3. If I get comfortable with this, I'll see if I can do level 4.

Here's one of the songs I'm working on that is part of the syllabus for level 3 free bass. This was from a few weeks ago. I'm able to play it a little faster now.

 

[wirralaccordion]

From the previous post:

Anyone that is interested can get the syllabus from the ATG website https://www.atgaccordions.com/shop

It's a pity they don't offer a free "teaser" for anyone interested to be able to assess where they might start ( although I suppose the ATG would want you to start at the very begining as Julie Andrews would say/sing! )

 

[Rodney]

Has anyone taken the exams from the Accordionists and Teachers Guild (USA)? They have a curriculum for 8 levels that is available for both Stradella and Free Bass.
I've been taking free bass lessons for a year now and I'm preparing for Level 3 exams. Wanted to see if anyone else is planning to take the exams so that we can discuss about our preparations.

Hi Breezy,

In the 1970s I learned enough to be able to play from the 101 Busker Books and enjoyed it thoroughly. Now a pensioner I’m taking up the Piano Accordion again and the free bass lessons part of your post is just what I need. If you are able to tell me how to get started I’d appreciate it, as I’m sure others would be too.

 

[breezybellows]

Hi Breezy,

In the 1970s I learned enough to be able to play from the 101 Busker Books and enjoyed it thoroughly. Now a pensioner I’m taking up the Piano Accordion again and the free bass lessons part of your post is just what I need. If you are able to tell me how to get started I’d appreciate it, as I’m sure others would be too.

I'd love answer that in detail. Will do later today or tomorrow.

 

[Rodney]

That’s great Breezy, I’ll look forward to it.

 

[Rosie C]

These are the requirements for Level 3.

1)Technical tests
...
2) Studies: Choose one from list of 5 options for exercises.
3) Repertoire: Chose 3 from a list of 21 songs. Four of these are from my teacher Joe Natoli. I've picked 3 from that (two of his original compositions and the other one being an easy arrangement of Bach's Jesu, Joy).
4) Aural Tests
5) Sight Reading
6) General Knowledge.

I've done that sort of exam before and I'm not a fan. But one of the UK exam boards offers "performance" exams where I just have to play 3 tunes. I'm some way off being good enough yet, but maybe next year! https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/music/music-certificate-exams/accordion

 

[breezybellows]

I've done that sort of exam before and I'm not a fan. But one of the UK exam boards offers "performance" exams where I just have to play 3 tunes. I'm some way off being good enough yet, but maybe next year! https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/music/music-certificate-exams/accordion

Which exam did you take and why didn't you like it?

 

[Siegmund]

The exams can be a great way to benchmark my progress. I love taking exams, so it isn't as stressful as competitions. I did look at the RCM syllabus as well. ATG syllabus is comparable. They have a annual festival and I'm planning to go. My daughters and I are planning to take the exams.

Sounds like a well thought out plan for you. I fully agree that I'd rather take an exam than enter a competition.

If this is the ATG powwow in Kansas City in July, I am hoping to go to it too (but actually making it happen is not certain yet, pending my partner's health and my other work needs.)

I will venture to speculate the test was written by a piano accordionist, if they ask for A/Eb major and F#/C minor scales, and view these as contrasting scales, as opposed to playing the same scale four times with your hand moved one row over

 

[breezybellows]

If this is the ATG powwow in Kansas City in July, I am hoping to go to it too (but actually making it happen is not certain yet, pending my partner's health and my other work needs.)

Would love to meet up if you make it.

I will venture to speculate the test was written by a piano accordionist, if they ask for A/Eb major and F#/C minor scales, and view these as contrasting scales, as opposed to playing the same scale four times with your hand moved one row over

I didn't quite understand the reason behind your guess. I thought they picked A and Eb major because the left hand finger is identical. F#/C minor scales should also have identical left have fingers.

 

[Siegmund]

I didn't quit understand the reason behind your guess. I thought they picked A and Eb major because the left hand finger is identical. F#/C minor scales should also have identical left have fingers.

My thought was that a PA person might choose these as being as far apart as possible on the circle of fifths, to make sure you used all 12 notes and used two quite different right-hand fingerings.

On CBA the right hand will be identical too, and you might as well not bother asking someone to play both of them. If their goal was "demonstrate two different scale patterns" choosing two keys 4 or 5 sharps apart rather than 6 might work better.

 

[micahcowan]

I thought they picked A and Eb major because the left hand finger is identical. F#/C minor scales should also have identical left have fingers.

I find this statement very confusing. If you have a full(ish) set of basses, aren't literally all the major scales identical in the left hand? (Ditto for all harmonic minors, melodic minors, etc) Why would F#/C be better for that (specifically) than any other arbitrary pair of major scales?

As Siegmund said, the pairing of F#/C, and also A/Eb, are rather silly on a CBA, as each of those pairs involves notes that start on the same row, and since all half-and-whole-step patterns are the same when played from the same row, they are identical patterns in every way (save which literal column you start on), so a F# major scale isn't a test of anything much if you just proved you can play a C major scale. Apart from being able to find the notes to start from in the right and left hands, I guess.

 

[breezybellows]

I find this statement very confusing. If you have a full(ish) set of basses, aren't literally all the major scales identical in the left hand? (Ditto for all harmonic minors, melodic minors, etc) Why would F#/C be better for that (specifically) than any other arbitrary pair of major scales?

What do you mean by fullish set of basses? Which system are you referring to? Are you referring to stradella? This syllabus is not for stradella left hand. I play a C system chromatic free bass. Unless one has a five row free bass (which I do have), you can not play all major scales with identical fingering. Converter systems with free bass only have 4 rows of free bass.

As Siegmund said, the pairing of F#/C, and also A/Eb, are rather silly on a CBA, as each of those pairs involves notes that start on the same row, and since all half-and-whole-step patterns are the same when played from the same row, they are identical patterns in every way (save which literal column you start on), so a F# major scale isn't a test of anything much if you just proved you can play a C major scale. Apart from being able to find the notes to start from in the right and left hands, I guess.

Isn't that the advantage of playing a CBA? The tests are the same for piano keyboard and CBA. I play a piano accordion with chromatic free bass (C system on the left hand). So the major scales for A and Eb have identical fingering on the left hand. But pairing it up with the piano keyboard in the right hand, it is no longer "ditto" to play A and Eb scales. If one plays a CBA with free bass, they didn't need to learn 12 different fingerings for major scales.

 

[breezybellows]

My thought was that a PA person might choose these as being as far apart as possible on the circle of fifths, to make sure you used all 12 notes and used two quite different right-hand fingerings.

On CBA the right hand will be identical too, and you might as well not bother asking someone to play both of them. If their goal was "demonstrate two different scale patterns" choosing two keys 4 or 5 sharps apart rather than 6 might work better.

I think they wanted to keep the left have fingering identical while you pair it up with different fingering in the right hand (in a piano keyboard). If one plays a CBA, then the two scales will be identical on both hands (with different starting positions).

 

[Rosie C]

Which exam did you take and why didn't you like it?

I've taken various exams by the ABRSM - a UK exam board who focus more on 'classical' music. I've also taken grade exams with "Rock School" - another board who are (kinda obviously) focussed more on popular music. I struggle with tests like "listen to, then clap this rhythm" or "sing back this tune" or "play this scale". I cancelled an ABRSM grade 5 exam at the last minute as I found memorising 24 piano scales too stressful. But I also struggle with the situation - traditional music exams make me stressed, though I can stand in front of a live audience and perform without any problems. So I decided that such exams are not so relevant to real life (for me), and so when they brought out "performance" exams where I just play tunes I was very happy!

I never formally learned music so I do see a lot of value in it for someone like me. That's one of the main reasons why I go for competitions. Make me practice harder.

For me I take exams because it gives me focus and structure - if I have an exam coming up I will make more effort to practice.

 

[Corinto]

I've done that sort of exam before and I'm not a fan. But one of the UK exam boards offers "performance" exams where I just have to play 3 tunes. I'm some way off being good enough yet, but maybe next year! https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/music/music-certificate-exams/accordion

Thanks Rosie C., looks like I might like this.

 

[micahcowan]

What do you mean by fullish set of basses? Which system are you referring to? Are you referring to stradella? This syllabus is not for stradella left hand. I play a C system chromatic free bass.

Ah, yeah. I was referring to Stradella, sorry.

If one plays a CBA with free bass, they didn't need to learn 12 different fingerings for major scales.

You do need to learn 3, though (especially if you're on a 3-row), and they're only testing one, But you're right, they must have been intending that at this level you only need to learn new RH fingerings (for a PA), and only one LH fingering (for now). And since it's not possible to aim for that without reducing the CBA's RH in the same way they're limiting the chromatic free-bass LH. They could've tailored the CBA test differently, and used different keys, but then the CBA test would be slightly harder than the PA (because if they choose RH scales that differ, the LH will necessarily differ as well), and they must not have wanted that either.

Thanks for the clarification!