Students can develop many aspects of technique through scale practice, including familiarity with the physicality of their instrument or voice, articulation, tone and intonation. Scales and arpeggios also help to develop an understanding of keys, giving confidence when sight-reading, learning new pieces, and performing.

Experiencing a selection of good music is an essential part of musical learning. In preparing for our exams, candidates can choose from a broad list of pieces appropriate to their standard, each presenting its own challenges. Candidates generally perform three pieces in the exam and each is marked independently.

Listening is the basis of all good music making, and developing aural awareness is a fundamental part of any music education. ABRSM aural tests are designed to strengthen the vital connection between listening and performing, and to encourage students to develop their 'inner ear' and ability to hear how music works.

Being able to sight-read is a valuable skill with many benefits. It enables students to explore new pieces with increased confidence and speeds up the learning process. Good sight-reading skills offer the satisfaction of independent musical discovery, as notation on the page is more readily transformed into sound.