The Spring 2012 Traditional Music Graded Exams session will be held on the following dates:

Fiddle, Scottish Harp and Accordion exams will be held on 29th, 30th and 31st March in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow (formerly known as the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama).

There will also be a session of Scottish Harp exams held in Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh on 30th March, as part of the Edinburgh International Harp Festival.

The deadline for applications is 5th March 2012, and the schedules will be confirmed with applicants after this date.

Working in consultation with Scottish Music staff and specialists from across Scotland, the programme acknowledges the value of Scotland’s traditional music to its contemporary culture and identity, and seeks further to strengthen traditional music’s ties to education and lifelong learning.

Unlike other music exam programmes, the Scottish Traditional Music Graded Exams are specialist-based - meaning a fiddle candidate is assessed by a fiddle examiner and an accordion candidate by an accordion examiner.

And you do not have to read music to take the exams: our syllabuses offer the choice between reading music for assessment or playing back by ear.

As a tool for tutors and learners of all ages and abilities comparable in its grading to classical music exams, the exams provide:

• an escalator for young, aspiring traditional musicians who wish to widen their scope of opportunities;
• a basis for professional development among traditional Scottish music educators and non-specialist teachers looking to gain further experience of traditional Scottish music;
• a firmer establishment of traditional music tuition in Scotland’s educational curricula; and
• parity of esteem with the classical idiom.

Be sure to check the What's new section for periodic updates on development and check also Forthcoming session dates.

Thank you for supporting Scottish music.

	Joshua Dickson, Head of Scottish Music