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ICMA REGULATIONS and INFORMATIONCELEBRATING January 2010 until further notice. ICMA is an Institutional Member of The College of Teachers and abides by its Code of Practice. IMPORTANT NOTICES The publication of up-dated material automatically cancels previous editions. Updates are published only on our website. It is the responsibility of applicants, teachers and candidates to ensure that they are working from the current Regulations and Specifications. ICMA cannot accept responsibility for any situation arising due to working from outdated information. The website must not be considered as current on the day. Anyone without internet access should contact ICMA to arrange postal updates. Neither ICMA nor the authors of ICMA publications can be held responsible for the consequences of any action taken on the basis of information given therein. SUBJECTS, GRADES, MEDALS and DIPLOMAS Set specifications (List A) are available as paper copies or as PDF downloads upon request to ICMA for the following subjects: Piano, Keyboard, Electronic Organ, Pipe Organ, Harpsichord, Harp, Piano Accompanying, Accordion Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone, Recorder Singing, Contemporary Vocals, Pop Vocals, Musical Theatre Guitar, Leisure Guitar, Rock Guitar, Bass Guitar, Mandolin Bb Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Bass Trombone, Bb Cornet, Eb Cornet, Flugel Horn, Tenor Horn, Baritone, Euphonium, Tuba Kit Drumming, Percussion Traditional Scottish Fiddle, Bagpipes, Clarsach, Irish Harp Church Music (Chorister, Organist, Choir Trainer) Ensembles, Creative Performing General Music, General Musicianship, Research, Composition, Conducting, Music Technology, Theory of Music Effective Communication, Speech, Bible Reading If your particular specialism is not listed, please let us know and we will do our best to meet your requirements. PRACTICAL *Direct entry permitted * Initial
Entry Grade Examination (selected subjects only) * Grades 4 & 5 Intermediate Grade Examinations * Grades 6 & 7 Higher Grade Examinations * Grade 8 & Recitalists’ Advanced Grade and Certificate Examinations * Performance Assessment Practical Grade Assessments Medals Inter-Grade Examinations (Music) * KS3 Certificate End of KS3 Examination in School-based Music * Dip - Diploma for Teachers/Performers FDip - Fellowship Diploma for Teachers/Performers * DASM Advanced Diploma Programme for Musicians * PPICMA Advanced Diploma for Performers Coll/A/L/FMus/PDMusEd - h.c. / j.d. Honorary ICMA Awards (Music) FICMA h.c. Honorary Fellowship Award (other than Music) * CT;ICMA Certificated Teacher of the ICMA Guild * AMG/LMG/FMG (direct application – no fee) Associate/Licentiate/Fellowship Membership of the ICMA Guild THEORY (Music) * Initial Entry Written Grade Examination * Grades 1-3 Foundation Written Grade Examinations * Grades 4 & 5 Intermediate Written Grade Examinations * DipMusTh Diploma in the Theory of Music FDipMusTh ````````````````````````````````````````````Fellowship Diploma in the Theory of Music APPROVAL OF MUSIC (Alternative B) Teachers and candidates are encouraged to select and submit for approval their own choice of pieces based on the standard set by the pieces in the set lists – ‘List A’. A copy of the piece(s), completed form, and SAE should be sent to our Specifications Consultant – see ‘Contact Us’ details. If a programme of music is approved, the form will be authorised. This should be retained, and shown to the examiner. Once a piece has been approved, it is not necessary to approve the piece for subsequent entries within 5 years. Candidates are permitted to mix pieces from the set lists and Alternative B. Pieces set by other boards may be presented without prior approval, provided the piece(s) is not already set by ICMA at a different grade. However, candidates must bring evidence to present to the examiner that the piece(s) presented is set for the same grade by the board. This may be a print-off of a download from their website or a copy of the actual syllabus. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification. ENTRY and DATE OF EXAMINATION Candidates may enter at any grade, or more than one grade on their own behalf if 18 years or over, or by their teacher, parent or guardian if under 18 years. Examinations are held throughout the year on dates agreed by the applicant and ICMA, subject to examiner availability, and the viability of the session, regardless of its length - please try to avoid exam dates which require an examiner to travel on a Friday, a Bank Holiday weekend, or at peak holiday times. Completed Entry Forms and fees must be received at least four weeks before the earliest requested date of examination - this is a minimum period, and applicants areencouraged to submit entries well in advance of the minimum period. A signed Entry/Application Form implies that the applicant has read, understands and agrees to abide by the current regulations and specifications. Candidates cannot be withdrawn or substituted, and options cannot be changed, once the Entry Form has been received. ICMA can refuse an entry, without assigning any reason, in which case the fee will be returned. AGE RESTRICTIONS Apart from the DASM and PPICMA, when candidates must be at least 18 years of age, ICMA operates an open policy for its examinations. However, musical maturity being part of the assessment in all Diploma examinations, it is recommended that applicants for DipMus/Bib/Speech should be at at least 16; candidates for FDipMus/Bib/Speech should be at least 17. OVERSEAS (including islands off mainland Britain) Where there is no local examiner, Entry Forms must be received at least six weeks before the earliest requested date of examination, and there must be a total of at least five hours' examining per overseas visit.
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT PROVISION A publication entitled 'Special Assessment Provision' is available free of charge, on receipt of a SAE, with details of the arrangements for candidates with difficulties such as dyslexia, sight problems, and hearing problems. Special assessment requirements should be notified well in advance of the examination. Where there are other circumstances that, in the view of the applicant, may affect a candidate's performance, they should be recorded on the examination schedule, giving full details.
PLACE AND DURATION OF EXAMINATIONS Examinations are usually held in the teacher's/candidate's house/studio/church/school/college, which must be a safe environment, quiet, warm and well lit. Provision must be made for candidates/teachers/applicants/parents to wait out of earshot. Unless ICMA advertises a fixed date and venue - ‘a centre’ - serving teachers over a wide local area, the session is considered to be an ‘examiner visit’, and ICMA is unable to meet any costs incurred in the hiring of rooms/halls/facilities etc. There must be at least 2 hours' examining, (excluding transfer candidates) – applicants unable to meet the 2 hour minimum requirement and teachers/candidates outside the UK may wish to consider our ‘Webcam Assessments’. However, all entries are subject to examiner availability. Applicants are encouraged to amalgamate entries with others in their area. Candidates are not permitted to take into the examination room any item that is not exam related. Bags, coats, instrument cases etc must be left with a responsible person. The time allocated for each Grade, 'Live' Medal, and Diploma is listed below, but may be varied at the examiner's discretion: Initial - 8 minutes Grade 6 - 19 minutes JBM - 8 mins Recitalists' Cert.- 15-25 minutes Grade 1 - 14 minutes Grade 7 - 20 minutes JSM - 9 mins DipP/Bib/Speech - 40 minutes Grade 2 - 15 minutes Grade 8 - 21 minutes JGM - 10 mins Dip (Teacher) - 1 hour Grade 3 - 16 minutes KS3 Certificate 15 mins BM - 11 mins Double Dip (Teacher) - 1.5 hours Grade 4 - 17 minutes SM - 12 mins FDip Section 2 - 28 minutes Grade 5 - 18 minutes GM - 13 mins PPICMA - 1 hour Performance Assessments – G1 – 6 mins; G2 – 7 mins; G3 – 8 mins; G4 – 9 mins; G5 – 10 mins; G6 – 11 mins; G7 – 12 mins; G8 – 13 mins. ICMA reserves the right to visit centres before and during the examination session to inspect the arrangements made for the security of confidential examination material and for the conduct of the examinations in accordance with the regulations. Examinations may be recorded on video and/or audio to aid moderating and training. WRITTEN PAPERS Candidates will be examined at a teacher's home/studio, or at a candidate's home/school, without expense to ICMA. Applicants/candidates must nominate a third party adult invigilator (a person who does not teach or is not a relative of any candidate) to whom the papers will be sent (to a third party address) for secure keeping until the exam date. The name and address of this person must be written in the space provided on the Entry Form. It will be the duty of this person, and any deputies that (s)he may
appoint, to invigilate throughout the whole period of the examination, and to
sign a declaration to FEES The published list of fees is revised annually, effective for examinations to be held on or after 1st January each year, regardless of when the entry is received. Applicants are requested to submit one cheque to cover all fees for the entry. Schools and colleges confirm by signing the entry form that fees are ultimately funded privately, ie examination fees are recharged to candidates. ABSENCE AND TRANSFER A candidate who is absent through no fault of their own, or unforeseen circumstances eg illness, may transfer at the same level and in the same subject at the next session only. In all cases, a transfer fee is payable at the next session. Withdrawal due toinadequate preparation does not qualify. Where no reason for absence is offered, transfer will not be permitted. Substitutions must not be made for absentees or any other candidate. Also, refer to 'Place and Duration' regarding transfer candidates. MUSIC Candidates must perform from original copies. Editions other than those suggested may be used, but simplified versions are not acceptable. Teachers' markings, which may be of use in Option 5 (Questions), must be erased effectively. Repeats (other than DS/DC) should not be performed (except in short pieces in the early grades) unless this affects the balance of the work, or unless the examiner requests them. A performance may be stopped when the examiner has heard sufficient to make an assessment. As publishers may alter the content, it is advisable to check that a prescribed piece is listed before purchasing a music book. Publishers take music out of print without notice, and almost overnight. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, but it is beyond our control. A list of music publishers is available separately. Applicants are requested to read the section on music provided for the examiner’s use in the ‘Guide for Applicants’ leaflet. ACCOMPANIMENT Accompaniments are compulsory when included in the examination music, and must be performed by a competent player. However, recorded or sequenced accompaniments may be used, but it is the candidate's responsibility to ensure that theequipment and quality of recording is suitable for examination purposes. If the examiner deems either to be unsuitable, s/he has the right to direct the candidate to play unaccompanied. Candidates are responsible for providing their own accompanist/equipment. There is no provision in the examination for additional setting-up time. The examiner will not act as accompanist or technical assistant. In subjects where the choice includes some unaccompanied music, at least two pieces performed must have an included accompaniment. EXAMINERS ICMA uses generalist examiners who assess the musicality of the
performance they hear. Reference to technical matters may be CRITERIA and MARKS A publication entitled 'Criteria for Assessment', is available free of charge, only on receipt of an A4 SAE. All Examinations (except Initial, Medals & Recitalist): 0-69 Fail, 70-79 Pass, 80-89 Pass with Merit, 90-100 Pass withDistinction. The second half of each category of pass will be classed as ‘Upper’ eg 83 = Merit, 88 = Upper Merit. ‘Distinction’ is endorsed by a red seal on Grade certificates. Initial Examination: 0-34 Fail, 35-39 Pass, 40-44 Merit, 45-50 Distinction – the mark will be converted to a percentage to aidcomparison. Medal & Recitalist Examinations: 0-79 Fail, 80-100 Pass. ‘Recorded’ Medals: Candidates must pass all four sections. Practical Examinations: Candidates must pass the performance section in order to gain an overall pass. A candidate gaining the minimum pass mark or over, but failing the performance section as a whole, will fail overall. DipMusT Examination: Candidates must pass Demonstration & Teaching and the Rudiments Paper in order to gain a pass. RESULTS The result of an examination will be recorded on a Report Form, and sent to the applicant as soon as possible. You are advised to retain the report, as there is no duplicate. ICMA cannot accept responsibility for any Report Form after its dispatch by post.
CERTIFICATES/DIPLOMAS/PLAQUES Successful candidates will receive a Certificate/Diploma (as appropriate), via the applicant, and may purchase an engraved plaque with ICMA logo. A charge will be made for re-issuing due to inaccurate information received. A pass at any level does not imply suitability for a professional career in music/any branch of the music industry or eligibility for courses/further study. ACADEMIC DRESS Academic dress (cap, gown and hood) is available to purchase for
all diplomas, and is to be worn by staff and students at RE-ENTRY Diploma candidates only may re-enter within six months for the Section(s) failed. Only one further attempt is allowed, and all sections must be taken at the same session. Candidates must bring their previous Report Form to the examination and state on the Entry Form which Section(s)/Part(s) are to be re-examined. After this, candidates may enter for the whole examination in the usual way. DISQUALIFICATION Any candidate failing to offer the correct specification/set
piece/approved piece, or failing to honour the Regulations or COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE Complaints regarding the conduct and/or result of an examination must be made in writing (not email), by the applicant only, and addressed to the Registrar, and must reach the office within seven days of receipt of the Report Form, accompanied by a copy of the Report Form(s) concerned. If the complaint is substantiated, at the discretion of the Chief Examiner, the candidate(s) will be permitted either to enter again at the next session only, without further fee, or have their mark(s) adjusted. In the light of this, it may be necessary to offer the same option to all candidates at the centre. If the complaint is unsubstantiated, the
Report Form(s) will be returned with a written response. Unresolved disputes
will be referred to the ADVICE ICMA is pleased to give advice concerning music courses, aspects of teaching/performing, technical advice on the purchase of instruments, or advice regarding fees, by contacting the office. Advice is free and given in good faith. ICMA cannot accept any responsibility for any matter arising subsequently. COMMUNICATION and POSTAL ITEMS A SAE is always appreciated. A list of the postal address, telephone numbers and email address is available. Please have postal items checked by the post office for weight and size. Royal Mail requires us to collect underpaid items from the sorting office and these items also incur a surcharge. Therefore, an admin fee (see List of Fees) is payable by the sender before such items are processed. ICMA cannot accept responsibility for any item(s) lost in the post. ‘Adobe Reader’ is required to read email attachments and document CDs. ICMA GUILD The ICMA Guild offers membership at Teacher, Associate, Licentiate and Fellowship levels by direct entry. Successful applicants will receive a certificate, may append the appropriate designation to their name, and receive relevant ICMA publications. They may also apply to purchase the appropriate robes. There is no fee payable. ICMA reserves the right to refuse entry to the guild without assigning any reason. A leaflet is available. MOBILE PHONES Mobile phones are not permitted in the examination room. CHILD PROTECTION ICMA has a responsibility for the welfare and safety of children in its temporary care, and has a Child Protection policy including a code of practice to which all working for and on behalf of ICMA are committed. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES Every candidate is entitled to equal access and treatment, regardless of age, gender, ethnic background, language, disability or marital status. Every application/entry will be handled efficiently and fairly. ICMA may require details of age and gender, of candidates up to and including the age of 17 years. This information is not passed to examiners, and the EO policy will not be compromised. DATA PROTECTION ICMA holds computer records in accordance with the ‘Notifications’ policy of the Data Protection Act of 1998. By signing the declaration on any entry/application form, an applicant gives ICMA consent to process all personal data. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP ICMA encourages teachers and performers to become members of a
professional body offering legal cover and advice, public IMPORTANT Reference should be made to individual subject specifications, and the following leaflets: ‘Entry Procedure’, ‘Options’, ‘Additional Information for Applicants’, ‘Additional Information for Candidates’, ‘Additional Information for DipMusT Candidates’, ‘Special Access Provision’, ‘Criteria for Assessment’, Music Publishers, Current ‘Up- Date’ leaflet.
ICMA reserves the right to alter information/prices/fees without notice. ICMA 10.1
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