We look at two lesser known recorder Syllabuses ANZCA and MTB. 

ANZCA - Australia and New Zealand Cultural Arts

ANZCA is a non-profit examining body of the performing arts, who aim to make the entire examination process more exciting and rewarding for students and teachers. Their practical exams and written theory exams have an emphasis on a wide range of choices and flexibility within each syllabus and opportunities for creativity through improvisation. Their syllabus is updated every three years. 

According to their website ANZCA examinations are offered in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. Their Recorder syllabus was last updated around seven years ago. Their syllabuses are generally updated every three years, and there will be a new woodwind syllabus for 2021–23.

Covid

To stay updated with online examinations due to covid-19 click here. 

Syllabus

This syllabus differs from all the others, as it was designed with classroom teaching, or group style teaching. Students can have the exam in the tradition one on one  format, or in a group of four to eight students (similar to ballet exams). 

Group exams do not include aural tests or sight reading, and only one overall report will be submitted to the teacher, instead of individually in the traditional format. 

Grades (1- 4) and afterwards. 

Candidates must choose repertoire from setlists: A, B, C and submit their own free choice in list D. This syllabus invites candidates and teachers to submit music students are interested in, and have much more freedom of choice. There is clear criteria of how to choose music for the free choice in order to keep it at the level of the grade being undertaken.   

Grade 5 and above: Students must completely submit their own programme, with detailed information on how to do so. 

Click here to view the syllabus.  

Technical requirements in the ANZCA Grades:

After performing the candidate’s chosen pieces, the candidate will then be tested on their aural skills, sight reading, and scales. All three technical requirements are freely available to study and work on within the first few chapters of the syllabus. 

Extra requirements in the ANZCA Grades:

Click here to view the rules and regulations according to the grades. 

Note: There are no theory requisites for any of the existing grades for recorder.  However for grade 6 practical exams candidates are required to do grade 3 theory, and each theory exam after for the corresponding practical exam. 

Diplomas - Associate, Licentiate and Fellowship

There are no Diploma levels that are set for the recorder, however candidates are invited to submit their own programmes if they would like to sit one.

 Please note there are prerequisites, with at least Grade Five theory with Credit for Associate Diploma, and at least Grade Six theory with Credit for Licentiate Diploma. There is no prerequisite for the Fellowship Performer Diploma.

Enrollment Dates and Fees in Australia

ANZCA have two sessions a year in each state. For details please visit their handbook and look at the state or territory you live in for more details. 

MTB - Music Teachers Board

The Music Teachers’ Board (MTB), is a teacher led examination board, with grades 1-8 offered. MTB differs completely from the other syllabuses as exams are recorded in the lesson by the teacher, submitted online and marked by specialist examiners.

The reason they have created this examination board is to make exams less stressful for pupils and teachers, complete flexibility over exam dates, specialist examiners, convenience with no need to travel, optimised rate of progress, lower costs and inspiring and new syllabuses. 

Covid

MTB exams are ideal for Covid-19 as their exams are recorded in audio during the lesson by the teacher, submitted online and marked by examiners. Once the result is confirmed a certificate is then awarded. 

Click here for more details on how  MTB exams work.

Syllabus

They offer grades 1- 8, as well as two pre-grades for very young recorder players. You can examine each grade individually through their free syllabus.  

MTB Grades (1- 8) 

Each grade differs, but as a general rule a candidate must pick two pieces from a set list, (later grades it is specified to play both descant and treble). Then they must pick an unaccompanied piece or study/etude. There is also an option for candidates to choose their own piece to play. 

Technical requirements in MTB Grades:

MTB have free PDFs of technical exercises to be played in the grades including breath control exercises, finger control, alternative fingering and much more. They have free scales PDFs for both descant and treble. Depending on the grades the candidates have set scales or alternative scale lists according to the pieces they play. 

To view the technical requirements per grade or for more details please click here. 

Differing in the grades, candidates have the optional choice to vary between technical exercises, aural skills, sight reading:

For free PDFs for MTB Aural skills click here. 

For free PDFs for MTB sight reading skills click here. 

Extra requirements in the Grades:

This examination seems to focus only on practical exams and has no theory requirements. 

Diplomas 

There doesn’t seem to be any diplomas offered in this syllabus. 

Enrolment Dates in Australia

As this is an online examination, you may enrol yourself or a student at any time. This allows students to progress as quickly as they would like. 

Fees

International prices are listed here.