Exams & Scholarships

Expert preparation for music examinations, school scholarships and conservatoire auditions

At RS Piano London, we provide specialist preparation for the UK's leading music examinations, independent-school music scholarships, conservatoire entrance auditions and competitive performance opportunities.

From a pupil's first graded examination through to Grade 8, Diploma level and advanced auditions, our teachers combine the rigorous foundations of the Russian School of piano playing with a carefully structured and highly individual approach.

Our aim is not simply to prepare a student to pass an examination. We work to develop the technique, musicianship, confidence and artistic maturity that allow each pupil to achieve excellent results while continuing to grow as a musician.

96% examination pass rate
Over 60% Merit & Distinction results
100% Distinction at Grade 8

Preparation for the UK's Leading Music Examinations

We prepare students for all of the principal UK music examination boards, from introductory levels through to Grade 8 and Diploma examinations.

Our most commonly requested pathways are ABRSM and Trinity College London, the two examination systems most widely encountered by our pupils and families.

We also prepare students for:

ABRSM Practical Grades
ABRSM Performance Grades
ABRSM Music Theory
Trinity College London Practical Grades
Trinity Music Theory
MTB Music Teachers' Board
London College of Music examinations
Rockschool
Grade 5 Theory
Grade 8 examinations
Diploma-level examinations

More Than Exam Preparation

A strong examination result should be the consequence of good musical training, not the sole purpose of it.

Our pupils are therefore taught as musicians first and examination candidates second.

Rather than restricting lessons to a small number of examination pieces, we focus on developing the broader foundations required for confident and sustainable progress.

This includes:

Repertoire

Careful selection and preparation of pieces suited to the pupil's technical ability, personality and musical strengths.

Technique

Scales, arpeggios, coordination, tone production, articulation and the technical foundations required for increasingly advanced repertoire.

Sight-Reading

Developing the ability to read fluently and approach unfamiliar music with confidence.

Aural Skills

Structured preparation for the listening, recognition and musicianship components required by examination boards.

Music Theory

Theory can be incorporated into regular piano lessons or studied separately through dedicated theory tuition.

We provide preparation for ABRSM Grade 5 Theory and beyond, as well as other theory examination pathways.

Performance Skills

Students learn how to perform under pressure, recover from mistakes and communicate musically in an examination or audition environment.

Mock Examinations

Where appropriate, students can undertake mock examinations before the official assessment, allowing us to identify areas requiring further preparation and familiarise the pupil with examination conditions.

Independent-School Music Scholarships

Music scholarships can represent an important opportunity for talented young musicians applying to leading independent schools.

RS Piano London provides focused preparation for music scholarships, music awards, exhibitions and school music entrance assessments.

Our teachers help families assess whether a pupil is currently working at an appropriate standard and, where necessary, create a structured preparation programme leading towards the audition.

Preparation may include: