Contemporary or Classical?
"My child is not interested in learning "classical" style pieces taught by the Royal Conservatory of Music or Conservatory Canada. However, I like the discipline my child learns by preparing for an exam. What are our options?"
Local Music Festivals.
Consider registering your child in a local music festival where professional adjudicators listen to your child's performance and provide valuable feedback.
Most local festivals allow students to choose pieces that are popular or jazz-like in style. Your child will learn discipline by perfecting a piece (or pieces) for adjudication at the same time playing a piece that is exciting to their ears.
Talk to your teacher about this opportunity or consult your provincial festival office for help in locating your local festival.
Contemporary Idioms and Conservatory Canada
Conservatory Canada has responded to just this question by designing a graded system using only contemporary styles of music - pop, rock, jazz, blues, swing and ragtime. As in other exam systems, the student is tested on sight reading, aural and technical skills. An added advantage to this system is the student is taught how to improvise throughout all the levels.
| 
