Exam Guidelines

Requirements

Exam Requirements


CBE is purely performance based, for as much as we recognise the benefits of scales, technical work, aural, sight-reading, theory and musical knowledge, we believe the ultimate goal for all performers is to deliver a beautiful performance.

From Preliminary Grade to Fellowship Diploma, all you need is to present 3 of your chosen pieces.

Piece Requirements
  • 1st Piece: You must first pick one piece that belongs to the grade selection you wish to enrol in
  • 2nd Piece: This piece can be of the same grade or higher
  • 3rd Piece: This piece can be of the same grade or higher
Time Requirements

There are no time constraints for the grade exams.


The Diploma exams will need to satisfy the following minimum time limits:

  • PCBE and ACBE: 20 minutes
  • LCBE and FCBE: 30 minutes

If the three pieces chosen do not meet the minimum time requirement, we will accept two pieces submitted as one video to meet the minimum time requirement of the diploma grades. In this case, a total of four pieces will be marked however the weighting of the two shorter pieces will be equivalent to one.


Repeats may be performed at the performer's discretion, however Da Capo directions should be observed.


Please ensure that all videos were recorded within 6 months of the exam submission date. All videos must be submitted within 1 month of the exam enrolment.

Supported Platforms

Currently, the supported browser is Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari. YOUBRIO App supports Apple iOS and Android devices.

Video Requirements


Although the quality of the recording will not be a marking criteria, how much the camera is able to capture in terms of sound quality will affect what the examiner hears and the way they perceive your playing. Wherever possible, maintain a quality clean and dry audio recording to allow the examiner to examine the student with equity and fairness.


Candidates must look at the camera for 3 seconds before playing, please ensure that the camera is able to capture your instrument, your hands on the keys, and your face. If any of the elements listed above are obscured, then the performance will not be assessable and we will request you to submit another recording with the correct requirements.


In order to optimise the upload process, we suggest you use 720p resolution for the video. The minimum video resolution that we accept is 480p. Please ensure there is no editing to the video. This includes, but is not limited to, audio manipulation and effects, video splicing, virtual backgrounds and beautification filters. Failure to adhere to these requirements may result in the exam being forfeit without refund.


Currently, we accept videos uploaded on the following platforms: YOUBRIO App, YouTube, Google Drive, Dropbox, Vimeo, Bilibili and Youku.

Venue

The location of recording can be a professional venue or even your own room. For keyboard, both acoustic and electrical instrument are accepted as long as it covers the appropriate range and dynamics required in your music.

Performance

Playing from memory is encouraged, however if you wish to play with the score or a tablet, this is also accepted as long as page turning doesn’t interfere with the performance.

Sheet Music

We support the copyright and the use of original sheet music and encourage that all candidates purchase legitimate editions If you would like recommendations as to which edition to use, please contact us.

Accompaniment

We encourage candidates to be accompanied by professional accompanists, however, backing tracks are also allowed. Please also ensure that your instrument is tuned accurately as it will have an impact on the quality of the exam.