Many music teachers and music school owners have been asked this question of an enquiring parent:

“I would like to enroll my child in electric guitar lessons. She wants to play rock, and I would like her to do exams.”

In the past, we have had to explain to these parents that music exams are only offered to those studying CLASSICAL guitar. Not so anymore.

With StageRight Exams(TM), there are eight grade-levels for each instrument. Grades One through Seven are held in formal exam settings, using accompaniment musicians or backing tracks where required. Grade Eight is an actual gig, a performance at which the students’ friends, family, fans and groupies are invited.

Scroll down to read about:
- Student Advantages
- Teacher Advantages
- Accreditation
- Getting Started

Student Advantages.
When you are following the StageRight Exams(TM) Pop Music Syllabus:
- Your short-term goals and long-term goals are easily recognized and realized. The system helps students of all ages see where they are headed next week, next month and next year.
- You will learn entire songs. How many songs are there in your repertoire for which you can only play the main riff or hook?
- You will be fully prepared to play live gigs, to record in the studio; the system will make you a better, more well-rounded player.

Teacher Advantages.
When your students are following the StageRight Exams(TM) Pop Music Syllabus:
- There will be no more lesson plans to prepare. The syllabus has everything you will need.
- The conversation, “So what do you want to learn today?” “ I dunno…” will be a thing of the past.
- You will be assured that your students don’t miss anything. How many times have you seen someone else’s music student who can’t play a seventh chord, or the Blues scale, or who can’t improvise over a chord pattern?
- Your students will remain in lessons much, much longer than if they were to have no directions or finite goals (read the Student Advantages above).

Accreditation
As the StageRight Exams(TM) system is still a relatively new program, it is not currently recognized by any governmental body. We will be applying for status that will enable us to grant government-recognized certification. In the meantime, it is still advantageous for teachers and students to follow the curriculum for his/her instrument and work towards each grade’s certificate and eventual graduation. Read the Teacher Advantages and Student Advantages (above) for the reasons why.

Getting Started
- If you are a music teacher, are you qualified to teach this program? Could you pass the Grade 8 repertoire exam, and could you pass the Grade 7 technical tests? If not, get busy! It is acceptable for a musician to be preparing for his/her own Grade 7 or 8 exam while simultaneously teaching students in Grade 1 or 2.
- Students: ask your teacher if he/she can teach this system (refer to the above point).
- Obtain a syllabus for your chosen instrument - on the Syllabi page. Anyone teaching a student the StageRight Exams(TM) system will require a syllabus for reference at all times.
- Find sheet music for the songs you have chosen to play. Song transcriptions and audio downloads can be found on the Syllabi page.
- For information on taking the exams, see the Exam Registration page.

© 2006 StageRight Exams(TM)