Yamaha Grade Examination System

Evaluation

Two examiners certified by Yamaha Corporation and Yamaha Music Foundation will conduct the exam. After the examination, each candidate will receive verbal comments.

(for Performance grade and Practical Section in Fundamentals grade)

Result

- Candidates will be notified of examination results by the local Yamaha Music School.

- We do not accept any inquiries about the results.

Certificates

Successful candidates will receive certificates which specify the subject and the Grade in which they have been examined. These certificates will not certify that the holder is qualified to teach.

Validity of Examination Result

There is no time limitation to the validity of the Piano / Electone / Classical Guitar Performance and Fundamentals certifications.

Piano / Electone

Improvisation - Improvisation (a) (20), Improvisation (b) (20): 40

Sight Playing: 20

Repertoire - (a) Compulsory Piece / (b) Free Selection / (c) Original Piece (Grade 3): 40

Total: 100

Fundamentals

Practical Section: Solfege - (A) Melody Singing (50), (B) Sight Singing with Accompaniment (50): 100

Practical Section: Keyboard Work - (A) Accompaniment (50) , (B) Transposition (50) : 100

Paperwork - Aural Test: 100 

Paperwork - (Grade 5) Theory of Music / (Grade 4) Theory and 4-part Harmony / (Grade 3) Song Arrangement: 100

Paperwork - Chord Progression: 100 

Total: 500

Guitar

Improvisation: 20

Sight Playing - (a) Solo (10), (b) Duet (10): 20

Repertoire - (a) Compulsory Piece (30), (b) Free Selection (30): 60

Total: 100

Guitar Fundamentals

Practical Section - (A) Melody Singing / (B) Melody Singing with Accompaniment: 100

Paperwork - Theory of Music: 100

Paperwork - Chord Progression: 100

Paperwork – Arrangement: 100

Total: 400

Pass

Piano / Electone / Guitar Performance Grade:

- A mark of at least 50% in each subject and 75 points in total

Fundamentals Grade:

- A mark of at least 60 points in each subject and 375 points in total

Guitar Fundamentals Grade:

- A mark of at least 60 points in each subject and 300 points in total

Fail

Piano / Electone / Guitar Performance Grade:

- If there is even one subject that is less than 50% of the marks

- The total score is less than 75 points and the Repertoire is less than 30 points

Fundamentals Grade:

- If there is even one subject that is less than 60 points

- The total score is less than 375 points

Guitar Fundamentals Grade:

- If there is even one subject that is less than 60 points

- The total score is less than 300 points

Piano / Electone

Eligibility for the Makeup Examination

Candidate who meets the following criteria may take a performance grade makeup examination:

Candidate who took a performance grade examination in all subjects and failed to pass

AND

Has a mark of at least 50% in each subject

AND

Has at least 70 points in total score OR at least 30 points in 'Repertoire'.

Validity of Makeup Examination

Candidates can take makeup examinations as many times as they wish as long as it is within 2 years from the day when the candidates took all subjects of the examination in which meet the qualification requirements for application of makeup examination.

e.g.

Date of Examination in all subjects : March 25, 2022

= Valid until March 24, 2024

- If the candidate applies for the same Performance Grade examination in all subjects during the valid period for makeup examinations, the latest examination result in all subjects will be recorded and all marks will be updated. The privilege of taking makeup examinations prior to this time will be forfeited.

Subjects of Makeup Examinations

There are total of 3 subjects (Improvisation, Sight Playing, Repertoire) from which the candidate may choose one to two subjects upon application.

- After application, it is not allowed to change the subject/s.

- If the candidate applies for the subject/s and does not take it/them at the examination, he/she will receive zero for the subject/s. If the candidate is absent on the makeup examination day, the points acquired in the previous examination will be effective.

- The candidate must take both (a) and (b) for 'Improvisation' in the makeup examination if he/she chooses Improvisation.

Results

If the candidate acquires 75 points or higher in total, and over 50% in every subject, he/she will pass the examination as a whole.

- If the candidate fails the makeup examination and the result of it does not meet the qualification requirements for the makeup examination (less than 70 points in total, or less than 30 points in Repertoire), the eligibility for the makeup examination lasts for 2 years.

Fundamentals

Eligibility for the Makeup Examination

For Fundamentals Grade, it is possible to take a makeup examination if the candidates fail, regardless of their scores.

Validity of Makeup Examination

Candidates can take makeup examinations as many times as they wish as long as it is within 2 years from the day when the candidates took all subjects of the examination.

e.g.

Date of Examination in all subjects : March 25, 2022

=Valid until March 24, 2024

Subjects of Makeup Examinations

There are total of 5 subjects from which the candidate may choose 1 to 4 subjects upon application.

- After application, it is not allowed to change the subject/s.

- If the candidate applies for the makeup examination, the score(s) for the applied subject(s) will be updated with latest one(s).

- If the candidate applies for the subject/s and does not take it/them at the examination, he/she will receive zero for the subject/s.

- If the candidate is absent on the makeup examination day, the points acquired in the previous examination will be effective.

- If a candidate acquires over 60 points in every subject but fails to get a minimum of 375 points in total, he/she will need to consider the subjects for a makeup examination which will be needed in order to achieve a total of 375 points or more.

- The candidate must take both (A) and (B) for "Solfege" and "Keyboard Work" in the makeup examination.

Results

If the candidate acquires 375 points or higher in total, and over 60 points in every subject, he/she will pass the examination as a whole. Markings from the previous examination will be applied in subjects for which the candidate did not take the makeup examination.

Examination Fee (common for Piano / Electone / Fundamentals)

Same as the Full-examination Fee.

How to Apply for the Makeup Examination (common for Piano / Electone / Fundamentals)

The procedure is the same as for a regular application.

Be sure to indicate the correct code number(s) and the subject(s) applied for the makeup examination on the application form.

  • Note (common for Piano / Electone / Fundamentals)
  • The candidate cannot apply for the next makeup examination until the previous result notification of the examination has been issued, due to the updating of the results. If the candidate applies before the notification is issued, he/she will not be able to take the examination on the desired date.
  • On receipt of exam admission slip, please check if everything is correct (subjects to take, grade level, etc.). If there is something different from what the candidate applied for, please contact nearest Yamaha Music School or subsidiary/distributor.
  • We cannot accept any request for correction on the day of examination. If the candidate fails to claim the change, he/she must take the examination in subject(s) indicated on the exam admission slip.