New RCM Theory Syllabus
New RCM Theory Syllabus? Don't Panic! UMT Has You Covered!
If you are a Royal Conservatory of Music Curriculum Teacher, then you've probably seen the ads: the RCM is coming out with a new RCM Theory Syllabus. It was supposed to be out last May, but it kept getting pushed back. Now, it should be out in mid-August with an effective date of September 1, 2016.
I can't tell you the number of emails and messages I've received from teachers who are confused as to how to plan their lessons for September or how to teach the new requirements. Don't Panic! Here at Ultimate Music Theory, we've got you covered!
New RCM Theory Syllabus - Crossover Period
The RCM has stated that there will be a one-year crossover period from September 1, 2016 to August 31, 2017. Theory examinations written in the Winter (December, 2016), Spring (May, 2017) and Summer (August, 2017) sessions will include alternate questions to accommodate students who have prepared using either the 2009 or the 2016 Syllabus.
Counterpoint examinations will only be offered in the Winter (December, 2016) exam session and then will be eliminated. The RCM is updating the History Books too - and that should be done by December (maybe).
Because the RCM 2016 Theory Syllabus is still not available, we cannot tell you exactly what the new requirements will be for every new Theory Level. However, don't panic! We have a plan!
All YOU need to do is teach Ultimate Music Theory this coming year just as you have taught for the past several years. Remember - your students WILL be able to prepare for the Winter, Spring and Summer Theory Exam Sessions using the "old" RCM Theory Syllabus. This is a full-year cross-over period!
You will be able to prepare for their Preparatory, Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Theory Examinations using your UMT Workbooks and your UMT Exam Series. You will not have to worry about teaching your students any new concepts or requirements.
As soon as the new Theory Syllabus is available, Glory and I will start work on preparing everything that you need to continue to use the Ultimate Music Theory Prep 1, Prep 2, Basic, Intermediate, Advance and Complete Workbooks while meeting the requirements of the new Theory Syllabus.
New RCM Theory Syllabus - The Ultimate Music Theory Commitment
Here at Ultimate Music Theory, we are committed to NEPD - Never Ending Professional Development. We are here for you - the Teacher. We are here to help you learn, to help you support your students and to help you grow as a Teacher.
We Will:
- Create new worksheets to correspond to any new Theory Syllabus Requirements!
- Create new Webinars to teach you how to teach any new Theory Syllabus Requirements!
- Support you to ensure that you can teach the new Theory Syllabus Requirements!
When the Crossover Period ends, YOU will be ready to rock the new Theory Syllabus Requirements!
And while you are waiting, please check out our UMT Online Courses and start your NEPD Journey Now!
New RCM Theory Syllabus Changes - New Theory Levels
In the new RCM Piano Syllabus, the "Grades" were changed to "Levels". In the new Theory Syllabus, there will now be 10 "Levels" of theory that match the new piano levels. For example, Level 1 Piano will have matching Level 1 Theory Requirements, Level 2 Piano will have matching Level 2 Theory Requirements, etc. It sounds complicated, but it isn't.
Introducing Theory from DAY #1 has been one of Ultimate Music Theory's goals for years! That is why we wrote the Ultimate Music Theory Prep 1 and Prep 2 Workbooks. Now, finally, the RCM is agreeing that Level 1 Piano (the old Grade 1 Piano) should have matching Level 1 Theory Requirements!
There will still only be required exams for:
- Level 5 Theory (the old Basic Rudiments)
- Levels 6/7 Theory (the old Intermediate Rudiments)
- Level 8 Theory (the old Advanced Rudiments).
- Level 9 Harmony (the old Basic Harmony) and Level 9 History (the old History 1)
- Level 10 Harmony & Counterpoint (the old Intermediate Harmony) and Level 10 History (the old History 2)
- ARCT Harmony & Counterpoint (the old Advanced Harmony), ARCT History (the old History 3) and ARCT Analysis (the old Analysis)
New RCM Theory Syllabus - Terminology Changes
Theory is Theory - no matter what you call it! In order to be more compatible with the programs in the States, there will be some changes to terminology. The RCM has stated that the most notable changes will be:
- half step instead of semitone and whole step instead of whole tone (we already show this terminology in our Theory Workbooks)
- authentic cadence instead of perfect cadence and half cadence instead of imperfect cadence (we already show this terminology in our Theory Workbooks).
New RCM Theory Syllabus - New Requirements
The RCM has stated that there is considerable overlap between the requirements in the 2009 Theory Syllabus and the 2016 Edition Theory Syllabus. One notable requirement will be the reintroduction of Melody Writing. For those of you who have taught Theory since the age of dinosaurs - like me - you will be familiar with this concept as it was an old requirement. It is also a requirement of other Programs like Conservatory Canada.
Again - don't panic! Here at UMT, we've got you covered! Over the course of this next teaching year (September, 2016 to August, 2017), we will provide you with the resources to teach all the new requirements!
Remember - all YOU need to do is:
- Teach your students using the Ultimate Music Theory Workbooks!
- Start your students in the Ultimate Music Theory Prep 1 Rudiments Workbook with their RCM Level 1 Piano!
- Prepare your students for the Preparatory, Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Examinations for the next Winter, Spring and Summer 2016-2017 RCM Exam Session!
- Check your email for upcoming Webinars and Worksheets!
New RCM Theory Syllabus - Use Ultimate Music Theory
Glory and I look forward to working with you as we continue to grow as Teachers, Educators and Musicians! This is going to be an exciting year!
If you are new to the RCM Piano Syllabus, you can introduce the Ultimate Music Theory Workbooks as follows:
- Students in Levels 1, 2 or 3 Piano should start with the UMT Prep 1 Rudiments (followed by the Prep 2 Workbook, then the Basic Workbook).
- Students in Levels 4 or 5 Piano should start with the UMT Basic Workbook.
- Students who have completed any level of RCM Theory Examination using any other theory program can start in their next level with the corresponding Ultimate Music Theory Workbook!
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Shelagh McKibbon-U'Ren
Hi ladies, as always I teach your books from the earliest piano lessons through to my senior students. I’m struggling with only having 10 or 15 minutes of theory with my students each week – they are in 45 min lessons. I need them to come to a separate theory class but most parents are too busy. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks, Paula in Victoria, BC
Oh Paula, I feel your pain! The Ultimate Music Theory Certification Course teaches you how to start “Theory Club Classes” to have that separate class. I think that the struggle for many teachers is standing up for what is best for the child. Again – I present my parents with options – either the child has to have a longer piano lesson OR they have to have a theory club. Something that has worked for some teachers is to overlap lesson times to add theory. SO, for example:
Joe comes for private piano from 4:00 – 4:45. He stays for “shared theory” from 4:45 – 5:15. Sue comes for shared theory (with Joe) from 4:45 – 5:15, and then stays for private piano from 5:15 to 6:00. Students are charged for their private 45 minute piano lesson. Then they “share” the cost of the 30 minute “theory club”. Perhaps this might work with you since your parents would not need to bring their child twice for lessons. It is also OK for students to be in different levels of the theory too.
Hope that this inspires you!
Shelagh
Hi, Glory and Shelagh,
Most of my students start, as beginners, in the Faber Piano Adventures books, and so we do Theory along with the repertoire right from the beginning. Not all of my students want to go into the RCM stream but for those who do, I want to include theory. But this means a longer lesson, ie. maybe an extra 30 minutes for theory. How do I “sell” this to the parents? I have enough trouble convincing them that at a certain point they need to move from a 30-minute lesson to a 45-minute lesson in order to cover everything. (any tips on how to do that would be gratefully received, too!)
You have 2 options! 🙂
I’m a Piano Adventures teacher too. Here are my “rules”:
Young beginners (ages 5-8) start in Ultimate Music Theory Prep 1 Rudiments Workbook when they start Piano Adventures Level 1.
Older beginners (ages 9+) start in Ultimate Music Theory Prep 1 Rudiments Workbook when they reach the Grand Staff in their PA Primer Books. (This is also when I add a supplemental “fun” playing book – I make it a “graduation ceremony” for the students. We celebrate that they are no longer in “Junior Kindergarten Music”. I take a picture and send it to their parents with a “YAHOO” message!)
The absolute JOY of Ultimate Music Theory is that it compliments any and every Method Series out there. It fills in the blanks for learning and provides that theory foundation that is missing from the Method Books. You start assigning ONE or TWO pages at each lesson and it is easily done in 30 minutes.
Now – as soon as my students start in Piano Adventures Level 1, they must have a 45 minute lesson. Why? Simply because I cannot do my job as a teacher in 30 minutes. If their Swim Coach said they needed a longer swim class, or if their Skating Coach said they needed a longer skating lesson because they had advanced to the next level, guess what? Parents would do it.
As a teacher, it is important that you stand up for yourself. When parents sign their children up for lessons with me, they are provided with a chart of required lesson times. If they only want a 30 minute lesson for the rest of their child’s music journey, then I simply am not the right teacher for them. I don’t make it an option. We need that lesson time in order to cover all requirements.
Just remember – by adding Ultimate Music Theory Prep 1 Rudiments at the very beginning of the music journey, and by assigning one or two pages a week, your student CAN fit theory into their lesson time easily. If you wait until the student is in Piano Adventures Level 2 (for example), you will need to cram too much theory into one tiny lesson and a separate theory club group class would be your best fit (if the parent refuses to increase the lesson time!).
I hope that this gives you something to think about. Remember that you are an AWESOME teacher and YOU are the one who gets to tell the parent what their child needs.
Take care!
Let me know if you have any questions!
I think that its great that you are giving some advice on how to transition from the old RCM theory syllabus to the new one, but you are only considering piano teachers. I’m a guitar teacher, and it would be nice to have some mention of guitar students from time to time in your newsletters.
Thanks so much for your comments Paul. Yes, I do tend to focus on “piano” teachers as that is where most of my questions come from. I would LOVE to hear from more Guitar Teachers as to what works for them! If you have a favorite method book, and you have questions as to how to fit your Ultimate Music Theory into your teaching, PLEASE let me know!
One of our Ultimate Music Theory Certified Teachers teaches guitar with Ultimate Music Theory very very successfully!
So – please let me know how I can support you in a blog!
Hello,
I’d like to ask you if you have Harmony ( all levels) books and Harmony answers Books?
Elena