ANZCA (Australian and New Zealand Cultural Arts Limited) are a music examination board popular across Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand. Based in Australia, they have been operating since 1938.
‘At ANZCA Music Examinations, we believe in the ever-evolving nature of music—a vibrant, diverse, and energetic art form that fosters innovative expression. This same passion for creativity drives our examination system and fuels our commitment to support the ongoing development of music, its students, and its teachers. As a non-profit examining body for the performing arts, we strive to make the examination process both exciting and rewarding. Our approach is rooted in sound educational principles, combined with a practical, common-sense attitude.’
ANZCA Music Examinations
ANZCA offers comprehensive programmes for most instruments and this year they have just published a new piano syllabus. There are three syllabus options for pianists: a Modern Pianoforte, a Classical Pianoforte, and a Pianoforte Duet syllabus, providing plenty of scope and variety for those who would prefer to explore a smorgasbord of styles and genres. In a similar vein to UK exam boards, there are eight grades including an ‘Introductory’, ‘Preparatory’ and a ‘Preliminary’ exam for those yet to reach Grade 1 as well as a selection of performing and teaching diplomas.
After a quick glance through the syllabus, I noticed a similar set-up to UK music exam boards with a selection of technical tests (scales and arpeggios), sight-reading, aural tests as well as some general knowledge questions for each grade. And there are ‘video exam’ options for those more digitally minded candidates. A large amount of music appears at every level giving students as much repertoire choice as possible and each piece has been listed alongside a suggested edition and publisher. ANZCA also offers a wide range of books supporting various piano exam elements.
I have never used this board and know little about them, but it’s always fascinating taking a tour around piano exam syllabuses, particularly as I’ve written and compiled them in the past. I discovered this organisation because, I’m delighted to say, they have included many pieces from my Women Composers – A Graded Anthology For Piano (Schott Music) throughout their new syllabus.
Women Composers Anthology selected ANZCA pieces
Grade 1: L’Ocell by Narcisa Freixas
Grade 2: Soggy Shoes Blues by Rachael Forsyth
Grade 3: Fig and Fennel by Wendy Hiscocks
Grade 4: Giga by Elizabeth Turner
Grade 5: Prelude in F minor by Luise Adolpha Le Beau
Grade 6: Kaleidoscope by Melanie Spanswick
Grade 7: Allegro from Sonata Op. 4 by Maria Hester-Park
Grade 8: Plainte – Elegy Op. 17 No. 1 by Teresa Carreño
Rachael Forsyth’s wonderful piece ‘Soggy Shoes Blues’ appears on the Modern Pianoforte syllabus and all other pieces listed above feature on the Classical Pianoforte syllabus.
This anthology also makes another appearance on the new Licentiate Teaching Diploma programme. There are three new teaching diplomas which have been expertly compiled and written by pianist and educator Paula Melville-Clark: Certificate, Associate and Licentiate level. Do check them out further here.
The Licentiate Diploma consists of four modules and its assignments offer a variety of formats, including written submissions, video recordings (with some assignments offering a choice between the two), and viva voce sessions live online with an examiner. The exam takes a deep dive into the nuts and bolts associated with teaching the piano including plenty of analysis, reflection and self-evaluation, and the opportunity to receive all-important feedback. Such a course can be transformative for teachers and is highly recommended, whether a teacher is just starting out in the profession or has been teaching for a while.
I was thrilled to learn that my presentation at the Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference in Melbourne last year (find out more about it here) was the inspiration behind the LTDipA Module 3 (The Inquisitive Teacher) and Paula has written an online course/study guide for candidates referring to my Women Composers Anthology as a whole as suggested material for this portion of the exam, which focuses on ‘lesser-known women composers’ amongst other topics.
Isn’t it wonderful that female composers are now being recognised in this way? Just a few years ago such a list would have been unthinkable. If you fancy delving further into what ANZCA has to offer, you can check out this exam board here:
Thank you so much for the information. Very interesting, and a 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 for the female composer. Warm Regards.
Thank you! I’m glad you found it of interest 🙂
This is so exciting, and we’ll deserved!
Thank you, Barbara! 🙂
A wonderful blog article! Your presentation at the APPC in Melbourne was indeed my inspiration for the writing of ANZCA’s Module 3 of the Licentiate Teaching Diploma where candidates are to curate a group of lesser known piano works and present these at the instrument in video format. Melanie, you are at the forefront of this type of inspirational work!
Thank you so much, Paula. I’m delighted to hear this and many congratulations on your excellent new syllabus.