SYLLABUS | CCOM CHINESE INSTRUMENT EXAM
Exam Syllabus
Central Conservatory of Music of China Overseas Chinese Music Standard Grade Examination
U.S.A.
Central Conservatory of Music of China Overseas Chinese Music Standard Grade Examination
U.S.A.
I) Principles
The Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) of China is China’s most senior musical institute offering accredited examinations to applicants. Since 1989, the Standard Grade Examination Committee of the CCOM has the mandate of expanding musical education and its stylistic tradition, and it provides authoritative musical achievement level assessment for overseas Chinese instrumental musicians and students. The examination material is based on the assessment criteria utilized by the CCOM. The materials which are compiled by highly experienced experts have an increasing level of difficulty with an emphasis on the core techniques as the principles of the assessment. Students who follow the basic increments of the learning material will find themselves steadily progressing, reaching new levels of achievement. To expand the culture of Chinese music, the CCOM, in collaboration with Chinese Musicians Association of America and California Youth Chinese Symphony, will host a Chinese Instrument Grade Examination in the United States. Candidates will be tested by examiners from CCOM of Beijing on material compiled by the CCOM, and subsequently will be issued a Certificate of Accomplishment by the CCOM. The aim of this collaboration is to raise the professional quality of Chinese music performance, and to encourage the local development of Chinese music.
The Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) of China is China’s most senior musical institute offering accredited examinations to applicants. Since 1989, the Standard Grade Examination Committee of the CCOM has the mandate of expanding musical education and its stylistic tradition, and it provides authoritative musical achievement level assessment for overseas Chinese instrumental musicians and students. The examination material is based on the assessment criteria utilized by the CCOM. The materials which are compiled by highly experienced experts have an increasing level of difficulty with an emphasis on the core techniques as the principles of the assessment. Students who follow the basic increments of the learning material will find themselves steadily progressing, reaching new levels of achievement. To expand the culture of Chinese music, the CCOM, in collaboration with Chinese Musicians Association of America and California Youth Chinese Symphony, will host a Chinese Instrument Grade Examination in the United States. Candidates will be tested by examiners from CCOM of Beijing on material compiled by the CCOM, and subsequently will be issued a Certificate of Accomplishment by the CCOM. The aim of this collaboration is to raise the professional quality of Chinese music performance, and to encourage the local development of Chinese music.
- Subjects:
Erhu, Pipa, Yangqin, Guzheng, Dizi, Sheng, Zhongruan, Suona - Grade Levels and Eligibility:
- Level 1-9 for all instrument exams with the highest level as Performance Certificate.
- Grade 1-6: candidates can apply any levels they wish. One practice piece and one music piece selected from the Examination music list of the corresponding Examination level.
- Grade 7-10: One practice piece and two music pieces selected from the Examination music list of the corresponding Examination level. Candidates who skip grades after level seven must, in addition, play one music piece from the previous level and submit half of the exam fees of the previous level. For example, a candidate who has never taken level seven exam but wish to take level eight exam will need to play two song pieces and one etude piece from level eight, one song piece from level seven, submit exam fees of level eight and half the exam fees of level seven.
Covid-19 pandemic special arrangement: one music piece will be randomly selected from the two and only that one music piece will be recorded. Practice piece will be recorded as well. - Candidates are not allowed to apply for more than one levels for the same instrument within the same year.
- Candidates applying for the Performance Certificate should have received certification for Level 9 instrument practical exam.
- Any candidates who have achieved certain proficiency on the subject, regardless of age and place of residence are allowed to register.
II) Registration
- Timeline:
Submissions Acceptance 2022-8-14 Register For Exam (2022)
Submissions Deadline 2022-9-30
E-Mailing of Exam Permits Ongoing
Examination Dates Tentative Recording Schedule:
11/5 (Sat AM/PM), 11/6 (Sun PM)
11/12 (Sat AM/PM)
11/19 (Sat AM/PM), 11/20 (Sun PM) - Application Procedure:
a) All applications must fulfill CCOM requirements. Both the CCOM and Chinese Musicians Association of America reserve the right to exclude any applicant from the examination.
b) Late applications will be individually assessed by the host association. If granted the right to examination, applicants are required to pay a late charge of $40.
c) Registration must be completed online with examination fees submitted at the same time. Information required include full name (in English), Chinese name (optional), gender, date of birth, mobile phone, examination subject, grade level, song names, parent name, address, teacher name and contact info.
d) Online payment or check is accepted. For check, make check payable to California Youth Chinese Symphony, to the following address before the application deadline:
California Youth Chinese Symphony, P.O. Box 4192, Santa Clara, CA 95056-4192, USA
e) If there is any request on examination dates and time, it must be indicated in the application clearly. We cannot guarantee the requested date and time will be granted but will try our best to accommodate. Once the examination permit is issued, it cannot be changed.
f) Please submit the correct application fee according to the payment list, otherwise the application will be voided. Once submitted, the application fee will not be returned, nor can it be transferred to another applicant.
g) Information on certificates will be taken from the data you provided during application, ensure all information submitted is correct. - Application fees:
Please see Grade Levels and Fees.
III) Examination
- Examination Dates: Tentative Recording Schedule:
11/5 (Sat AM/PM), 11/6 (Sun PM)
11/12 (Sat AM/PM)
11/19 (Sat AM/PM), 11/20 (Sun PM) - Examination Venue:
California Youth Chinese Symphony
4800 Patrick Henry Dr, Santa Clara, CA 95054 (enter from back of building) - Results Announcement:
Due to pandemic, results are available in about two months. - Certificates Release:
Shortly after the results are released. - Examination Material:
Only the Examination book (Overseas version) published by the Central Conservatory of Music Examination Board should be used.
- The “overseas version” of exam syllabus, compiled by the CCOM, is used for this examination.
- Candidate must bring their examination material into the testing area, regardless of the candidate’s preference to perform with or without their music. Failure to comply may result in disqualification from the examination. All candidates (except of age 25 or older) are advised to perform memorized.
- No accompaniments are allowed for any level of assessment.
- Candidates should complete all components of the testing. Omitting any components are considered not passing.
- Candidates should bring their own instruments. Candidates being tested on Yangqin and Guzheng may request an instrument be provided from the testing site but such request must be indicated during application.
- Instructors of candidates testing for Levels 1 to 4 of the assessment are allowed to help tune the candidates’ instruments. Candidates testing for Levels 5 and above are expected to tune their own instruments. In addition, candidates who bring their own Yangqin and Guzheng instruments are required to tune their own instruments.
- Due to time constraints or the performance of the candidate, the examiner may instruct to end the candidates’ performance at any time.
- Candidates who do not arrive on time are considered to have forfeited their examination and are not given the opportunity for a re-test or a refund. If the candidate suffers from a communicable illness and is unable to attend, but is able to provide proper medical documentation within ten days of the end of the examination, the test fee will be refunded.
- The examination will be conducted in Mandarin Chinese. If the candidate requires translation services, please specify the request for translation services upon registration for the examination.
- CCOM and Chinese Musicians Association of America reserve the right to the final assessment.
