As part of practice and motivation month at Tim Topham,  today we’re taking a closer look at the RCM exams. Exams can be a great motivator for students, if used wisely.

Having an upcoming exam can lead to a big spike in student practice times. Of course we don’t want students only working when there’s an exam on the horizon, but if structured carefully, exams can be a great tool in your teaching toolkit.

The RCM has been around since 1886, with more than 5 million alumni. Elaine Rusk has been working with the RCM (AKA The Music Development Program in the USA) for the past 19 years, and she’s here today to give us the scoop on all things RCM.

Some of the highlights of the RCM exams include diverse repertoire lists, published repertoire books, and a whole host of resources available for free online. I’m sure you’ll get a lot out of today’s podcast, even if you don’t use the RCM exams in your studio, so have a listen for an inside look at one of the world’s biggest exam systems.