RIAM Exam Prep: How to Prepare for Every Part of Your Exam 🎶

Preparing for an RIAM exam isn't just about learning your pieces. Your exam includes several different areas, from scales and sight-reading to aural skills and theory.

It can be easy to focus most of your practice time on your pieces, but don't forget that every part of the exam contributes to your overall result.

Here are some of our top tips for preparing for each part of your RIAM exam.

1. Your Pieces: Think Like a Musician 🎶

Your pieces are worth 20 marks each, so they deserve plenty of attention.

If you're not sure where to start when practising, think about the different elements that bring music to life.

Dynamics

• Am I playing all the dynamics that are written in the music?

For higher marks, you can also think beyond the markings on the page. Are there places where you can create more expression while still staying true to the composer's intentions?

Rhythm & Tempo

• Are you playing the correct rhythm?

• Is your tempo steady?

A metronome is a fantastic tool for checking both rhythm and tempo. It can help you identify places where you tend to speed up or slow down.

Articulation

• Are you using the correct articulation?

• Should the notes be smooth and connected, or short and detached?

Remember that articulation can also help communicate the style of the music. For example, when playing Baroque music, the way you articulate notes can help keep the performance stylistically appropriate.

Melody

• Are you shaping your melody?

Think about how we naturally speak. When we speak in a sentence, we often build towards the middle of a phrase before gently easing off towards the end.

Music can work in a similar way.

If you play piano, make sure your melody isn't being overpowered by the accompaniment. The listener should be able to hear which musical line is most important.

We'll definitely be doing a future post on how to bring out the melody on piano!

2. Don't Forget Your Scales!

Scales are an important part of your exam and are worth 15 marks—almost as much as an entire piece!

So yes, put in the work!

Rather than trying to practise every scale every day, focus on a few scales at a time.

Flashcards can be a fun way to test yourself. Write one scale on each card, shuffle them and pick one at random.

In the exam, you will normally be asked scales from the same category, but why not mix things up at home? Practising a variety of scales will help you feel more confident no matter what comes up on the day.

3. Sight-Reading: Don't Leave It Until the Last Minute!

Sight-reading is worth 10 marks, but it's an area that can sometimes get neglected until the final stages of exam preparation.

Our advice? Start from the beginning.

Try doing at least one sight-reading exercise every time you practise from the moment you start preparing for your exam.

This allows you to gradually build your confidence and fluency rather than trying to cram everything into the last few weeks.

There are plenty of sight-reading books available. One of our favourites for piano is Improve Your Sight-Reading, which includes step-by-step explanations and exercises. RIAM also has its own sight-reading resources, and Maurice the Mouse is a popular and interactive option for younger learners.

The golden rule of sight-reading:

Keep going!

Try to maintain a steady tempo and avoid stopping or going back to repeat a section—even if you play a few wrong notes.

Remember, sight-reading isn't just about getting every note correct. Pay attention to rhythm, tempo, dynamics and articulation too.

And if note-reading isn't your strongest skill, look for patterns. Can you spot steps and skips? Recognising these shapes can make reading new music much easier.

4. Work on Your Aural Skills 👂

Aural tests are worth 10 marks, and you might think they're difficult to practise at home—but there are actually lots of simple ways to work on them!

For example, take a piece of music that isn't in your exam book and try to clap the rhythm accurately.

For singing exercises, hum along with your instrument.

If you play a woodwind instrument, play a few notes and then try to echo them back.

It's also a great idea to listen to a few pieces of music every week and ask yourself questions appropriate to your grade.

For junior grades, you might ask:

• What is the dynamic?

• What is the articulation?

• How fast or slow is the music?

For higher grades, you could ask:

• What cadence can I hear?

• What makes this music sound like its particular style?

• What musical features can I identify?

The more you listen, the more naturally you will begin to recognise these musical elements.

You've Got This! 🌟

There is a lot to think about when preparing for an RIAM exam, but you don't have to tackle everything at once.

Break your practice down into manageable goals and give each part of the exam some attention throughout your preparation.

Most importantly, remember that the aim isn't just to get through the exam—it's to become a more confident, musical and independent musician along the way.

Happy practising! 🎵