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• 2014 AIM Piano Syllabus: Detailed curriculum requirements for each AIM level.

• Student Workbooks: available as digital (self print) and hard copy (shipping fees apply)

AIM Levels 1A, 1B, 1C and 2 exams are administered on the first or second Sunday of March. Students will take the entire exam (Theory and Performance) on this day.

Students are evaluated on the following components:

• Keyboard Skills: Sight-reading, keyboard geography, aural skills and harmonization.

• Technique: Major and minor five-finger patterns, 2-note slurs, B Major scale and cross-hand arpeggios.

• The performance of two memorized repertoire pieces.

• A one-page written exam (for Level 2 students only)

Refer to the 2014 AIM Syllabus for specific curriculum requirements and repertoire lists.

For full procedural information, see the 2025-26 AIM Packet.

The AIM exam for Levels 3-11 is divided into two parts, taken at different times of the year: the Theory Exam and the Performance Exam.

1) THEORY EXAM

Administered in winter, typically on the last two Sundays of January (or the last Sunday of January and the first Sunday of February, depending on the calendar).

• Keyboard Skills: sight-reading, sight rhythm, harmonization, transposition, and melody playback

• Written Exam: terms, symbols, key signatures, figured bass, score analysis, composers, and music history

• Aural Skills Exam: Identification of intervals, chord qualities, chord progressions, and a melodic dictation

2) PERORMANCE EXAM

Administered in spring, typically on the last two Sundays of April (or the last Sunday of April and the first Sunday of May, depending on the calendar).

• Technique: Five-finger patterns, scales, chord progressions, triads and inversions, four-note chords, and arpeggios

• Repertoire: Performance of pieces representing the major musical periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th/21st Century). At least two pieces must be performed from memory at each level.

Refer to the 2014 AIM Syllabus for specific curriculum requirements and repertoire lists.

For full procedural information, see the 2025-26 AIM Packet.

The Level 12 Exam follows the same format and evaluation criteria as Levels 3-11, but is divided into three parts:

1) Theory Exam

Administered in January or February, along with Levels 3-11, on one of the designated AIM Theory Exam dates.

2) Technique Exam

Completed in the same calendar year as the Theory Exam. Students are required to perform the Technique exam in-person, along with Levels 3-11, on one of the designated AIM Performance Exam dates.

3) Repertoire Exam

Teachers/students may request evaluation in one of the following formats:

1. IN PERSON PRIVATE EXAM: One-on-one exam with a judge

2. IN PERSON RECITAL: A public recital attended by the judge

3. REMOTE OPTION: Pre-recorded videos of the repertoire performances

The Repertoire Exam may be performed or submitted any time before December 31st of the same year the Theory and Technique exams were completed.

Students have the option of a one-year extension (Jan-Dec of the following year) to complete the Repertoire exam.

Refer to the 2014 AIM Syllabus for specific curriculum requirements and repertoire lists.

For full procedural information, see the 2025-26 AIM Packet.