AIM Levels 1A, 1B, 1C and 2 exams are administered on the first 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.

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 1st Sunday of February, depending on the calendar).

Students are evaluated on the following components:

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

• Written Exam: Covers music theory concepts including: terms, symbols, key signatures, score analysis, 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 1st Sunday of May, depending on the calendar).

Students are evaluated on the following components:

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

• Repertoire: Performance of pieces selected from the 2014 AIM Syllabus, 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.

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

Must be 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.

If needed, students are granted an additional one-year extension (Jan-Dec) to complete the Repertoire exam. A $20 re-registration fee applies.

If the exam is not completed by the end of the extension year, the student will be marked Not Completed and their registration will be closed.

LEVEL 12 REPERTOIRE APPROVAL

Teachers must write to the ISMTA State Repertoire Chair to request approval of their Level 12 student’s repertoire program.

Download, fill out and email the Level 12 Approval Form to Stephanie Myers, at hisamimyers@gmail.com

Approval Timeline & Requirements:

• Approval must be obtained at least 5 months prior to the planned exam/recital date, or by March 31 at the latest.

• List all four repertoire selections in chronological order, with reference to the 2014 AIM Syllabus (e.g. Level 12 - p. 31).

• Substitution requests for pieces not listed in the Syllabus must be indicated on the form.

• Students must play a Sonata-Allegro piece at either Level 11 or Level 12. If this requirement was fulfilled at Level 11, list the piece in the Sonata-Allegro section of the form. If not already fulfilled, then a Sonata-Allegro piece must be performed as part of the Level 12 program.

Detailed information on the Level 12 exam procedure can be found on pages 22-23 of the AIM Packet.

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