Diploma in Mandolin Education

Victoria College of Music offers a number of Diploma Examinations:

Diploma in Mandolin Education

Associateship in Mandolin Education

Licentiate in Mandolin Education

The British BMG Federation and Victoria College of Music now offer a syllabus for a Diploma in Mandolin Education. These diplomas in Mandolin Education are designed to meet the needs of varying teaching situations. They encourage professional development and the progressive acquisition of learning and skills relevant to contemporary Mandolin education. The minimum age for any of these diplomas is 18 years.

All the above qualifications are offered on a modular basis. To gain an award, teachers must first register for a fixed period. Full credits, or in some cases half credits, will be awarded on proven completion of an approved course of study.

The training courses provided by the British BMG Federation are approved by the Victoria College of Music for the attainment of credits. Teachers may also nominate relevant courses run by other organisations including local authorities, other examination boards, professional bodies or educational institutions for approval as credit-bearing.
Candidates must provide evidence of passing VCM Grade 5 in Mandolin Playing.

Envisaged is also a viva voce examination which would include some or all of the following:
• General approaches to teaching
• Structure and planning of lessons
• Methodology of mandolin teaching
• History and repertoire of the mandolin
• Procedures for assessing students’ progress
The level of difficulty of the practical exam will be about Grade 7 for the Diploma in Mandolin Education and beyond Grade 8 for the Associateship and the Licentiateship.

Course contents:
 
The British BMG Federation has developed a course in which participants can gain the credits required to sit any of the Diploma examinations.

 The course is as follows:

• Individual lessons will prepare candidates for the particle exam
• General teaching methodology
• Mandolin methodology
• Beginners and Improvers literature
• Repertoire, History & Form 1(18th century, Classical, Romatic, Contemporary, Celtic and Jazz )
• Celtic and Jazz Literature
• Preparation for the Musicianship Test
• Federations & Marketing
• How to get pupils
• Lessons observations
• Different methods of playing mandolin (e.g. “Italian School”)
• Homework, Questions and review