Achievement in Music
Need a goal for theory and performance? This is it.
Achievement in Music is a statewide exam recently revised (by our own teachers who use it) to be practical and student-friendly. AIM offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes theory and technique as well as piano performance. The AIM Syllabus provides teachers with a sequential outline of piano study helpful in preparing students for yearly assessments. Students benefit by having specific goals to achieve at every level, while teachers and parents are given an independent evaluation of student progress.
Theory Judges Notes
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Performance Judges Notes
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Repertoire Grading Guidelines
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Upcoming Dates for AIM Theory Exams:
AIM Theory Online Registration Closes
AIM Repertoire Substitution Request Deadline
AIM Level 12 Repertoire Approval Deadline
AIM Theory Exams
AIM Theory Exams
The Achievement in Music Program, also known as AIM, is an exciting and motivating program for students, designed to develop strong performance and technical skills as well as a thorough understanding of musical theory. There are twelve levels in the program, with Level 1 divided into three parts, Levels 1A, 1B, and 1C. Each level has theory, performance, and technical requirements that follow a logical progression from early elementary through advanced.
Typically, AIM is divided into two testing dates:
- Theory, Aural Skills, Sightreading and Harmonization
- Performance and Technique
For performance, students prepare pieces from the syllabus list of repertoire and approved collections. Students perform:
- 2 pieces for Levels 1-3. Both must be memorized.
- 3 pieces for Levels 4-9. Two must be memorized.
- 4 pieces for Levels 10-12. Two must be memorized.
Students generally prepare one level each year and demonstrate their competency at annual exams, which are conducted by experienced judges in a comfortable setting. Students are not in competition with other students, but are evaluated individually on their accomplishments. Students are recognized with a pin for passing the theory exam and a certificate for passing both the theory and performance exam.
