Types of accrediting bodies
Awarding or accrediting bodies are organisations, which offer qualifications based on academic, vocational or performance courses. They identify the needs of learners in their specialist area of activity, such as music, and devise courses and exams, at different levels, which develop and test the skills, knowledge and experience desired. Overall, there are several hundred awarding or accrediting bodies, and dozens that specifically deal with music. (Such organisations are also termed as "exam bodies".)
Music performance awarding bodies
The qualifications offered include some that relate to training for performance.
The main performance awarding bodies are:
- Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM)
- Trinity Guildhall
- London College of Music & Media (LCMM)
- Rockschool
They, and numerous other organisations also offer qualifications in teaching, leading and facilitating. These organisations either provide the required training themselves or accredit other organisations and learning settings, such as colleges and universities, to do so. These are valued across the formal and non-formal sectors for individual and group settings.
They, and others, also offer qualifications which are not accredited for inclusion in the NQF. The difference between accredited and non-accredited qualifications is that NQF-accredited qualifications can be compared with other qualifications, and are recognised by learning authorities as valid for entry to higher-level qualifications. In addition, they are recognised by employers as evidence of competence and achievement. This can affect the pay and conditions that a music leader or teacher can expect and demand.
- For more information on the NQF, click here.
- For more information on non-accredited learning, click here.
Author's credit: "Types of accrediting bodies" has been written by Rick Rogers
