Music Network’s Grade-1-a-thon Challenge!

What do I need to do?

If you’re ready to take the plunge, here’s what you need to do:

Step 1 ¹

Choose the instrument you want to take up. We have listed the instruments (including voice/singing) that we can prepare you for RIAM Grade 1 exams in under the Instruments Taught tab. And you can see what RIAM Grade 1 exams include by looking up your chosen instrument on our Grade Exam Syllabi by Instrument page.

Step 2

Go to the Grade-1-a-thon Challenge page on the Music Network website and click on the TAKE PART link. They will send you a helpful fundraising guide, along with instructions on setting up your fundraising page. You can do this on Music Network’s Grade-1-a-thon JustGiving page or on their Facebook Donations page using your own account. To take your online Grade 1 exam, you will need to register with Music Network by 28 February 2021 at the latest. The Royal Irish Academy of Music is generously waiving the exam fee for a limited number of Grade-1-a-thon Challenge participants. Music Network will send you all the information you need for the exam as soon you register.

Step 3 ²

To sign up for discounted lessons with the New School, please complete our Enrolment Form, and in the ‘Previous Experience’ box add ‘None. Grade-1-a-thon Challenge participant.’ And to show us that you’ve signed up for the Challenge, please include a link to your JustGiving fundraising page, or (using the Gift Certificate upload button in the form) attach a screenshot of your first callout on Facebook using the Music Network Donation page.

Step 4

If you don’t already have an instrument (or access to one), Waltons Music Ireland is offering special discounts on selected instruments to Grade-1-a-thon Challenge participants. (See the Instrument Discounts tab for more information.) You will also need to email Waltons Music with a link to your JustGiving fundraising page or a screenshot of your first callout on Facebook using the Music Network Facebook Donation page to obtain your discount.

Step 5

And finally, don’t forget to share your progress on your own social media channels using the hashtag #MNGrade1athon and by tagging Music Network on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The more updates on your progress you share along the way, the more money you are likely to raise!

1. Please note that while our expert teachers can prepare participants for exams, we can’t necessarily guarantee that all participants will pass their exams. However, whether or not you do pass, we can guarantee that the effort will be worth it and the experience of participating in the Grade-1-a-thon Challenge will be a rewarding and memorable one.
2. The 10% discount for Challenge participants cannot be added to another New School discount (for example, discounts for over-65s, unemployed persons and third-level students).

Instruments Taught

We can prepare Grade-1-a-thon Challenge participants for RIAM exams in any of the following instruments:

Cello
Clarinet
Classical Guitar
Classical Singing
Concert Flute
Double Bass
Drum Kit (Snare Drum)
Irish Harp
Musical Theatre Singing
Piano
Popular Singing
Recorder
Saxophone
Viola
Violin

Instrument Discounts

Waltons Music Ireland is offering special discounts for the following instruments (listed in alphabetical order) to Grade-1-a-thon Challenge participants: