UME - A Quality Music Exam System With Options For Everyone, Everywhere.

Join a growing community of UME teachers and students - for free!

Welcome to Universal Music Exams!

The UME system is designed to inspire students with structured learning, goal setting, and a simple syllabus so you can sit an exam and get feedback from one of our friendly examiners.

What do you play? Your favourite pieces! Use the method you already know and love. Add some ‘set pieces’ from our simple, free, online syllabus. There are videos and audio files to help you!

There are no extra books, memberships, additional training or purchases required. Just follow our step by step guide and book an affordable exam when you’re ready.

We’ll complete the picture with free additional resources, piano duets and a guide to ‘essential skills’ like transposition and improvisation to make sure you’re growing as a versatile, well rounded musician!

10 reasons why teachers, parents and students love us:

  1. A comprehensive, clear, user-friendly syllabus – FREE online

  2. Free choice pieces, all styles welcome

  3. Scales and technical work linked to the keys of pieces, with free choice options

  4. Choose your own exam date and time for all exams - from 10 days up to 6 months into the future

  5. Reschedule an exam for free and choose your new date in the next 200 days

  6. Video submission open 365 days a year

  7. In person exam sessions at various locations throughout the year

  8. In person and video submission exams are identical in content, format and cost

  9. Exams are reasonably priced at up to half of what you may have paid in the past

  10. We pride ourselves on a positive experience from your first look at the syllabus, right through to receiving your results. We’re efficient, contactable and friendly.

Our teacher page will walk you through the process and help you make the most of our resources

Click here to go straight to the Piano Syllabus

Click here to go straight to the Brass Syllabus.

2 Performance Options, Identical Syllabus Content

  • In-Person Exams

    Our open age exams are a wonderful opportunity to play LIVE for one of our friendly examiners. UME examiners have many years experience in performance, teaching and examining.

    In person exams are available at various times throughout the year and can be booked whenever you’re ready. Exams are conducted in capital cities in Australia with additional locations to be added.

  • Video Exams

    Can’t get to an exam in person? Prefer to take your exam at home or in your regular lesson?

    With Video submission you can record yourself wherever you’re comfortable and submit whenever you’re ready.

    The video syllabus is the same as for live exams, so you’re still being examined on all components. Open to all ages, all countries, all styles of music.


    How to Record and Submit A Video Exam

Performance Guidelines

UME Piano Syllabus

  • Discovery

    Positive exam experiences develop confidence and help set concrete goals. Get in early for great long term results.

    Junior

    Junior Plus

    Preliminary

  • Foundations

    A comprehensive syllabus with Free Choice Elements. Choose your favourite pieces and perform at your best.

    Grade 1

    Grade 2

    Grade 3

  • Advancing

    Explore different genres, refine technique and develop your own sense of style for a lifetime of music making.

    Grade 4

    Grade 5

    Grade 6

    Grade 7 and Beyond

Complete Piano Syllabus

We provide a comprehensive syllabus, a user-friendly system and specialist examiners.

  • You Choose What

    Free Choice components for pieces and scales giving teachers and students input into the exam program

  • You Choose How

    In Person or Video Submission - you choose which one suits you best and we make the process easy

  • You Choose When

    Choose your own date and time for an in person exam throughout the year, or submit a video exam at ANY time.

  • You Choose Extras

    Improvisation? Composition? Sight Reading? Transposition? Choose your ‘Essential Skill’ and show us what you can do!

UME Brass Syllabus

  • Discovery

    Positive exam experiences develop confidence and help set concrete goals. Get in early for great long term results.

    Junior

    Junior Plus

    Preliminary

  • Foundations

    A comprehensive syllabus with Free Choice Elements. Choose your favourite pieces and perform at your best.

    Grade 1 Coming Soon

    Grade 2 Coming Soon

    Grade 3 Coming Soon

  • Advancing

    Explore different genres, refine technique and develop your own sense of style for a lifetime of music making.

    Grade 4 Coming Soon

    Grade 5 Coming Soon

    Grade 6 Coming Soon

    Grade 7 and Beyond

“it is so wonderful to be able to present my students at their best. with options for what, when and how they play, i have finally found a system that suits all of them.”

What people are saying

  • “Finally - a system where we can select the exam date ourselves! Having exams available all year round certainly is a game changer - my kids were able to do the exam once they were ready which is so much better than booking months in advance and hoping we can make it work. Amazing, thank you.”

    — Cheryl Sponner, Parent, Sydney Australia

  • “All of my students had a positive ‘in person’ exam experience and the process was easy and efficient, from booking in to receiving the results. The addition of the ‘Essential Skills’ section is absolutely fantastic - it’s exactly what students need in order to enjoy music in the real world!”

    — Mychelle Rossi, Head Teacher Australian Music Schools

  • “Submitting the video exam was so easy, and I felt comfortable filming the exam where I normally do my lessons. It was especially good to be able to play my favourite piece.”

    — Matthew Burton, Student, Wellington NZ

  • “I’m impressed with this syllabus. It makes so much sense to match the student’s technical requirements to the performance pieces rather than learning scales from an arbitrary list. The opportunity to present standardised repertoire from any source is a fantastic element.”

    — Kate Lidbetter, CEO Symphony Services Australia

  • “UME is an exciting opportunity for my students to attend an exam via video or in person with the same content. My students enjoyed the variety of repertoire and also the creative component. The UME Piano Competition was a great learning and competing experience!”

    - Anna Lapinski, Piano teacher, Australian Music Schools

  • Additional Resources

    Want more pieces for your students? How about some new duets? You’re in the right place! We add new material here regularly.

    Music Resources

Have any questions?

We have answers on our FAQs page,
or you can get in touch with us directly.