The candidate submits a self-recorded video with their application form and will receive a detailed written assessment provided by some of the world’s top music professional specialists in their field. Each piece will be assessed following a grading matrix of requirements criteria mandatory to be met at the submitted stage/style/music period. Bonus marks may be awarded by the assessor for artistic merit in each piece.   A suggestions box is provided for each piece, where the assessor may offer ideas/comments not included in the grading matrix. These are meant to broaden the candidate’s perspective and to provide additional food for thought to invoke musical exploration.

Additional bonus marks may be awarded for the choice of repertoire: Codetta encourages the candidate to present a performance, therefore, even at elementary stages, consideration should be given to the technical, emotional, keys variety of pieces presented to create a musically unified overall performance.

As the meaning of this musical term implies, Codetta is a “brief conclusion”. We believe each examination is a steppingstone on the road to expanded musicianship, and each assessment brings an added level of broadening musical perspectives.

When an actor reads a monologue, he is not tested on his knowledge of the alphabet. Similarly, when a concert artist performs, we do not require to hear him/her perform scales. While technical exercises, as well as extensive knowledge of music theory and history, are unquestionably essential, the audience only cares about the outcome, and that outcome is a convincing performance. We realize there are countless ways one may achieve musical excellence, we do not assess the road to the final goal, but its arrival. We take the same approach with aural and sight-reading skills. Undoubtedly, a good ear and excellent music reading ability are vital to the developing musician. We, however, do not feel these skills should be assessed at the same time as performance of pieces, as marks can become considerably skewed depending on the candidate’s strengths, and no longer represent the performing ability.

Codetta uses a copyrighted grading matrix which addresses every aspect of musical performance: posture, tempo, rhythm, articulation, style, technical fluency, dynamic/phrasing structure, tone production/texture. The marks for each piece performed are calculated out of 100, and then averaged to achieve the final total mark.  Bonus marks up to 5% per piece may be awarded at the assessor’s discretion to acknowledge the more intricate details that cannot be predicted in the grading matrix provided.

All successful candidates with an overall result of 70% or above will be emailed an official certificate recognizing their achievement. Bronze certificate represents marks between 70-79%; Silver certificate 80-89%; Gold 90-99%; Platinum 100% and over. The certificate is a tangible reminder of a milestone achieved and a source of great pride.

Codetta’s evaluation system takes guessing away from what the marks mean: no more fancy sentences nobody can decipher the meaning of, no more hit and miss comments that may or may not address the key components of a performance, no more carefully worded noncommittal remarks devoid of learning benefits. Codetta concentrates on your performance, not the examiner’s language skills. By providing a comprehensive marking grading matrix, all the components of a musical performance are addressed, at the same time giving our assessors the freedom to award extra marks for outstanding performances. You will never again receive a report with no mention of pedal in a piece by Chopin, or articulation choices in a piece by Bach. Every musical component will be addressed. Since Codetta’s assessors view the submitted exams on their own time, they are not rushed to write a report as quickly as possible, they can also have an opportunity to look up or even play through a piece to ensure the most accurate assessment is provided. This leads to carefully constructed and researched assessments not possible at a live examination with limited time allotted for each candidate.

As we know, music opinions are subjective. If you wish to receive more than one assessment of the same pieces, or at a different stage of your learning process, please submit your videos as many times as you wish, and you will be automatically placed with a different assessor.

Codetta offers partial examinations: in the case where a candidate only wishes to be assessed on one or two pieces, or several pieces from the same musical period, they may apply for a Partial Examination. These examinations will be graded by the same matrix as the complete assessments; however, a certificate will not be issued.

Your assessment will be emailed to you within 7 days of your submission. If you
require your assessment sooner, an extra fee may be applied.

We encourage candidates to submit good quality recordings with the instrument and hands of the performer always visible to ensure the assessors can comment on technique, posture as well as sound quality. Each piece must be performed in one sitting, “splicing” together portions of different performances is not acceptable. Memorization of pieces is encouraged, however, not mandatory.

We believe every examination to be a steppingstone to continuous learning and improvement. The very thorough assessments Codetta provides, along with the marks and certificate, can serve many goals and purposes:

Preparing for an examination requires a significant amount of work and training. Having only the performance components to prepare for makes the goal more attainable. Having a clearly defined goal is a powerful motivating force.

📝 Before other exams/competitions/recitals/auditions: receive an expert opinion and valuable suggestions on ways to improve your performance, expand your musical vision with different perspectives. Independent feedback encourages progress by highlighting areas of strengths and weaknesses and introduces areas for improvement and further study.

🚗 No need to travel long distances, one can receive an unbiased professional opinion from anywhere in the world, even the most remote areas; as long as a video clip can be uploaded, you can receive an invaluable feedback from world-class, respected professionals located anywhere in the world.

😱“Nerve” factor is considerably diminished, allowing for the candidate to put forth their best performance and get assessed based on their musical merit, unencumbered by nervous jitters.

🎹 In piano exams, one never has to deal with a substandard instrument or adopt to the touch of an unfamiliar one.

🎥 Recording one’s performance helps the candidate develop poise and confidence, as well as critical listening skills.

Codetta was created to promote music study and feelings of accomplishment. We are here to help and assist, and, in the process, foster musical understanding and enrichment.

Codetta’s examinations system is designed to benefit music students of all ages and levels of proficiency.
🧒🏻 👦🏾 👧 🎻 Many young candidates applying for music examinations will not necessarily become professional musicians. However, as has been well documented by various research, music education leads to well rounded, high performing adults across all fields.
🎓🎻 Those students who set and then achieve a goal of an examination with Codetta, learn the value of hard work, discipline and incredible accomplishments they are able to attain in their lives ahead. Codetta is a streamlined assessment system geared to examining the essential performing skills only. In this busy world, we believe students, in order to maintain their musical pursuits, are becoming more and more efficient with their time. Codetta offers a more manageable outlet, while still providing the gratification of attaining the next level of accomplishment.
🎼 🎻 🎹 There is also an increasing amount of adult music students who recognize the benefits of music study in their lives. These individuals are dedicated to developing their music skills but often feel too self-conscious to apply for an examination alongside young students. With Codetta examinations there is absolutely no bias as to the age or level of proficiency of any candidate.

We recognize there is a vast array of repertoire choices available at every stage of learning in a variety of musical genres. Codetta’s Prospectus provides repertoire guidelines only so the candidate can apply for the appropriate stage. Since Codetta is not affiliated with any educational establishment, we do not limit the repertoire choices and do not tell teachers what and how to teach. Codetta assesses the final result, which is the performance. This allows both the teacher and student total freedom in selecting their method of study. We assess the destination, not how you got there.