How to Prepare for ABRSM Exams with Online Follow-Up After Beijing
Shang Kun 2026-09-11 0
If you are reading this, chances are you have already started thinking about ABRSM exams, or perhaps you have a child who is preparing for one. You might have searched online, asked other parents, or even started lessons with a local teacher. But something still feels incomplete. Maybe your schedule is too tight. Maybe you are worried that after a summer trip to Beijing, the progress will slip. Or maybe you just want to make sure the months of practice actually lead to a result that matches the effort.
Let me walk you through a scenario that many families face. You come to Beijing for work, study, or a family visit. You find a good violin teacher here. Your child or you yourself start lessons, feel the momentum, see real improvement. Then the trip ends. You go back home, and suddenly the weekly lessons are gone. The momentum fades. The old practice habits creep back. And the exam date is still months away.
This is where the idea of “online follow-up after Beijing” becomes not just a convenience, but a game changer. I have seen it work for dozens of students. And I want to share with you how to approach ABRSM exam preparation in a way that actually sticks, whether you are doing it in person, online, or a combination of both.
Let me be honest with you: ABRSM exams are not just about playing the notes correctly. They test your musicality, your technical control, your sight-reading, your aural skills, and your ability to perform under pressure. Most students underestimate the coordination between these elements. And most teachers, especially in short-term settings, cannot address all of them deeply enough because time is limited.
That is why a structured plan that starts with focused in-person lessons in Beijing, and then transitions into a smart online follow-up, is one of the most effective ways to prepare. Here is how to do it right, based on years of watching students succeed and also stumble.
Why a Pure Local Teacher Might Not Be Enough for ABRSMI once talked to a mother who had been taking her son to a very reputable local teacher in their city for two years. The teacher was great with technique, but the boy kept failing his ABRSM sight-reading section. The problem The local teacher focused almost entirely on the pieces and scales, because that is what most traditional lessons emphasize. But ABRSM has a specific set of requirements that go beyond playing beautifully.
Another common issue: local teachers may not be familiar with the exact marking criteria of ABRSM exams. For example, many students lose marks on the aural test simply because they do not know what the examiner is listening for. A good teacher who specializes in ABRSM preparation can teach you the “tricks” – like how to sing back a melody with confidence, or how to identify cadences by feeling the harmonic tension.
So when you choose a teacher in Beijing for a short-term intensive, make sure that teacher has proven experience with ABRSM specifically. Not just violin in general. The ABRSM syllabus is different from Chinese conservatory exams, and the expectations are quite distinct. You do not want to spend weeks polishing a piece only to find out later that your phrasing does not match what the examiner values.
What an Intensive Beijing Session Should Look LikeLet me describe what a well-designed short-term course in Beijing should include. If you only have two or three weeks, every minute counts. The first thing is a thorough diagnostic. The teacher should assess your current level not just on pieces, but on scales, sight-reading, aural skills, and even your practice habits. No assumptions. I have seen students who thought they were ready for Grade 5 but actually had fundamental gaps in shifting or vibrato that would cost them heavily in higher grades.
After the diagnostic, the teacher should create a personalized roadmap. For example, if your sight-reading is weak, the in-person lessons should include daily drills on rhythm reading, interval identification, and a simple method to quickly scan a new piece. This is something online lessons struggle with because it requires real-time feedback on finger placement, bow speed, and posture. In person, the teacher can physically adjust your hand, demonstrate the exact pressure, and correct mistakes before they become habits.
Another key part of the Beijing intensive is performance simulation. Nothing replicates exam pressure like actually playing in front of a teacher who is timing you, interrupting you, and asking unexpected questions. I have seen students freeze when asked to clap the rhythm of a random bar from their piece. The intensive should include mock exams that mirror the real ABRSM experience as closely as possible.
Also, do not neglect the aural tests. Many students think they can “figure it out” later. But aural skills are like muscles – they need daily training. In person, the teacher can play chords on the piano and help you hear the differences between major and minor, or identify the style of a piece. Online follow-up can reinforce this, but the initial foundation should be built face to face.
The Pitfalls of Going Online Too Early or Too LateI have seen two opposite mistakes. One is starting online lessons with no in-person foundation at all, especially for younger students. The other is relying entirely on a short in-person stint and then letting the student practice alone without structured follow-up, assuming the momentum will carry.
Neither works well. If you only have online lessons from the start, your teacher cannot correct posture issues in real time. Even with a good camera setup, it is hard to see the angle of your left wrist or the tension in your shoulder. Those small issues become big problems later. And if you stop completely after Beijing, you risk forgetting everything you learned in a matter of weeks.
The sweet spot is this: use the in-person time in Beijing to set up a solid physical foundation, correct all the hidden bad habits, and establish a clear practice routine. Then, transition to online follow-up that focuses on interpretation, consistency, and exam simulation. The online sessions should be frequent enough – ideally once or twice a week – to keep you on track, but they can be shorter than in-person lessons because the technical groundwork is already done.
Many teachers who offer both in-person and online follow-up, like the approach used at Kun Violin, design the curriculum so that the online sessions mirror the structure of the in-person ones, just with a different emphasis. For example, during in-person lessons you might spend 20 minutes on scales and 40 minutes on pieces. Online, you might spend 10 minutes on scales (checking, not teaching from scratch), 20 minutes on pieces, and 15 minutes on sight-reading and aural drills. This keeps the momentum alive without overwhelming the student.
How to Choose the Right Teacher for Online Follow-UpThis is a critical point. Not every in-person teacher is good at teaching online. And not every online teacher understands the specific needs of a student who has just completed an intensive in Beijing. Look for someone who:
– Has experience with ABRSM exam preparation specifically, not just general violin teaching.– Can provide clear verbal instructions and use a digital whiteboard or notation tool to explain concepts without relying on physical touch.
– Offers recorded feedback in between sessions, such as marking up your score or sending a short video demonstrating a tricky passage.
– Understands how to adjust the lesson structure to what you learned in Beijing, rather than starting from scratch every time.
One thing I always recommend is asking for a trial online lesson before committing. See if the teacher can quickly identify a problem just from watching you play on Zoom. A good teacher will say something like, “Your bow hold looks slightly tenser than last week – try relaxing your thumb.” That level of detail is possible online only if the teacher is attentive.
Also, consider the time zone difference. Beijing-based teachers often offer flexible hours because they work with international students. That is a huge advantage. You can have your online lesson in the evening your time, which is morning in Beijing. That way you are still fresh and the teacher is fully awake.
The irony is that many students who come to Beijing for a short period end up with better long-term progress than students who stay with one local teacher for years. Why Because the combination of intensive in-person correction and consistent online reinforcement creates a feedback loop that is hard to beat.
Let me tell you a real example. A student from Singapore came to Beijing for three weeks last summer. He was preparing for ABRSM Grade 6. His local teacher in Singapore was fine, but he had been stuck on the same pieces for months. During the Beijing intensive, his teacher noticed that his left-hand shifting was inefficient – he was moving his whole arm instead of just the thumb and fingers. In three days, they fixed that. Then they worked on phrasing for his pieces, and he learned how to use dynamics to highlight the structure. After he went back, he continued with weekly online lessons. The online teacher could see clearly that his shifting had improved, and they focused on the aural tests, which he had been avoiding. He passed with distinction.
Could that have happened without the Beijing intensive Maybe, but it would have taken much longer. The in-person correction accelerated the process by months.
The Real Questions You Should Be Asking YourselfBefore you book anything, ask yourself honestly:– Am I or my child ready for the discipline of online follow-up It requires self-motivation and a quiet practice space. If the student is very young, the parent needs to be involved.
– Do I have a reliable internet connection and a good camera setup A laptop camera is fine, but make sure the teacher can see both your hands and your bow contact point.
– What is the exam timeline If the exam is in three months, you need a different intensity than if it is in six months. Plan the in-person intensive to happen early, so you have enough time for online follow-up.
– Have I checked the ABRSM syllabus for the specific grade Many students accidentally prepare the wrong pieces or miss the requirement for a technical exercise. A good teacher will guide you, but you should also read the official syllabus yourself.
One more thing – do not underestimate the value of teacher continuity. If you find a teacher who can handle both the in-person and online track, that is ideal. You want the same person who diagnosed your issues in Beijing to be the one who monitors your progress from afar. That way there is no miscommunication, no repetition, and no lost context.
I have been in this field long enough to see that the best results come from a combination of focused, hands-on guidance at the beginning, followed by a consistent, structured online relationship. It is not about one being better than the other. It is about using each format for its strengths.
Mr. ShangKun, for example, has built his teaching around exactly this principle. With over 20 years of teaching experience and a method that has been refined through hundreds of students, he offers a rare combination: deep expertise in ABRSM, the ability to teach both online and in person, and a clear understanding of how to bridge the gap between a short-term visit and long-term progress. His students often start with an intensive Beijing session, then continue with weekly online lessons that feel like a natural extension of the in-person work. The result is a seamless learning journey that adapts to the student’s real life.
But let me be clear – you do not need a famous teacher to succeed. You need a teacher who understands the specific challenge you are facing: how to prepare for ABRSM exams when your life involves travel, limited time, and the need for flexibility. The method matters more than the name.
Practical Steps to Get StartedIf this approach resonates with you, here is a simple plan:1. Schedule a consultation with a teacher who offers both in-person Beijing lessons and online follow-up. Ask them to evaluate your current level and suggest an intensive schedule (usually 5–10 lessons over 2–3 weeks).
2. During the intensive, focus on technique correction, piece polishing, and aural/sight-reading basics. Record the lessons if allowed, so you can review later.
3. Before you leave Beijing, agree on a weekly online lesson schedule. Make sure the teacher knows your exact exam date and grade.
4. Set up a proper practice space at home with good lighting, a stable internet connection, and a music stand at the right height.
5. Use the first few online lessons to reinforce what you learned in Beijing. Do not expect the teacher to repeat everything – they should build on progress.
6. If possible, do a mock exam online about two weeks before the real exam. This helps you get used to the pressure of performing remotely, because some ABRSM exams are now online as well.
By following this plan, you transform a short trip into a long-term investment. The exam becomes not just a hurdle to clear, but a milestone in a continuous learning process.
I hope this gives you a clearer picture of what it takes to prepare for ABRSM exams with a hybrid approach. The key is to be intentional, choose the right teacher, and commit to the follow-up. The rest is just practice, patience, and a little bit of musical joy along the way.
