UMA Piano Grade Certification Official Guidelines

United Musicians Association Piano Grade Certification

1. Overview

The UMA Piano Grade Certification is open to learners worldwide and conducted through online video submissions. Candidates record and submit performances according to the official syllabus for each grade, evaluated by certified UMA international examiners.

The certification includes Grades 1 to 9, plus a Performance Diploma, which assesses professional concert-level ability.

2. General Requirements

3. Candidate Introduction (Start of Video)

All candidates must begin their video with a brief spoken introduction in English to verify identity and demonstrate personality.

Suggested elements: name, age, country/city, applied grade, years of piano study, personal passion for music.

Sample Template:
“Hello, my name is Emma Chen, I’m 12 years old and I come from Taiwan.
I’m applying for Grade 4 piano certification from UMA.
I’ve been playing the piano for about four years, and I really enjoy expressing emotions through music.
I’m excited to take this exam, and I hope you enjoy my performance. Thank you!”

4. Piano Repertoire by Grade (Grades 1–9)

Each level requires one piece from Section A (Technique/Etudes) and one from Section B (Repertoire). Below is the official list (✅ = recommended, difficulty verified):

Grade 1

Section A: Beyer Op.101

• No.85 ✅

• No.91 ✅

• No.97 ✅

Grade 2

Section A: Czerny Op.599

• No.24 ✅

• No.27 ✅

• No.36 ✅

Grade 3

Section A: Burgmüller Op.100

• No.6 “Progress” ✅

• No.7 “Morning” ✅

• No.11 “Rondo” ✅

Section B: Bach

• Minuet in G Major, BWV Anh.114 ✅

• Prelude in F Major, BWV 927 ✅

Grade 4

Section A: Czerny Op.849

• No.13 ✅

• No.14 ✅

• No.16 ✅

Section B

• Haydn: Sonata in D Major Hob.XVI:7, 1st Mvt ✅

• Bach: Little Prelude in D Minor, BWV 924 ✅

Grade 5

Section A: Czerny Op.299

• No.6 ✅

• No.8 ✅

• No.13 ✅

Section B

• Mozart: Sonata in F Major, K.332, 1st Mvt ✅

• Schumann: “Of Foreign Lands and Peoples” or “Träumerei” from Kinderszenen ✅

Grade 6

Section A: Cramer: 60 Selected Studies

• No.3 ✅

• No.7 ✅

• No.16 ✅

Section B

• Bach: Two-Part Inventions No.4, No.6, No.13 (excluding No.1) ✅

• Beethoven: Sonata in G Major, Op.14 No.2, 1st Mvt ✅

Grade 7

Section A: Clementi: Gradus ad Parnassum

• No.1 ✅

• No.5 ✅

• No.8 ✅

Section B

• Bach: Three-Part Inventions No.2, No.6, No.9 ✅

• Chopin: Prelude in E Minor, Op.28 No.4 ✅

• Beethoven: Sonata in C Minor, Op.10 No.1, 1st Mvt ✅

Grade 8

Section A: Czerny Op.740

• No.2 ✅

• No.4 ✅

• No.9 ✅

Section B

• Liszt: Liebestraum No.3 ✅

• Schubert: Impromptu Op.90 No.3 or No.4 ✅

• Debussy: Arabesque No.1 ✅

Grade 9

Section A: Moszkowski Op.72

• No.6 ✅

• No.10 ✅

• No.11 ✅

Section B

• Chopin: Nocturne Op.9 No.2 or Op.27 No.2 ✅

• Beethoven: “Pathétique” Sonata, 1st Mvt ✅

• Rachmaninoff: Étude-Tableau Op.33 No.3 or Op.39 No.1 ✅

5. Performance Diploma (Advanced Level)

Recommended Repertoire

• Liszt: Transcendental Études S.139, Three Concert Études S.144, Paganini Études S.141

• Chopin: Études Op.10 or Op.25

• Scriabin: Étude Op.8 No.12

• Rachmaninoff: Études-Tableaux Op.39

6. Video Submission Guidelines

• Orientation: Landscape mode. Hands and pedals must be fully visible throughout.

• Introduction: State your name and grade level clearly at the start.

• Integrity: Each piece must be recorded in one uninterrupted take. No editing or effects allowed.

• Equipment: Phone or camera is acceptable; external microphones are recommended. No MIDI or auto-accompaniment allowed.

• Format: MP4, MOV, AVI; File name format: “Name + Grade”

• Size: Max 1GB per video. For larger files, split and submit separately.

7. Grading Criteria

Passing Score: 75 or above
Distinction: 90 or above, earns “Distinction” recognition on certificate