Some people with a learning disability have been very successful in passing instrumental examinations in spite of the problems raised by sight reading and aural tests. Others who have tried have found them a negative experience creating unnecessary stress and inappropriate work.
I have heard from several people who have worked really hard with their children who all had Down's Syndrome and got them through an exam and were very appropriately pleased and proud of their off spring's achievements. Some then went on to assess the process and decided that the exams were inappropriately stressful and not to be repeated. Others went on to achieve higher grades enjoying the process very much. Both are valid points of view because every child is different and what works with one will not work with another.
Please look at the Melody Certifice Scheme available on our website. The idead is that the teacher can provide a scheme of work which is individually tailored to each individual student. Documentation can be kept so that progress can be seen to have happened as the student moves from one level to the next. The progress can be very small or quite considerable. Comparisons with other students do not have to be made and yet the student can still experience the sense of achievement that comes with having done the next level and winning the next certificate.
Those at Melody would be very interested to hear from those teachers who have tried the Certification Scheme