Coming Soon
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More Instruments
We currently offer exams for Piano and Brass and we’re working to add more instruments in the future
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More Locations
In 2023 there will be several sessions of in person exams in Sydney, with at least one session in other major cities. Please keep an eye on the home page or contact us for details.
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Global Locations
As world travel finds a new normal, we plan to extend our in person exams to cities and countries around the globe. In the meantime, video submission is open to everyone, everywhere.
UME - who are we?
All UME examiners are professionals with many years experience in teaching, performing and examining.
We employ a specialist examiner for every exam - this means that piano students are examined by a pianist and brass students by a brass player!
We only employ examiners with great people skills and exceptional understanding of teacher and student needs.
Our examiners are experts in a broad range of genres and techniques, familiar with classical and contemporary repertoire.
Michelle Madder, Director
Michelle is an Australian pianist, composer and teacher with over 30 years’ experience. As a young person, Michelle was well recognised as a pianist and composer, winning the ‘ABC Young Composer’s Competition’ and several prestigious piano awards.
Michelle studied composition with Peter Sculthorpe at Sydney University and graduated with Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Composition and then went on to further study of Composition at the Sydney Conservatorium.
She founded Australian Music Schools in 1993 and over the ensuing years expanded to offer quality music education in locations across Sydney.
As director of AMS Michelle designed a piano exam system which proved successful over many years of operation. She further developed the syllabus and established UME - a quality music examination system focused on the needs of students and teachers. As head piano examiner of UME, Michelle brings experience, empathy and musical expertise to what can be a stressful time for students and their parents.
Michelle spent several years establishing music programs in Kenya, training staff, providing resources and running camps and classes for children in the slums of Nairobi. She continues to support the teachers in Korogocho and Kibera, engaging in weekly sessions to refine their skills. You can read more about that here.
Michelle is highly respected as an adjudicator and examiner in Australia. She continues to teach and to train teachers in classroom music, piano pedagogy and composition. She enjoys writing music for students and is the co-author of the Blitzbooks Sight Reading series with her friend and colleague, Samantha Coates.
Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, Michelle now mentors teachers around the globe. Michelle can be contacted here.
