Specimen Improvisation Tests

Stylistic Stimulus
for Trinity College London exams from 2017
InitialGrade 8

C Instruments Treble Clef

Copyright 2016 Trinity College London

First impression, June 2016

Specimen stylistic stimulus C instruments, treble clef

Contents
Initial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Grade 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Grade 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Grade 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Grade 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Grade 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Grade 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Grade 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Grade 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Stylistic stimulus
The stylistic stimulus requires candidates to improvise over a notated piano part played by
the examiner. Candidates are given a stimulus which includes the notated piano part and
chord symbols. The stimulus begins with a two-bar introduction played by the examiner
alone, followed by a further section over which candidates must improvise for a specified
number of repeats. In the exam, the examiner plays the stimulus twice for candidates
reference, without repeats. Candidates are then given 30 seconds preparation time, during
which they may prepare for their improvisation aloud if they wish. The test then follows.
The examiner then plays the stimulus again, and candidates join after the introduction,
improvising for the specified number of repeats. Candidates should aim to improvise in a
way that complements the musical idiom of the stimulus.

Specimen stylistic stimulus C instruments, treble clef

Initial
Example 1

4
&4

March q = 92

? 4
4

V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V

. .

w
w

?4
4
. .

w
w

w
w

.
.

Example 2

4
&4

Lullaby q = 72

?4
4

?4
4

V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V

Grade 1
Example 1

4
&4

Fanfare q = 112

> > >

?4
4

mf

?4
4

> > >

V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
to be played through twice

> > >

> > >

Specimen stylistic stimulus C instruments, treble clef

Example 2

#4
& 4

Moderato q = 100

to be played through twice

? #4 w
4
w

? #4
4

w
w

V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
w
w

.
.

w
w

.
.

Grade 2
Example 1

4
& b4

Tango q = 120

w
w

.
.

j
j

.
J .

.
.
J .
.
.

. .
? b4
4

? b4
4

j
.

mp

V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V

to be played through twice

w
w

w
w

Example 2

4
&4

Andante q = 82

V V V V V V V V
to be played through twice

? 4 #

?4
4

mp

V V V V V V V V

Specimen stylistic stimulus C instruments, treble clef

Grade 3
Example 1

3
& b4

Waltz q = 104

? b3
4

? b3
4

mf

.
#

.
.
.

.


.
.

-
.

V V V

V V V

to be played through twice

V V V

V V V

# .

Example 2

b4
&b 4

Allegretto q = 112

? bb 4
4

to be played through twice

? bb 4

4
mp

V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
.

.
. .
.

.
.
.

Grade 4
Example 1

b3
&b 4

Quick Waltz q = 124

? bb 3 #
4

? bb 3
4

mf

.

.

n # .

V V V

V V

to be played through three times

V V

#
n #

V V V

Specimen stylistic stimulus C instruments, treble clef

Example 2

#2
& #4

Adagio q = 60

? ## 2
4

mf

? ## 2
4

to be played through three times

Grade 5
Example 1

### 6
& 8
? ### 68

? ### 68

Vivace q. = 90

V V

mp

V V

V V

V V

to be played through three times

Example 2
Grazioso q = 104

b3
& b b4

? bb 3
b4

? bb 3
b4

V V V

V V V

V V V

V V V

to be played through three times

mp

Specimen stylistic stimulus C instruments, treble clef

Grade 6
Example 1

b4
& b b4

Agitato q = 132

? bb 4
b4

b
&b b V V V V V V V V V V V V V
F

? bb
b

? bb
b

G7

to be played through twice

n
? bb 4
b4

V V V V V V V V V V V V

G7

V V V V V V V

n n

Specimen stylistic stimulus C instruments, treble clef

Example 2

### 12
& 8

Nocturne q. = 63

V V

to be played through twice

#
? ### 12

J
8

? ### 12
8

mf

### C
&
V

C7

? ### #

? ###

### B
& V

V V V V

V V V

? ###

? ###

C7

C7

V V V V

V V V

Specimen stylistic stimulus C instruments, treble clef

Grade 7
Example 1

#### 6
& 8

Grave q. = 42

? #### 6
8

to be played through twice

j j

#
? ## # 6

8
p

#### G
&
V

A7

B7

? ####

? ####

Specimen stylistic stimulus C instruments, treble clef

Example 2

b b9
&b b 8

Gigue q. = 92

E7

V V V V V V V V V
to be played through twice

j j
j j j j

? b b 98

bb

? b b 98
b b
mp

bb
&b b V V V
C

C7

C7

V V V

V V V

E7

V V V

V V V

? bb b n

? bb b
b

10

Specimen stylistic stimulus C instruments, treble clef

Grade 8
Example 1

b 5
& b bb 4

Lively Dance q = 138

to be played through twice

. . . .
? bb b 45 n J n
J
b

V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
. .
n

. .
b

. .

mf

? bb b 45

b

. . . . . . . . . .
b
& b bb V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
B7

? bb b
b

? bb b
b

. .
n

. .
n

. .
b

C7

. .
n

>.

>.

. .

. . n >. >.
. .
. .

11

Specimen stylistic stimulus C instruments, treble clef

Example 2
Impressionistic:
Slow and smooth q. = 63

#### 9
& 8

C9

V V

C9

V V V

to be played through twice

? #### 9
8
? #### 9
8

E7

#### E7
&
V V

V V V

F7

G7

V V V

F7

G7

C9

C9

? ####

? ####

12

V V V

V V V

V V V V