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SYLLABUS GUIDE
2016
Contents
Introduction 2
The value of RSL qualifications 2
RSL and UCAS 2
Period of Operation 2
Examination Structure 2
Guidance for Grade Examinations 3
Guidance for Performance Certificates 5
Marking Schemes 6
Examination Timings 6
General Notes 7
Selecting Free Choice Pieces 8
Instrument Specification 8
Debut 9
Grade 1 10
Grade 2 11
Grade 3 12
Grade 4 13
Grade 5 14
Grade 6 15
Grade 7 16
Grade 8 17
Graded Assessment Criteria 18
This guide is designed to accompany the relevant grade book and give teachers and students clear
information relating to the requirements of each graded music examination offered by Rockschool.
The Rockschool website, www.rslawards.com contains further guidance relating to the practical
aspects of the examinations together with audio examples to help students become familiar with
the types of material used in the examinations.
We advise all entrants to read our Examination Regulations before entering for a Rockschool
examination, www.rslawards.com/aboutus/regulations
This accounts
3 Performance Pieces for 60% of the
(two of which may be Free Choice Pieces) Candidates choose to play either exam mark
Performance Pieces or Technical
Exercises first This accounts
Technical Exercises for 15% of the
(Section A, B, C and D for Level 3 qualifications)
exam mark
Sight Reading
Technical Exercises Candidates will be presented with a sight reading piece by the
There are either three or four types of technical exercise, Examiner. Candidates have practice time allocated and the
depending on the grade: Examiner will play the backing track twice. The first time is to
practise and the second time is to perform the final version
GROUP A scales for the exam. For each playthrough, the backing track will
GROUP B arpeggios/broken chords begin with a countin. During the practice time, candidates
GROUP C chord voicings will be given the option of a metronome click throughout or a
GROUP D a choice of stylistic studies countin at the beginning. The backing track is continuous so
Note: Group D only exists at Grades 68. once the first playthrough has finished the countin of the
second playing will start immediately. Note: it is acceptable for
Groups A and B need to be played to a compulsory candidates to also ask for additional playing(s) of the backing
metronome click. The Examiner will ask for one track during the practice time allocated.
demonstration from each group. The book can be used in
the exam for Groups A and B up to and including Grade 3.
From Grades 48, candidates must play from memory.
Ear Tests
Candidates need to complete two aural tests. Examples can
be found in the grade book.
5 Performance Pieces only These account for 20% of the exam mark each.
(three of these can be Free Choice Pieces)
Performance Pieces
The candidate plays five pieces in their preferred chosen
order. There are no additional exercises in this examination.
Examination Timings
The following tables detail the approximate timings for each examination:
At Debut there are three groups of prepared technical EAR TESTS: At Debut there are two ear tests. Both are
exercises: a) Scales, b) Arpeggios and c) Chord Voicings. previously unseen and an example of each is shown in
These are explained in detail in the relevant grade book. the grade book.
Chord Recognition
The Examiner will play a sequence of chords, each with a C
root note. Candidates will need to identify which chord played
was major and which chord was minor.
At Grade 1 there are three groups of prepared technical EAR TESTS: At Grade 1 there are two ear tests. Both are
exercises: a) Scales, b) Broken Chords and c) Chord Voicings. previously unseen and an example of each is shown in the
These are explained in detail in the relevant grade book. grade book.
Melodic Recall
The Examiner will play three consecutive notes. Candidates
General Musicianship Questions
will need to identify whether the last two notes are higher or Candidates will be asked five questions related to one of their
lower in sequence. performance pieces. Please see the grade book for full details.
At Grade 2 there are three groups of technical work: IMPROVISATION & INTERPRETATION: The Examiner will provide
a) Scales, b) Arpeggios and c) Chord Voicings. These are a 45 bar chord progression in the key of B b major or D
explained in detail in the relevant grade book. major. Candidates will be given 90 seconds to practise.
EAR TESTS: At Grade 2 there are two ear tests. Both are
Chord Recognition performance pieces. Please see the grade book for full details.
The Examiner will play a sequence of chords, each with a C Please see Appendix for full explanation of assessment
root note. Candidates will need to identify the chord quality criteria at each level.
of each chord.
At Grade 3 there are three groups of technical work: EAR TESTS: At Grade 3 there are two ear tests. Both are
a) Scales, b) Arpeggios and c) Chord Voicings. These are previously unseen and an example of each is shown in the
explained in detail in the relevant grade book. grade book.
Chord Recognition
The Examiner will play a sequence of chords, each with a C
root note. Candidates will need to identify the chord quality
of two of the chords.
Technical Work EAR TESTS: At Grade 4 there are two ear tests. Both are
At Grade 4 there are three groups of technical work: previously unseen and an example of each is shown in the
a) Scales, b) Arpeggios and c) Chord Voicings. These grade book.
are explained in detail in the relevant grade book.
Harmonic Recall
The Examiner will play a chord progression containing chords
I, IV and V in any order or combination in the key of C major.
Candidates will need to play back to a click.
Technical Work EAR TESTS: At Grade 5 there are two ear tests. Both are
At Grade 5 there are three groups of technical exercises: previously unseen and an example of each is shown in the
a) Scales, b) Arpeggios and c) Chord Voicings. These are grade book.
explained in detail in the relevant grade book.
Harmonic Recall
The Examiner will play a chord progression containing
chords I, II, IV, V and VI in any order or combination in the
key of C major. Candidates will need to play back to a click.
Technical Work minutes to prepare. Please see the grade book for full details.
Melodic Recall
The Examiner will play a 2 bar diatonic melody in the key of
C major with a range up to an octave. The first note will be
the root note or a fifth. Candidates will need to play the
melody to the click.
Technical Work choose from three genre group options and will be given 3
minutes to prepare. Please see the grade book for full details.
At Grade 7 there are four groups of technical work: a) Scales,
b) Arpeggios, c) Chord Voicings, d) Stylistic Studies. These are
explained in detail in the relevant grade book.
General Musicianship Questions
Candidates will be asked five questions related to one of their
Ear Tests performance pieces. Please see the grade book for full details.
At Grade 7 there are two ear tests. Both are previously Please see Appendix for full explanation of assessment
unseen and an example of each is shown in the grade book. criteria at each level.
Melodic Recall
The Examiner will play a 2 bar diatonic melody in the key of C
major or C minor with a range up to an octave. The first note
will be the root note or a fifth. Candidates will need to play
the melody to the click.
Melodic Recall
The Examiner will play a 2 bar diatonic melody in the key of
C major, C natural minor or C harmonic minor with a range
up to an octave. The first note will be the root note, 3rd or
5th. Candidates will need to play the melody to the click.
Grade Descriptor Insecure basic Generally secure basic Mostly secure basic Consistently secure
techniques techniques techniques basic techniques
Inability to maintain Basic ability to play Basic ability to play Basic ability to play
pitch and/or pulse with accuracy, pitch with accuracy, pitch with accuracy, pitch
accurately and pulse some of and pulse most of and pulse consistently
the time the time
Grade Descriptor Inability to maintain Basic ability to play Basic ability to play Basic ability to play
pitch, pulse or rhythm with accuracy, pitch, with accuracy, pitch, with accuracy, pitch,
accurately rhythm and pulse rhythm and pulse rhythm and pulse
some of the time most of the time consistently
Inability to recall Ability to recall musical Ability to recall musical Ability to recall
musical and rhythmic and rhythmic phrases and rhythmic phrases musical and rhythmic
phrases accurately some of the time most of the time phrases consistently
Grade Descriptor Incorrect responses Generally correct Mostly correct Consistently correct
responses responses responses
Grade Descriptor Insecure ability to read Generally secure Mostly secure ability Consistently secure
basic notation ability to read basic to read basic rhythmic, ability to read basic
rhythmic, harmonic harmonic and melodic rhythmic, harmonic
and melodic notation notation and melodic notation
Mark Range 02 correct responses 3 correct responses 4 correct responses 5 correct responses
Grades 4 & 5
Grades 4 & 5 Performance Pieces
Assessment
Attainment Band Criteria Not Met
Pass Merit Distinction
Grade Descriptor Insecure physical Generally secure Mostly secure Consistently secure
technique physical techniques physical techniques physical techniques
Inconsistent use Secure use of rhythm Secure use of rhythm Secure use of rhythm
of rhythm some of the time most of the time throughout
Grade Descriptor Inability to maintain Ability to play with Ability to play with Ability to play with
pitch, pulse or rhythm accuracy, pitch, accuracy, pitch, accuracy, pitch,
accurately rhythm and pulse rhythm and pulse rhythm and pulse
some of the time most of the time consistently
Inability to recall Ability to recall musical Ability to recall musical Ability to recall
musical and rhythmic and rhythmic phrases and rhythmic phrases musical and rhythmic
phrases accurately some of the time most of the time phrases consistently
Grade Descriptor Incorrect responses Generally correct Mostly correct Consistently correct
responses responses responses
Grade Descriptor Insecure ability to read Generally secure Mostly secure ability Consistently secure
basic notation ability to read basic to read basic rhythmic, ability to read basic
rhythmic, harmonic harmonic and melodic rhythmic, harmonic
and melodic notation notation and melodic notation
Mark Range 02 correct responses 3 correct responses 4 correct responses 5 correct responses
Grade Descriptor Insecure physical Generally secure Mostly secure Consistently secure
techniques advanced physical advanced physical advanced physical
techniques techniques techniques
Insecure expressive Generally secure use Mostly secure use of Secure use of
techniques of advanced advanced expressive advanced expressive
expressive techniques techniques techniques throughout
Inconsistent use of sync Assured use of sync Assured use of sync Assured use of sync
and security some of and security most of and security
the time the time throughout
Mark Range 01 2 34 56
Grade Descriptor pitch, pulse or rhythm Ability to play with Ability to play with Ability to play with
accurately accuracy, pitch, accuracy, pitch, accuracy, pitch,
rhythm and pulse rhythm and pulse rhythm and pulse
some of the time most of the time consistently
Mark Range 04 56 78 9
Grade Descriptor Insecure stylistic Generally secure Mostly secure Consistently secure
awareness advanced stylistic advanced stylistic advanced stylistic
awareness awareness awareness
Grade Descriptor Incorrect responses Generally correct Mostly correct Consistently correct
responses responses responses
Grade Descriptor Insecure ability to Generally secure Mostly secure ability Consistently secure
read notation ability to read to read advanced ability to read
advanced rhythmic, rhythmic, harmonic advanced rhythmic,
harmonic and melodic and melodic notation harmonic and melodic
notation notation
Mark Range 02 correct responses 3 correct responses 4 correct responses 5 correct responses