GUITAR BASS GUITAR DRUMS

Transcription

1 Europe s No rock music exam board GUIAR BASS GUIAR DRUMS Syllabus Guide Syllabus Guide - -

2 Published by Rockschool Ltd Uauthorised reproductio of ay part of this publicatio by ay meas icludig photocopyig is a ifrigemet of copyright Compiled ad edited by: Jeremy Ward Simo Pitt Cover desig: Chris Davis ext layout: Bet Ayer Prited ad boud i the Uited Kigdom Visit the Rockschool website at wwwrockschoolcouk Phoe: Fax: rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved

3 Cotets page Welcome to the Guitar Syllabus Examiatios Performace Pieces echical exercises Sight Readig or Improvisatio ad Iterpretatio (Grades -) Quick Study Piece (Grades -) Ear ests (Grades -) Geeral Musiciaship Questios Exam Regulatios Assessmet Requiremets Sample Music rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved

4 Welcome to the Guitar Syllabus Welcome to the Rockschool syllabus for electric guitar his Syllabus Guide is desiged to give teachers, learers ad cadidates practical iformatio o the graded examiatios ru by Rockschool If you have ay queries about the syllabus for electric guitar, bass ad drums, popular piao, ad vocals or ay of the Awards, Certificates ad Diplomas for Music Practitioers ad for Music Educators, or our istrumetal ad teachig diplomas, the please do ot hesitate to call us o or us at ifo@rockschoolcouk he Rockschool website,wwwrockschoolcouk, has detailed iformatio o all aspects of our examiatios, icludig examiatio regulatios, detailed markig schemes ad markig criteria as well as otated ad audio examples of all the types of tests used i the exams ad hady tips o how to get the most out of the performace pieces Compaio Guides are also available for Vocals, Guitar, Bass ad Drums his Syllabus Guide covers the followig examiatios: Grade examiatios offered by Rockschool at Grades - Performace Certificates offered by Rockschool at Debut ad Grades - Bad exams at Grades,, I the Guide, the examiatio requiremets for each grade are show i italics back to cotets page rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved

5 Examiatios Grade Examiatios Rockschool s graded examiatios are made up of the followig elemets: Performace pieces (Debut ad Grades -) echical exercises (Grades -) Sight Readig or Improvisatio Iterpretatio (Grades - oly) Quick study piece (Grades - oly) Ear tests (Grades -) Geeral musiciaship questios (Grades -) Performace Certificates Rockschool s performace certificates are available at every grade ad cosist of the followig elemets: Debut: pieces to be selected from the debut pack No ow choice is allowable at this level Grades -: performace pieces to be selected from the appropriate grade book or pieces from the appropriate grade book ad ow choice For iformatio o criteria for ow choice please visit the website at: wwwrockschoolcouk Bad Exams Rockschool s bad exams are available at grades, for guitar, bass ad drums ad cosist of the followig elemets: Grades, ad : performace pieces to be selected from the appropriate grade book or pieces from the appropriate grade book ad ow choice For iformatio o criteria for ow choice please visit the website at: wwwrockschoolcouk Guitar Bass ad Drums Syllabus Guide back to cotets page rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved

6 Syllabus Guide for Electric Guitar Performace Pieces Rockschool s electric guitar grades are desiged to showcase istrumetal performace across a rage of popular styles he performaces are the bechmark by which the grades are measured ad the prited performace repertoire reflects the geeral stadards which players should be able to attai if they are successfully to complete the exam All the repertoire pieces performed i the exam should be played to a CD backig track Guitar Bass ad Drums Syllabus Guide he performace characteristics of each grade are prited i the relevat grade books ad are reproduced below he grade descriptios assume competece i the areas described i grades lower dow the sequece Debut: i Debut Guitar you will be cocetratig o playig tues A player of Debut stadard should be able to play up to bars of music i / time, usig simple first positio melodies composed of whole, half ad quarter otes ad associated rests, as well as a rage of basic first positio chords he pieces very ofte use ope strigs ad melodies move maily betwee adjacet strigs Grade : a player of Grade stadard should be able to play up to bars of music usig first positio chords ad melodies composed of whole, half, quarter ad eighth otes ad associated rests, tied otes, ad dotted half ad quarter otes Performaces should iclude basic legato ad staccato playig where marked Grade : i this grade you are begiig to acquire a rage of physical ad expressive techiques, icludig palm mutig ad the use of double stops o adjacet strigs, simple legato ad staccato ad slides, as well as simple dyamics I this grade you will also begi to work o your stylistic appreciatio Grade : this grade cotiues the foudatio work started i Grade As a player you will be ecouterig sycopated eighth ad sixteeth ote strummig as well as developig the palette of expressive techiques to iclude frettig had vibrato, hammer os ad pull offs, slides ad simple beds he pieces of music are ow loger, coverig two pages ad you should be developig your stylistic awareess, takig ito accout amp ad pick up settigs for each sog Grade : i this grade you use a rage of physical ad expressive techiques with cofidece, dampig ad the use of double stops ad adjacet strigs, legato ad staccato, slides, frettig had vibrato, hammer os ad pull offs, ad accets, ad you are experimetig with a rage of dyamics from very quiet to very loud I this grade you are cotiuig to develop your ability to play with stylistic authority Grade : you will be cofidet i a rage of physical ad expressive techiques You will be able to demostrate your abilities across a umber of styles ad have cotrol over toe ad soud adjustmets to suit the playig style of your choice Please ote that some of the tues may ow be writte out over three pages Grade : i this grade you are developig the cofidece of the advaced player across the rage of physical ad expressive techiques You will start experimetig with a rage of techiques across a umber of musical styles here is a greater emphasis o persoal expressio ad you back to cotets page rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved

7 will display your ow musical persoality through ad libbig ad soloig Please ote that some of the tues may ow be writte out over three pages Grade : i this grade you are ow cofidet i your abilities across the rage of physical ad expressive techiques You will be experimetig with a rage of these techiques across a umber of styles You will also be comfortable with a rage of rhythms ad time sigatures other tha commo time Your solos will be musically expressive ad you will have the cofidece to apply modal ideas i a umber of soloig cotexts Please ote that some of the tues may ow be writte out over three pages Grade : you will play effortlessly with a wide rage of physical ad expressive techiques at your commad You will be able to use these at will across a rage of styles ad musical cotexts You will be comfortable playig pieces employig a umber of differet time sigatures (icludig chages from bar to bar) ad you will display mastery of a umber of musical styles Your solos will be highly musical ad employ techiques across the rage You will also be highly sesitive to all aspects of musical presetatio Please ote that some of the tues may ow be writte out over four pages Exam Requiremets Debut: cadidates are asked to perform five out of the six pieces prited i the Debut examiatio pack No free choice optio is allowed Grades -: cadidates are asked to perform either three out of the six pieces prited i the grade packs, or two pieces from the grade pack ad oe brought ito the exam by the cadidate his may be either a self-composed piece or a piece of established popular repertoire If a backig track is used it must be a music mius versio (without the guitar part) Cadidates takig Grade ad above ca adapt the performace pieces to suit their playig style his is permitted so log as these adaptatios keep withi the style of the piece Cadidates are required, i ay case, to iclude improvisatio passages i additio to those idicated by the score from grade Guidelies are published by Rockschool for those cadidates who wish either to write a piece of their ow for performace i the exam or to use as a guide whe choosig a piece of established repertoire Visit the website at wwwrockschoolcouk echical Exercises he rage of techical exercises to be played by cadidates is published i each book hese are played to a tempo set for the cadidate by the examier Cadidates ca choose to play alog with the metroome click or without it AB figerigs for guitarists ad bass players are offered i the examples as a guide, but cadidates may use their ow figerig patters whe playig the exercises Cadidates are asked to prepare the exercises i the keys (where appropriate) ad the tempos idicated he fial exercise should be played alog to the backig track o the CD back to cotets page rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved Guitar Bass ad Drums Syllabus Guide GUIAR

8 Exam Requiremets Grade hese should be played at beats per miute (bpm) i a straight feel: quarter otes Group A Scales octave C major scale A atural mior scale E A mior petatoic scales Group B Chords: Power chords: B, A, G wo ote chords to be played as a cotiuous sequece Major chords: A, D E Mior chords: Am, Dm Em Group C Riff he riff is played over a four bar backig track he iitial riff patter is give ad cadidates are asked to complete the riff by playig the same patter over a differet chord i the subsequet three bars Grade hese should be played at bpm i a straight feel: quarter otes Group A Scales octave C G major scales E A atural mior scale C G mior petatoic scales Group B Chords: Power chords: B, A, G hree ote chords to be played as a cotiuous sequece Major chords: C, F G Mior chords: Am, Dm Em Group C Riff he riff is played over a eight bar backig track he iitial riff patter is give (two bars) ad cadidates are asked to complete the riff by movig the same patter o to the idicated root of a differet chord over the subsequet bars Guitar Bass ad Drums Syllabus Guide Grade hese should be played at bpm i a straight feel: eighth otes Group A Scales octaves to be prepared i the keys of G, A ad B Major scales Natural mior scale Mior petatoic scales Blues Scales Group B Arpeggios octaves to be prepared i the keys of G, A ad B Major arpeggios Mior arpeggios Group C Chords: Barre chords: G, Am, Bm to be played as a cotiuous sequece Domiat chords: A, C, D E to be prepared i ope positio or i barre chord form Group D Riff he riff is played over a eight bar backig track he iitial riff patter is give back to cotets page rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved

9 (two bars) ad cadidates are asked to complete the riff by movig the same patter o to the idicated root of a differet chord over the subsequet bars Grade hese should be played at bpm i a straight feel: eighth otes Group A Scales octaves to be prepared chromatically i the keys of G-B, root ote th strig ad C-E, root ote th strig Major scales Natural mior scale Major petatoic scales Mior petatoic scales Blues Scales Group B Arpeggios octaves to be prepared i the same keys as the scales above Mior arpeggios Domiat arpeggios Group C Chords Exteded barre chords: Bm, A, G Play as a cotiuous sequece Group D Riff he riff is played over a eight bar backig track he iitial riff patter is give (two bars) ad cadidates are asked to complete the riff by movig the same patter o to the idicated root of a differet chord over the subsequet bars Grade hese should be played at bpm i a straight feel: eighth otes Group A Scales octaves to be prepared chromatically i the keys of G-B, root ote th strig Mior petatoic scales: he cadidate must prepare all positios ad the examier will ask two cosecutive positios Group B Arpeggios octaves to be prepared chromatically i the keys C-E, root ote th strig Major arpeggios Mior arpeggios Mior arpeggios Domiat arpeggios Group C Chords Root th strig barre chords: C, Dm, Em, F, G Play as a cotiuous sequece Group D Legato Study Cadidates should prepare the eight bar legato study to be performed with the backig track Grade hese should be played at bpm i a straight feel: sixteeth otes Group A Scales Modes octaves to be prepared chromatically i the keys of G-B, root ote th strig Ioia, Doria ad Phrygia modes he cadidate should prepare all ad they will be asked to play as pairs: Ioia-Doria or Doria-Phrygia Dimiished scales back to cotets page rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved Guitar Bass ad Drums Syllabus Guide GUIAR

10 Harmoic Mior scales Group B Arpeggios octaves to be prepared i the keys as above, root ote th strig Major arpeggios Mior b arpeggios Dimiished arpeggios Domiat triplet arpeggios Group C Chords: play as a cotiuous sequece Cadidates should prepare both sequeces ad the examier will select oe Root th strig chords: Gmaj, Bbdim, Fb, Gmaj Sequece to be prepared chromatically i keys G-B Root th strig chords: Cmaj, Ebdim Bmb, Cmaj Sequece to be prepared chromatically i keys C-E Group D appig Study Cadidates should prepare the eight bar tappig study to be performed with the backig track Guitar Bass ad Drums Syllabus Guide Grade hese should be played at bpm i a straight feel: sixteeth otes Group A Scales Modes octaves to be prepared chromatically i the keys of G-B, root ote th strig Lydia, Mixolydia ad Aeolia modes o be prepared cosecutively Chromatic scales Whole oe scales Group B Arpeggios octaves to be prepared chromatically i the keys C-E, root ote th strig Major arpeggios Mior arpeggios Domiat arpeggios Dimiished triplet arpeggios Group C Chords: play as a cotiuous sequece Cadidates should prepare both sequeces ad the examier will select oe Sequece Root th strig chords: Gmaj, Em, Am, D Sequece to be prepared chromatically i keys G-B Sequece Root th strig chords: Cmaj, Am, Dm, G Sequece to be prepared chromatically i keys C-E Group D Harmoics Study Cadidates should prepare the eight bar harmoics study o be played with the backig track Grade hese should be played at bpm i a straight feel: sixteeth otes Group A Scales Modes octaves to be prepared chromatically i the keys of G-B, root ote th strig Ioia, Doria, Phrygia, Lydia, Mixolydia Aeolia modes o be played as three cosecutive scales from a ote ad mode give by the examier back to cotets page rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved

11 Group B Arpeggios octaves to be prepared i the keys as above, root ote th strig Domiat arpeggios Domiat b arpeggios Mior arpeggios Group C Chords: play as a cotiuous sequece Cadidates should prepare both sequeces ad the examier will select oe Sequece Root th strig chords: Am, Db, D, G Sequece to be prepared chromatically i keys G-B Sequece Root th strig chords: Dm, Gb, G, C Sequece to be prepared chromatically i keys C-E Group D Sweep pickig study Cadidates should prepare the eight bar sweep pickig study o be played with the backig track GUIAR Sight Readig or Improvisatio Iterpretatio (Grades - oly) Cadidates attemptig Grades - iclusive have a choice of takig either the sight readig or the improvisatio iterpretatio test Examples of the type of tests required i the exam are prited i the grade packs Further examples ca be foud i the Compaio Guide Please ote that at Grades ad, the sight readig ad improvisatio iterpretatio tests cotai a small amout of the other skill he requiremets are show for each grade below Exam Requiremets: Sight Readig Cadidates will be asked to prepare a sight readig test which is give to them by the examier he test may be i oe of the followig styles: blues ad rock (Grades -) or blues, fuk, rock or jazz (Grades -) he examier will allow the cadidate secods to prepare the test ad will set the tempo o a metroome he cadidate ca choose to play with or without the metroome for the duratio of the test AB figerigs are give alog with stadard otatio i all sight readig tests Grade : bars, - bpm, commo time (C major A mior) Grade : bars, - bpm, commo time (C major, A mior, G major, E mior) Grade : bars, - bpm, commo time Keys to be take from the techical exercises at this grade he test may iclude hammer os Grade : At this Grade there is a elemet of improvisatio his is i the form of a two bar edig he improvised edig will use chord patters that have bee used i the sight readig part of the test bars, - bpm, time sigatures /, /, / Keys to be take from the techical exercises at this grade he test may iclude hammer o, pull offs bed up ad slides Grade : At this Grade there is a elemet of improvisatio his is i the form of a two bar edig he improvised edig will use chord patters that have bee used i the sight readig part of the test bars, - bpm, time sigatures /, /, / Keys to be take from the techical exercises at this grade he test may iclude hammer os, pull offs, bed up, slides ad vibrato Guitar Bass ad Drums Syllabus Guide back to cotets page rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved

12 Exam Requiremets: Improvisatio Iterpretatio Cadidates will be asked to prepare a improvisatio iterpretatio test which is give to them by the examier he test may be i oe of the followig styles: blues ad rock (Grades -) or blues, fuk, rock or jazz (Grades -) Grades -: : the cadidate will be asked to play a improvised lie to a backig track of four bars he cadidate may choose to play either rhythmic chords or a melodic lead lie he cadidate is allowed secods to prepare ad is the allowed to practise through o playig of the backig track before playig it a secod time i the exam he test is cotiuous with a oe bar cout i at the begiig ad after the practice sessio Grade : bars, - bpm, commo time (C major A mior) Grade : bars, - bpm, commo time (C major,, G major, A mior, E mior) Grade : the cadidate will be asked to play a improvised lie to a backig track of eight bars he cadidate may choose to play either rhythmic chords or a melodic lead lie he cadidate is allowed secods to prepare ad is the allowed to practise through o playig of the backig track before playig it a secod time i the exam he test is cotiuous with a oe bar cout i at the begiig ad after the practice sessio bars, - bpm, commo time Keys to be take from the techical exercises at this grade Grades -: i these grades there is a small elemet of sight readig his takes the form of a two bar chord rhythm at the begiig of the test he cadidate will be asked to play the chords i the rhythms idicated ad to complete the test usig a improvised lie made up of chords ad lead where idicated his is played to a backig track of o more tha eight bars he cadidate is allowed secods to prepare ad is the allowed to practise through o playig of the backig track before playig it a secod time i the exam he test is cotiuous with a oe bar cout i at the begiig ad after the practice sessio Grade : bars, - bpm, time sigatures /, /, / Grade : bars, - bpm, time sigatures /, /, / Keys to be take from the techical exercises at this grade Guitar Bass ad Drums Syllabus Guide Quick Study Piece (Grades - oly) Cadidate attemptig ay of these grades will be asked to perform a Quick Study Piece (QSP) his is give to the cadidate miutes before they eter the exam room ad cadidates etered for these grades are asked to arrive at the exam cetre at least te miutes before they are give their QSP to practise Cadidates will be asked to perform from a paper outlie ad a CD give to them by the examier he outlie is i the form of a lead sheet or sessio chart ad will cotai iformatio o style, tempo ad legth, alog with other musical iformatio such as dyamics ad marked solo passages AB figerigs are also icluded where appropriate he CD cotais a backig track to be used for both practise ad performace i the examiatio Each QSP will be i the style of rock, fuk, blues or jazz he performace should reflect the style of the piece ad cadidates should use the spaces i the music to develop their musical ideas back to cotets page rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved

13 Exam Requiremets: Quick Study Piece Grade : the QSP will cosist of up to bars excludig repeats ad DC, DS he rhythms ad chords will be idicated alog with some writte otatio, dyamics ad other musical otatio iformatio he ote legths ad rhythms will reflect the stadard of a Grade performace ime sigatures ad empo: /, /, /, / - bpm Keys: ay major or mior Grade : the QSP will cosist of up to bars excludig repeats ad DC, DS he rhythms ad chords will be idicated alog with some writte otatio, dyamics ad other musical otatio iformatio he ote legths ad rhythms will reflect the stadard of a Grade performace ime sigatures ad empo: /, /, /, / - bpm Keys: ay major or mior Grade : the QSP will cosist of up to bars excludig repeats ad DC, DS he rhythms ad chords will be idicated alog with some writte otatio, dyamics ad other musical otatio iformatio he ote legths ad rhythms will reflect the stadard of a Grade performace ime sigatures ad empo: /, /, /, / - bpm Keys: ay major or mior GUIAR Ear ests (Grades -) Cadidates will be asked to take two ear tests i the exam he tests are played o CD ad use real istrumet souds Each test is played to the cadidate by the examier twice ad the cadidate plays each test to a drum backig Cadidates my use their istrumet while the CD is playig Exam Requiremets: est Melodic Recall Grade : cadidates are asked to play back o their istrumet a two bar melody composed from the first three otes of the C major scale (C, D E) Cadidates will hear the toic ote ad told the startig ote ad will hear the test twice with drum backig here is a short break i the test for the cadidate to practise ad the the test will recommece ad the cadidate is required to play the melody with the drum backig he test is cotiuous bpm Grade : cadidates are asked to play back o their istrumet a two bar melody composed from the C or G mior petatoic scales Cadidates will hear the toic ote ad told the startig ote ad will hear the test twice with drum backig here is a short break i the test for the cadidate to practise ad the the test will recommece ad the cadidate is required to play the melody with the drum backig he test is cotiuous bpm Grade : cadidates are asked to play back o their istrumet a four bar melody composed from the G major or G mior petatoic scales Cadidates will hear the toic ote ad told the startig ote ad will hear the test twice with drum backig here is a short break i the test for the cadidate to practise ad the the test will recommece ad the cadidate is required to play the melody with the drum backig he test is cotiuous bpm he test may iclude hammer os ad pull offs Grade : cadidates are asked to play back o their istrumet a four bar melody composed from the C major or C mior scales Cadidates will hear the toic ote ad told the startig ote ad will hear the test twice with drum backig here is a short break i the test for the cadidate to Guitar Bass ad Drums Syllabus Guide back to cotets page rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved

14 practise ad the the test will recommece ad the cadidate is required to play the melody with the drum backig he test is cotiuous bpm he test may iclude hammer o, pull offs ad slides Grade : cadidates are asked to play back o their istrumet a four bar melody composed from the G, A or B mior petatoic scales Cadidates will hear the toic ote ad told the startig ote ad will hear the test twice with drum backig here is a short break i the test for the cadidate to practise ad the the test will recommece ad the cadidate is required to play the melody with the drum backig he test is cotiuous bpm he test may iclude hammer os, pull offs, slides, vibrato ad beds Grade : cadidates are asked to play back o their istrumet a four bar melody composed from the G, A or B Ioia mode Cadidates will hear the toic ote ad will hear the test twice with drum ad bass backig here is a short break i the test for the cadidate to practise ad the the test will recommece ad the cadidate is required to play the melody with the drum ad bass backig he test is cotiuous -bpm he test may iclude hammer os, pull offs, slides, vibrato ad beds Grade : cadidates are asked to play back o their istrumet a four bar melody composed from the G, A or B Aeolia mode Cadidates will hear the toic ote ad will hear the test twice with drum ad bass backig here is a short break i the test for the cadidate to practise ad the the test will recommece ad the cadidate is required to play the melody with the drum ad bass backig he test is cotiuous -bpm he test may iclude hammer os, pull offs, slides, vibrato ad beds Grade : cadidates are asked to play back o their istrumet a four bar melody composed from the G, A or B Doria or Mixolydia mode Cadidates will hear the toic ote ad will hear the test twice with drum ad bass backig here is a short break i the test for the cadidate to practise ad the the test will recommece ad the cadidate is required to play the melody with the drum ad bass backig he test is cotiuous -bp he test may iclude hammer os, pull offs, slides, vibrato ad beds Guitar Bass ad Drums Syllabus Guide Exam Requiremets: est Rhythmic Recall Grade : cadidates are asked to play back o their istrumet a two bar rhythm o the bottom E strig o the guitar he rhythm is played twice with a drum backig here is a short break i the test for the cadidate to practise ad the test will recommece ad the cadidate is required to play the rhythm with the drum backig he test is cotiuous bpm Grade : cadidates are asked to play back o their istrumet a two bar rhythm played o a ope E mior chord o the guitar he rhythm is played twice with a drum backig here is a short break i the test for the cadidate to practise ad the test will recommece ad the cadidate is required to play the rhythm with the drum backig he test is cotiuous bpm Exam Requiremets: est Chord ad Rhythm Recall Grades -: he test will iclude chord types ad keys used i the techical work up to ad icludig the appropriate grade Cadidates are asked play back o their istrumet a four bar rhythmic chord sequece played o the guitar Cadidates are told the toic chord ad the piece back to cotets page rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved

15 is played twice with a drum backig here is a short break i the test for the cadidate to practise ad the test will recommece he cadidate is required to play the rhythmic chord sequece with the drum backig he test is cotiuous bpm Grades -: he test will iclude chord types ad keys used i the techical work up to ad icludig the appropriate grade Cadidates are asked play back o their istrumet a four bar rhythmic chord sequece played o the guitar Cadidates are told the toic chord ad the piece is played twice with a drum backig here is a short break i the test for the cadidate to practise ad the test will recommece he cadidate is required to play the rhythmic chord sequece with the drum backig he test is cotiuous - bpm GUIAR Geeral Musiciaship Questios Each Rockschool grade fiishes with five Geeral Musiciaship Questios hese questios are asked of the cadidate orally by the examier, who uses a performace piece played by the cadidate as a startig poit Exam Requiremets Grades -: cadidates will be asked questios i two mai areas: (i) music otatio ad (ii) kowledge of the istrumet Grades ad : i additio to the above cadidates will also be asked a third category: history ad styles A complete list of the topics covered i the music otatio ad theory category is prited i each book Sample questios may be foud o the Rockschool website ad i the Compaio Guide All questios cocerig istrumet kowledge will deal with the istrumet played by the cadidate Guitar Bass ad Drums Syllabus Guide back to cotets page rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved

16 Exam Regulatios Guitar Bass ad Drums Syllabus Guide Rockschool exams are ope to all persos, irrespective of age ad i accordace with our Equal Opportuities policy Full paymet ad relevat documetatio must reach the offices of Rockschool o or before the chose exam period s closig date Rockschool caot guaratee a exam for ay applicatios received after this date Exam etries may ot be trasferred from oe cadidate to aother Ay chages to the examiatio will icur a fee Cacellatio of a exam will result i loss of the exam fee uless as a result of illess or ijury Such cases must be substatiated by a medical certificate I this evet, the exam will be re-scheduled o receipt of half of the origial exam etry fee Names o certificates will be as o cadidate s ackowledgemet letter Replacemet certificates will icur a charge of O applicatio, cadidates may state times withi a exam period whe they are uavailable However, Rockschool caot guaratee to avoid all such dates Rockschool reserves the right to defer exams util the ext available exam period After oe deferral, a exam is guarateed at a exam cetre chose by Rockschool his may ot be your local cetre Cadidates must use oly the official Rockschool sheet music for their respective exam Photocopyig of ay material to facilitate page turs i the exams is allowable ad the copies will be retaied by the examier Sole use of photocopyig is prohibited ad may result i disqualificatio No refuds are give No teacher, or other perso, must be preset durig the preparatio of a cadidate s Quick Study Piece Ay assistace give to a cadidate will result i disqualificatio from the examiatio Oly the examier ad cadidate are allowed to be preset i the examiatio room with the exceptio of moderators appoited by Rockschool Cadidates must brig i two copies of music for the free choice piece Players must use a origial copy of the tue to be performed, ad must provide a secod copy for the examier, which may be a photocopy If there is o music available, a zero mark will be give for the piece Ay queries i writig should be addressed to the Director of Operatios at least two weeks prior to the exam date Ay backig tracks provided by the cadidate for use with free choice pieces must be capable of a music mius playback without the examiatio part beig audible to the examier If a uacceptable backig track is submitted, a zero mark will be give for the piece All bad exams are the advertised istrumets oly Backig tapes may ot be used i the exam Ay special eeds cadidates must otify the Rockschool office prior to the exam he examier s decisio is fial Normally, a examier will hear every compoet i full, but o occasio a examier may coclude a examiatio whe a decisio has bee reached Replacemet certificates may be obtaied by successful cadidates All replacemets certificates will be marked as such ad will icur a charge Rockschool operates a quality assured appeals process All appeals must be made i writig o later tha days after the exam date here are two criteria for formal appeals, these are: Appeals i respect of errors i procedure Appeals i respect of errors i matchig commets to marks awarded Full details of Rockschool Ltd s appeal process are available from the Rockschool office or website back to cotets page rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved

17 Assessmet Requiremets Mark Bad Distictio +/ Debut Grade : Very secure basic techiques : Musical use of appropriate expressive techiques : Secure rhythm/pulse/duratio : Seamless syc; secure cotiuity : Highly cofidet assured presetatio Merit +/ : Secure basic techiques : Correct use of appropriate expressive techiques : Secure rhythm/pulse/duratio : Strog sese of syc/cotiuity : Maily cofidet presetatio Pass +/ : Maily secure basic techiques : Some evidece of appropriate expressive techiques : Geerally accurate rhythm/pulse/ duratio : Maily sychroised; occasioal slips of cotiuity : Geerally cofidet presetatio with mior lapses Below Pass -/ : Isecure basic techiques : Icosistet use of expressive techiques : Icosistet rhythmic sese : Poor sychroisatio; uaware of errors : Hesitat presetatio Below Pass -/ : Cosistet basic techical errors : Failure to use ay expressive techiques : Wayward pulse; icorrect rhythm/ duratio : No syc; big cotiuity gaps; false starts : Highly ervous presetatio All refereces to vibrato ad staccato refer to Guitar ad Bass exams oly Guitar Bass ad Drums Syllabus Guide Appedix A: Performace Pieces Grades : Fluet basic techiques : Fluet use of appropriate istrumetal techiques vib, staccato etc : Musical use of rhythm/pulse/duratio : Seamless syc; secure cotiuity : Highly cofidet assured presetatio : High degree of stylistic awareess : Covicig appropriate improvisatio (grade ) : Secure basic techiques : Correct use of appropriate techiques : Secure rhythm/pulse/duratio : Strog sese of syc/cotiuity : Cofidet presetatio : Some degree of stylistic awareess : Some appropriate improvisatio (grade ) : Maily secure basic techiques : Some evidece of appropriate techiques : Geerally accurate rhythm/pulse/ duratio : Maily sychroised; occasioal slips of cotiuity : Geerally cofidet presetatio : Begiigs of stylistic awareess : Improvisatio evidet but with occasioal slips (grade ) : Isecure basic techiques : Icosistet use of some expressive techiques : Some icosistet rhythmic sese : Poor sychroisatio; uaware of errors : Hesitat presetatio : Icosistet stylistic awareess : No improvisatio (grade ) : Cosistet basic techical errors : Failure to observe expressive marks : Wayward pulse/rhythm/duratio : No syc; big cotiuity gaps; false starts : Highly ervous presetatio : Stylistically uaware : No improvisatio (grade ) Grades : Fluet techiques : Fluet use of appropriate istrumetal techiques vib, staccato etc : Musical use of rhythm/pulse/duratio : Seamless syc; effortless cotiuity : Highly cofidet assured presetatio : High degree of stylistic awareess : High level of appropriate improvisatio : Secure techiques : Musical use of appropriate techiques : Secure rhythm/pulse/duratio : Strog sese of syc/cotiuity : Cofidet presetatio : Some degree of stylistic awareess : Cosistet appropriate improvisatio : Maily secure techiques : Maily correct use of appropriate techiques : Geerally accurate rhythm/pulse/ duratio : Sychroised with occasioal slips of cotiuity : Geerally cofidet presetatio : Evidece of stylistic awareess : Some appropriate improvisatio : Isecure techiques : Icosistet or icorrect use of istrumetal techiques : Icosistet rhythmic sese : Problems of sychroisatio/ cotiuity : Hesitat presetatio : Icosistet stylistic awareess : Iappropriate improvisatio : Cosistet techical errors : Failure to observe expressive marks : Poor pulse; largely icorrect rhythm/duratio : Little or o sychroisatio; large gaps i cotiuity; false starts : Highly ervous presetatio : Stylistically uaware : No improvisatio Grades - : Effortless techiques : Fluet use of appropriate istrumetal techiques : Distictively musical rhythm/pulse/ duratio : Seamless syc; effortless cotiuity : Highly assured, professioal performace : Native level of stylistic awareess : Extesive idividual improvisatios : Secure techiques : Musical use of appropriate techiques : Secure use of rhythm/pulse/duratio : Strog sese of syc/cotiuity : Cofidet, assured presetatio : High degree of stylistic awareess : Extesive appropriate improvisatio : Maily secure techiques : Correct use of istrumetal techiques : Secure rhythm/pulse/ duratio : Sychroised with occasioal slips of cotiuity : Geerally cofidet presetatio : Evidece of stylistic awareess : Some appropriate improvisatio : Some isecurity of techiques : Icosistet use of expressive techs : Some icosistecies i rhythmic sese : Poor sychroisatio ad cotiuity : Hesitat presetatio : Icosistet stylistic awareess : Iappropriate improvisatio : Isecure techiques : Icosistet use of expressive techs : Poor sese of pulse; ofte icorrect rhythm/duratio : Little or o sychroisatio; large gaps i cotiuity; false starts : Highly ervous presetatio : Stylistically uaware : No improvisatio back to cotets page rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved

18 Guitar Bass ad Drums Syllabus Guide Appedix B: Bad Pieces (Performace Certificate) Mark Bad Distictio +/ Level (Grades -) : Fluet basic techiques : Fluet use of expressive techiques : Musical use of rhythm/pulse/duratio : Seamless syc withi the bad; secure cotiuity : Highly cofidet assured performaces : High degree of stylistic awareess : Extesive appropriate improvisatio : Strog sese of iteral commuicatio withi the bad : Strog effort to commuicate collective musical idetity Level (Grades ) : Fluet techiques : Fluet use of expressive techiques : Musical use of rhythm/pulse/duratio : Seamless iteral syc; effortless cotiuity : Highly cofidet assured performaces : High degree of stylistic awareess : High level of appropriate improvisatio : Musical sese of iteral commuicatio withi bad : Successful commuicatio of collective musical idetity Merit +/ Pass +/ : Secure basic techiques : Correct use of expressive techiques : Secure rhythm/pulse/duratio : Strog sese of iteral syc/cotiuity : Maily cofidet performaces : Some degree of stylistic awareess : Some appropriate improvisatio : Some sese of iteral commuicatio withi the bad : Some effort to commuicate collective musical idetity : Maily secure basic techiques : Some use of expressive techiques : Geerally accurate rhythm/pulse/duratio : Maily sychroised iterally; or cotiuity errors : Some hesitat performaces : Begiigs of stylistic awareess : Attempted but icosistet improvisatio : Miimal sese of iteral commuicatio withi bad : Some ackowledgemet of audiece presece : Secure techiques : Musical use of expressive techiques : Secure rhythm/pulse/duratio : Strog sese of iteral syc/cotiuity : Maily cofidet performaces : Some degree of stylistic awareess : Extesive appropriate improvisatio : Strog sese of iteral commuicatio withi the bad : Some effort to commuicate collective musical idetity : Maily secure techiques : Maily correct use of expressive techiques : Geerally accurate rhythm/pulse/duratio : Sychroised iterally with or cotiuity errors : Some hesitatio i performaces : Begiigs of stylistic awareess : Some appropriate improvisatio : Some sese of iteral commuicatio withi the bad : Some effort to commuicate collective musical idetity Below Pass -/ Below Pass -/ : Isecure basic techiques : Icosistet use of some expressive techiques : Icosistet rhythm/pulse/duratio : Poor iteral sychroisatio; uaware of errors : Lack of cofidece : Stylistically uaware : No improvisatio attempted : Lack of uderstadig betwee bad members : No effort to commuicate collective musical idetity : Cosistet basic techical errors : Failure to observe expressive marks : Wayward pulse/rhythm/duratio : No syc; big cotiuity gaps; false starts : Highly ervous presetatio : Stylistically uaware : No improvisatio attempted : Lack of uderstadig betwee bad members : No effort to commuicate collective musical idetity : Isecure techiques : Some use of expressive techiques : Icosistet rhythm/pulse/duratio : Problems of iteral sychroisatio/cotiuity : Lack of cofidece : Stylistically uaware : Iappropriate improvisatio : Miimal sese of iteral commuicatio withi bad : Little ackowledgemet of audiece presece : Cosistet techical errors : Failure to observe expressive marks : Poor pulse; largely icorrect rhythm/duratio : Little or o syc; large gaps i cotiuity; false starts : Visibly ervous presetatio : Stylistically uaware : No improvisatio attempted : Lack of uderstadig betwee bad members : No effort to commuicate collective musical idetity Level (Grades -) : Effortless techiques : Fluet use of expressive techiques : Distictively musical rhythm/pulse/duratio : Seamless iteral syc; effortless cotiuity : Highly assured, professioal performace : Native level of stylistic awareess : Extesive idividual improvisatios : Cospicuous sese of iteral bad commuicatio : Successful comm of distictive collective musical id : Very secure techiques : Musical use of expressive techiques : Musical use of rhythm/pulse/duratio : Near-seamless sese of iteral syc/cotiuity : Cofidet, assured performaces : High degree of stylistic awareess : Extesive appropriate improvisatio : Strog sese of iteral commuicatio withi the bad : Successful comm of collective musical idetity : Secure techiques : Correct use of expressive techiques : Secure rhythm/pulse/duratio : Sychroised iterally with or cotiuity errors : Occasioal hesitatio i performaces : Some degree of stylistic awareess : Some appropriate improvisatio : Some sese of iteral commuicatio withi the bad : Some effort to commuicate collective musical idetity : Some isecurity of techiques : Some errors i use of expressive techiques : Some icosistecies i rhythm/pulse/duratio : Poor iteral sychroisatio ad cotiuity : Hesitat; lackig i cofidece : Begiigs of stylistic awareess : Iappropriate improvisatio : Miimal sese of iteral commuicatio withi bad : Little ackowledgemet of audiece presece : Isecure techiques : Very icosistet use of expressive techiques : Poor sese of pulse; ofte icorrect rhythm/duratio : Little or o syc; large gaps i cotiuity; false starts : Visibly ervous presetatio : Stylistically uaware : No improvisatio attempted : Lack of uderstadig betwee bad members : No effort to commuicate collective musical idetity back to cotets page rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved

19 Mark Bad Grades - (out of ) Distictio +/ : Fluet, musical level of techical accuracy : Exact sese of pulse : Always prompt resposes Merit +/ : Correct pitches/rhythms : Strog sese of pulse : Geerally prompt resposes Pass / : Correct pitches/rhythms with occasioal mistakes : Cosistet if either slower or faster tha requested : Some prompt resposes Below Pass -/ : Errors i pitches ad rhythms : Excessively cautious/hurried tempi; irregular pulse : Hesitat with occasioal false starts Below Pass -/ : Icorrect tests played : A umber of sigificat ad/or repeated errors; o sese of pulse : Frequet breakdows Guitar Bass ad Drums Syllabus Guide Appedix C: echical Exercises Mark Bad Distictio +/ Merit +/ Pass / Below Pass -/ Below Pass -/ Grades - (out of ) : Fluet, effortlessly musical techical accuracy : Exact sese of pulse : Always ear-istat resposes : Correct pitches/rhythms with some fluecy : Strog sese of pulse with o hesitatio : Geerally ear-istat resposes : Correct pitches/rhythms with occasioal mistakes : Cosistet if either slower or faster tha requested : Geerally prompt resposes : Errors i pitches ad rhythms : Some cautious/hurried tempi; irregular pulse : Hesitat with occasioal false starts : Icorrect tests played : Some sigificat or repeated errors; little or o sese of pulse : Frequet breakdows back to cotets page rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved

20 Guitar Bass ad Drums Syllabus Guide Appedix D: Sight Readig ad Improvisatio Iterpretatio Out of Sight Readig Grades - Sight Readig Grades - Improv Iterpretatio Grades - Distictio +/ : echically accurate ad musical : Cosistet, accurate pulse : Strog sese of style : Commuicative performace : echically assured ad effortless : Strog sese of expressive logic : Cosistet pulse throughout : Strog sese of style : Strog sese of musical commuicatio : trog sese of improvisatio : echically accurate ad musical : Wide rage of expressive techiques : Cosistet, accurate pulse : Strog sese of idiomatic improvisatio : Commuicative performace Merit -/ : echically accurate : Cosistet, accurate pulse : Appropriate stylistic awareess : Cofidet performace : echically accurate ad musical : All expressio marks ad techiques observed : Accurate pulse : Quite strog stylistic awareess : Cofidet performace : Good sese of improvisatio : echically accurate : Some use of varied timbre/ articulatio/register/dyamics : Cosistet, accurate pulse : Appropriate stylistic awareess i improvisatio : Cofidet performace Pass / : Maily techically accurate but some mior pitch ad/or rhythm errors : Largely cosistet pulse (ad <% too fast or too slow) : Some stylistic awareess : Adequate sese of commuicatio : Maily techically accurate but some mior pitch ad/or rhythm errors : Some recogitio of expressio marks ad techiques observed : Largely cosistet, accurate pulse : Basic stylistic awareess : Adequately fluet performace : Adequate sese of improvisatio : Maily techically accurate with some errors : Occasioal use of varied timbre/ articulatio/register/dyamics : Largely cosistet pulse (ad <% too fast or too slow) : Vestigial stylistic awareess i improv : Geerally cofidet performace Below Pass -/ : Several errors of pitch/rhythm : Pulse otably slow/fast/icosistet : Little evidece of stylistic awareess : Nervous ad hesitat performace or icomplete reditio : Several errors of pitch/rhythm/key : Expressio marks ad techiques largely ot observed : Pulse slow/fast/icosistet : Little evidece of stylistic awareess : Nervous, hesitat or icomplete performace : Little or icorrect improvisatio : Several errors of basic techiques : Expressive mootoy : Pulse otably slow/fast/icosistet : Little evidece of stylistic awareess i improvisatio : Some hesitat performace Below Pass -/ : Largely icorrect i all parameters : Wayward sese of pulse/rhythm : No evidece of stylistic awareess : Extremely hesitat performace or less tha / of the test completed : Largely icorrect i all parameters : Expressio marks ad techiques ot observed : Wayward sese of pulse/rhythm : No evidece of stylistic awareess : Extremely hesitat performace or less tha / of the test completed : Largely icorrect i all parameters : Expressive mootoy : Wayward sese of pulse : No evidece of stylistic awareess : Extremely hesitat performace or less tha / of the test completed Improv Iterpretatio Grades - : echically assured ad effortless : Wide rage of expressive techiques : Groovig sese of pulse : Strog sese of idiom expressed through use of licks/grooves : Strog sese of distictive musical commuicatio withi style : Cosistet ad exact sight readig : echically accurate ad musical : Rage of expressive techiques : Cosistet, accurate pulse : Quite strog awareess of classic features of the idiom : Very cofidet performace : Accurate sight readig : Maily techically accurate with occasioal errors : Some use of varied timbre/ articulatio/register/dyamics : Largely cosistet, accurate pulse : Basic stylistic awareess : Adequately fluet performace : Adequate sight readig : Several errors of basic techiques : Occasioally varied timbre/ articulatio/register/dyamics : Pulse slow/fast/icosistet : Little evidece of stylistic awareess : Nervous/hesitat/icomplete perf : Iaccurate sight readig : Largely icorrect i all parameters : Expressive mootoy : Wayward sese of pulse : No evidece of stylistic awareess : Extremely hesitat performace or less tha / of the test completed : Little or icomplete sight readig back to cotets page rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved

21 Guitar Bass ad Drums Syllabus Guide Out of Distictio +/ Merit -/ Pass / Below Pass -/ Below Pass -/ Appedix E: Quick Study Pieces Grade - : Fluet, musical techique; toality observed : Extesive, musical use of dyamics articulatios : Accurate, idiomatic sese of pulse/cotiuity : High degree of stylistic awareess : High level of musical commuicatio : Highly covicig ad appropriate rage of improvisatio : High degree of syc to backig track : Secure techiques; toality observed : All writte dyamic/expressive marks observed : Cosistet, accurate sese of pulse/cotiuity : Strog evidece of stylistic awareess : Cofidet, ivolvig performace : Good rage of appropriate improvisatio : Good level of syc to the backig track : Maily accurate techique; toality observed : Some writte dyamic/expressive marks observed : Cosistet sese of pulse/cotiuity : Evidece of some stylistic awareess : Fairly cofidet performace : Some appropriate improvisatio : Fluet with occasioal slips to the backig track : Errors i pitch/rhythm; toality ot observed : Dyamic/expressive marks ot observed : Icosistet or too cautious pulse/cotiuity : Little evidece of stylistic awareess : Rather hesitat, isecure performace : Iappropriate improvisatio : Slips or breaks to the fluecy to the backig track : Cosistet basic errors i techique; toality ot observed : Dyamic/expressive marks ot observed : Very icosistet pulse with frequet breakdows : No evidece of stylistic awareess : Very tetative, isecure performace : Improvisatio sectios omitted or sigle chords/stickigs per bar : Little fluecy or accuracy to the backig track back to cotets page rockschool, the rockschool logo ad all other rockschool product or service ames are trademarks of rockschool Ltd Rock School Ltd All Rights Reserved