yamaha/tcl keyboard syllabus, grades 1-8, version: 14 ... · pdf fileyamaha/tcl keyboard...

Yamaha/TCL Keyboard Syllabus, Grades 1-8, Version: 14th January 2008

1

Trinity College London/YamahaElectronic Keyboard Examinations

INTRODUCTION• The marks for Grades 1-8 are shown in the following table. The total

marks are shown for each section of the exam test, with an indication ofthe components required for each section for each grade.

GRADES: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8List A 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20

List B 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20

List C 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20

Technical/Impro 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15

Kbd perc 2-parts 2-parts 3+ parts Scales, arpeggios, etc yes yes yes

Jog (CD accomp) yes yes yes yes Impro: Accomp yesImpro: Melody

With CD With CD With CD With CD

Sightreading 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

From Staff Notation Mel RHMel/Fng

Chds Bass Mel BassPianostyle

Chds Rhythm –Fing Chds

y y

Chds Rhythm –NormalPlay y y y

Aural 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

Rhythm Clap y y Hearing/Playing Mel Mel Mel Mel Drums Bass Chords Inner

Viva Voce 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

TOTALMARKS: 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

• The following syllabus shows the precise details of the requirements foreach test at each grade level and includes explanatory notes, whereappropriate. An indication of the particular requirements may also begleaned from the sample tests.

• The pieces and exercises referred to in this guide can be found in the ‘PlayFor Keeps’ and ‘Junior Play For Keeps’ course books and in the publishedgrade materials for this syllabus.

• Before preparing candidates for this examination please check that:1) You have the latest syllabus and guide.2) You have checked the precise content of the tests at each grade, whichdevelop and change as the grade level increases.


2

NQF LEVEL 1: GRADES 1 - 3

G R A D E 1

Technical Work: (15 marks) This must be taken first in the examination

SCALES: None 1. FINGER JOGGING: To be played with CD backing track. Examiner selects one

from the following joggings: (Examiner to give a sound check)• No 9 – PFK1 page 23 Track 26• No 10 – PFK1 page 23 Track 28• No 11 – PFK1 page 32 Track 34 (RH only)

2. KEYBOARD PERCUSSION: Examiner selects one from the following patterns:• Bass Drum (LH) and Snare Drum (RH) – page 4• Closed Hi-Hat (LH) and Open Hi-Hat (RH) – page 4• Bass Drum (LH) and Snare Drum (RH), Pattern 1 – page 15• Closed Hi-Hat (LH) and Open Hi-Hat (RH), Pattern 1 – page 15Examiner to establish a beat of tempo = 110 (crotchets per minute) and to askfor 4 bars. (The examiner will clarify precisely which drum parts arerequired.)

Pieces: One piece from each list to be selected by the candidate

LIST A: (20 marks)• La Varsoviana – PFK1 page 30• Sloop John B – PFK1 page 40• Finger Jogging 13 (to be given with LH chords & auto accomp) –

PFK1 page 33• The Nodding Dog Song (Melody & Chords) – JPFK3 page 20• Parisienne Café – JPFK4 page 10• The Orient Express – JPFK4 page 12

LIST B: (20 Marks)• Rock Around The Clock – PFK1 page 29• Massachusetts – PFK1 page 41• Rave On – PFK1 page 39• Grand Prix* (may be played with drum accompaniment) – JPFK3 page 12• A Drive in the Country* – JPFK3 page 14• My First Car* – JPFK3 page 8

LIST C: (20 Marks)

• Stay Another Day – PFK1 page 18• When The Saints – PFK1 page 16• Little Brown Jug – PFK1 page 28• Scarborough Fair – JPFK4 page 34


3

• Marionette’s March* – JPFK3 page 24• A Lost Coin* – JPFK3 page 26

All pieces are to be prepared with automatic rhythm, except those marked with *,for which automatic accompaniment is optional. List C is intended to allow thecandidate to use his/her own imagination and flair.

Sightreading: (10 Marks) This test is given in 2 parts.

1. CHORDS & RHYTHM: FINGERED CHORD TEST. The examiner will give thecandidate a card containing a 5-bar chord progression chosen from C, D7, F,G, G7. The candidate is first asked to read and play the chords in Fingeredmode. It is sufficient at this level to play each chord in turn rather than tomaintain a steady beat. The examiner will point to each chord in turn.

2. CHORDS & RHYTHM: NORMAL PLAY CHORD TEST. The examiner will ask thecandidate to set up for Normal Play Chords. The examiner will select andpoint to one of the rhythm patterns and ask the candidate to read and play therhythm to the above (test 1) chord sequence. The examiner will set a moderatetempo and cue the candidate to start playing.

Aural Awareness: (10 Marks) This test is given in 2 parts

1. MELODY. The examiner states the key, C major, and starting note, sounds thetonic chord and starting note and plays the 4 bar phrase. It is then given intwo 2-bar phrases, with the candidate being led to copy back at the end ofeach 2-bar phrase. The candidate will play only the RH melody, whilst theexaminer plays the chords. The examiner will advise the candidate of the lastnote of the first phrase if necessary: “The last note of that phrase was __.”The rubric will be:

I will now play a four bar melody once through. It is in the key of (C major)and the starting note is (C). I will then play the first 2 bars and I would likeyou to copy the melody back to me whilst I accompany you with the chords. Iwill lead you in with the word "and". I will continue to play the second 2bars and I would like you to copy those back to me as well. Here is the tonicchord of C major, the starting note C and the pulse.

2. RHYTHM. The examiner plays a 4-bar phrase twice and the candidate

responds by clapping back the complete exercise. The rubric will be:

I will now play you a 4 bar melody and I would like you to clap the rhythmback to me. I will lead you in with the word "and". Here is the pulse.

Viva Voce: (5 Marks)

5 questions to be asked. The first must be on set-up of one of the candidate’spieces. The remaining 4 to relate to one of the pieces and to be on timesignatures, note rhythm values (using English or European/American rhythmnames), pitch (solfege or letter names).


4

G R A D E 2

Technical Work: To be taken first in the examination.The candidate is to be offered the opportunity of playing the jogging first.

1. SCALES AND BROKEN CHORDS: (5 Marks)To be prepared unaccompanied and from memory following the patterns inthe Play For Keeps Book or grade publication. The LH may be played in anysuitable octave, but otherwise must be played as they appear in Play ForKeeps Book 2. The examiner selects one from the following scales or brokenchords:

Scales:• C, G majors. A harmonic minor: hands separately, legato.

Tempo = 116 – PFK2 page 31.Broken Chords:• C, G, F majors: hands separately, legato. Tempo 75 – PFK2 page 30

The examiner will ask for individual scales and broken chords. Theexaminer will establish the tempo and offer a 4-beat lead in to the chosenexercise.

2. FINGER JOGGING: (5 Marks)To be played with a backing track. Examiner selects one from the following:(Examiner to give a sound check)• No 2 – PFK2 page 12 Track 9 • No 5 – PFK2 page 23 Track 20 (This is RH, only)• No 6 – PFK2 page 30 Track 33

3. KEYBOARD PERCUSSION: (5 Marks)

Examiner selects one from the following patterns:• Bass Drum and Snare Drum, Pattern 2 – PFK2 page 7• Closed Hi-Hat and Open Hi-Hat, Pattern 2 – PFK2 page 7

Examiner to establish a beat of tempo = 115 and to ask for 4 bars. (Theexaminer will clarify which drum parts are required if there are twoexercises from the same pattern.)


LIST A: (20 Marks)• El Condor Pasa – PFK2 page 10• I Will Always Love You – PFK2 page 22• Sway – PFK2 page 14• Skeleton Crew* – JPFK5 page 8• Baggage Handler’s Blues* – JPFK5 page 28• Through The Channel Tunnel* – JPFK4 page 8


5

LIST B: (20 Marks)• Crocodile Shoes – PFK2 page 27• Let It Be – PFK2 page 20• Locomotion – PFK2 page 4• Over The Andes* – JPFK5 page 10• In the Caribbean Sun* – JPFK5 page 16• Scotland The Brave* – JPFK5 page 37

LIST C: (20 Marks)

• Moonlight Shadow – PFK2 page 8• Imagine – PFK2 page 38• Prelude (This can be presented in an independent-hands style or with the

use of appropriate style/auto accomp) – PFK2 page 41• Hot Air Ballooning* – JPFK5 page 7• The Space Adventurer* – JPFK5 page 12• Minstrel Boy* – JPFK5 page 39


Sightreading: (10 Marks) This test is in given in 2 parts.

1. CHORDS & RHYTHM: FINGERED CHORD TEST. The examiner will give thecandidate a card containing a 5-bar chord progression. The candidate is firstasked to play the chords in Fingered mode. It is sufficient at this level to playeach chord in turn rather than to maintain a steady beat. The examiner willpoint to each chord in turn

2. CHORDS & RHYTHM: NORMAL PLAY CHORD TEST. The examiner will ask thecandidate to set up for Normal Play Chords. The examiner will select andpoint to one of the rhythm patterns and ask the candidate to read and play therhythm to the above (test 1) chord sequence. The examiner will set a moderatetempo and cue the candidate to start playing.

Aural Awareness: (10 Marks) This test is given in 2 parts

1. MELODY. The examiner states the key (C major or A minor), sounds the tonicchord and plays the 4-bar phrase. It is then divided into 2 x 2-bar phrases withthe candidate being led to play back at the end of each 2-bar phrase. Thecandidate will only play the RH melody whilst the examiner plays the chords.The examiner will advise the candidate of the last note of the first phrase ifnecessary: “The last note of that phrase was __.” The rubric will be:

I will now play a four bar melody once through. It is in the key of [C major]and the starting note is [C]. I will then play the first 2 bars and I would likeyou to copy the melody back to me whilst I accompany you with the chords. Iwill lead you in with the word "and". I will continue to play the second 2bars and I would like you to copy those back to me as well. Here is the tonicchord of [C major], the starting note [C] and the pulse.


6

2. RHYTHM. The examiner plays a 4-bar phrase twice and the candidateresponds by clapping back the complete exercise. The rubric will be:

I will now play you a 4 bar melody and I would like you to clap the rhythmback to me. I will lead you in with the word "and". Here is the pulse.


5 questions to be asked. The first must be on set up of one of the candidate’spieces. The remaining 4 to relate to one of the pieces and to be as grade 1plus: key signatures, repeat marks, 1st and 2nd time bars, phrase marks,staccato, dynamics, including hairpins and m, f, mp. No other Italian Terms.


7

G R A D E 3

Technical Work: This must be taken first in the examination. The candidateis to be offered the opportunity of playing the jogging first.

1. SCALES, ARPEGGIOS AND BROKEN CHORDS: (5 Marks)To be prepared unaccompanied and from memory following the patterns in thePlay For Keeps Book. The examiner selects one from the following scales,arpeggios or broken chords:

Scales: 2 octaves hands together, legato. Tempo = 82-90• A, D, G majors. – page 37• A, D, E harmonic minors – page 16Arpeggios: 2 octaves hands separately, legato. Tempo = 68.• A, D, E minors – page 16Broken Chords: 2 octaves hands separately, legato. Tempo = 72.• C, F, Bb majors – page 28The examiner will ask for individual scales, arpeggios and broken chords.He/she will establish the tempo and offer a 4-beat lead in to the chosenexercise.

2. CHORD AND FINGER JOGGING: (5 Marks)To be played with a backing track. Examiner selects one from the following:(Examiner to give sound check.)• Chord Jogging No 4 – page 26 Track 22• Finger Jogging No 3 – page 15 Track 13 (LH or RH may be requested)• Finger Jogging No 5 – page 27 Track 25• Finger Jogging No 6 – page 38 Track 35

3. KEYBOARD PERCUSSION: (5 Marks)All parts to be played: Examiner selects one from the following:• Pattern 1 – page 5• Pattern 2 – page 5• Pattern 1 – page 12• Pattern 2 – page 12Examiner to establish a beat of tempo = 120 and to ask for 4 bars.

Pieces: One piece to be selected by the candidate from each list

LIST A: (20 Marks)• Baroque ’n’ Roll* – page 39• Lady Madonna* – page 36• Killing Me Softly – page 34• Night Fever – page 22

LIST B: (20 Marks)• Every Breath You Take – page 6• Candle In The Wind – page 41• Jenny Plucks Pears – page 42


8

LIST C: (20 Marks)• House Of The Rising Sun – page 20• Dumb – page 24• The Water Is Wide – page 43


Sightreading: There are 2 elements for this test at this grade. (There is nofingered chord element to the test at this grade.)

1. CHORDS & RHYTHM: NORMAL PLAY CHORD TEST. (5 marks)The examiner will ask the candidate to set up for Normal Play Chords. Theexaminer will select and point to one of the rhythm patterns and ask thecandidate to read and play the rhythm to the chord sequence. The examinerwill set a moderate tempo and cue the candidate to start playing.

2. MELODY: (5 marks)This is a new element at this grade. The candidate will be given a right handmelody, written in treble clef, and asked to set the voice to a piano sound. Thecandidate will be allowed 30 seconds preparation time in which they maypractise sections of the test. The examiner will not specify a tempo.

Aural Awareness: (10 Marks) There is no rhythm clapping at this grade.

MELODY. The examiner states the key (C major, A minor or G major), soundsthe tonic chord and plays the 4-bar phrase. It is then given in two 2-barphrases with the candidate being led to play back the melody at the end ofeach 2-bar phrase, whilst the examiner plays the chords.

The examiner will advise the candidate of the last note of the first phrase ifnecessary: “The last note of that phrase was (G).” At this grade the examinerwill play the correct note before starting the next phrase. The rubric will be:

I will now play a 4- bar melody once through. It is in the key of __ and thestarting note is __. I will then play the first 2 bars and I would like you tocopy the melody back to me whilst I accompany you with the chords. I willlead you in with the word "and". I will continue to play the second 2 barsand I would like you to copy those back to me as well. Here is the tonicchord of __ [major/minor], the starting note __ and the pulse.


5 questions to be asked. The first must be on set up of one of the candidate’spieces. The remaining 4 to relate to one of the pieces. Same as Grade 2, plusvalue of rests, Italian Terms.


9


G R A D E 4

The candidate is to be offered the opportunity to play either the pieces ortechnical work first.

Pieces: One piece from each list to be selected by the candidate.

LIST A: (20 marks) (Independent-hands piece)• It Ain’t Necessarily So – page 46

or• Sticks And Stones – page 16

LIST B: (20 marks) (Portable keyboard-style piece)• Against All Odds – page 12• Night Birds – page 32• The Tender Trap – page 50• Vincent – page 52

LIST C: (20 marks) (Own Interpretation piece)• Your Latest Trick – page 34• Rocket Man – page 44• Hot Stuff – page 51• Love Is All Around – page 10

Technical Work/ImprovisationThe candidate is to be offered the opportunity of playing the jogging first.

1. SCALES, ARPEGGIOS: (5 Marks) To be prepared unaccompanied and frommemory following the patterns in the Play For Keeps Book. The examinerselects at least one from the following scales & arpeggios:

Scales: 2 octaves hands together, legato. Tempo = 100:• Bb, Eb, F majors – page 37• B, F# harmonic minors – page 36, G harmonic minor – page 38Chromatic scale:• on Ab: hands separately and hands together, legato. Tempo = 64 – page 48Arpeggios: 2 octaves, hands together, legato. Tempo = 76• Bb, Eb, F majors – page 37• B, F#, G minors – page 36The examiner will ask for individual scales and arpeggios, will then establishthe tempo and offer a 4-beat lead in.


10

2. CHORD AND FINGER JOGGING: (5 Marks) To be played with CD backing track:Examiner selects one from the following. (Examiner to give sound check.)• Chord Jogging No.1 – page 15 Track 4• Chord Jogging No.9 – page 48 Track 39• Finger Jogging No.3 (hands separately) – page 18 Track 8For Finger Jogging No.3 the examiner will request one hand for the D Bluessection and the other hand for the F Blues section. The examiner will stop thetest after the F Blues section.

(NB: There is no keyboard percussion test from this grade on.)

3. IMPROVISATION: (5 Marks) Accompaniment of a melody

This test is designed to show the candidate’s ability to improvise a simple,chordal accompaniment against a 5-bar Blues or Ballad-style melody, playedby the examiner, with a constant pulse provided for the duration of the test bythe examiner’s metronome.

The examiner:• will ask the candidate to set up for Normal Play Chords and will give the

candidate a card showing a 5-bar melody with the chords above it. (Chordtypes will include major, minor and dominant 7ths in major or minor keysup to 1 sharp or flat.)

• The examiner will then start the metronome and give a 1-bar count-in,before playing the melody through once, with the metronome stillrunning. The time signature will be either 4/4 (tempo is crotchet = 68) or6/8 (tempo is dotted crotchet = 60).

The candidate must accompany the examiner on the repeat of the melody. Therubric will be:

The card I’ve given you shows the melody that I’m going to play and thechords I’d like you to play as a Normal Play accompaniment.

I will now play the melody through once and I would like you to accompanyit on the repeat. Follow the melody and chords on the score while I play themelody the first time, and when it’s your turn to add the chords I will cueyou with the word, “and”. Here’s the tempo.

Sightreading: (10 Marks) There is only one test at this grade

MELODY & FINGERED CHORDSThe examiner will present the candidate with a card displaying a 4-bar trebleclef melody with chord symbols given above. Keys: C major and A minor. Thetest must be given hands together.

The candidate is required to set a Piano voice for the melody and playfingered chords with LH – using a setting which allows the examiner to hearthe (fingered) chords articulated clearly but without automatic rhythm. If achord continues across a barline, the candidate is expected to re-sound thechord at the start of the new bar.

The candidate will be allowed 30 seconds preparation time in which topractise sections of the test. The examiner will not specify a tempo.


11

Aural Awareness: (10 Marks) There is only one test at this grade

MELODY HEARING: A 4-bar melody based on the notes of a Blues scale ineither C or G. The rhythm will be straight (i.e. not swung) with predominantlyquaver movement and may include simple syncopations. The test willotherwise be given as in previous grades. The examiner names the Blues scalewhich is used and plays and names the starting note. The rubric is:

I will now play a 4-bar melody once through. It uses pitches from a __ Bluesscale and the starting note is __. I will then play the first 2 bars and I would likeyou to copy the melody back to me whilst I accompany you with the chords. Iwill lead you in with the word "and". I will continue to play the second 2 barsand I would like you to copy those back to me as well. Here is the starting note__ and the pulse. [Examiner gives a clear count-in, so the candidate knows thetempo, metre and can easily identify the start of the first beat of the first bar ofthe test.]

Viva Voce: (5 Marks) As Grade 3 plus “How would you set up for Dual orLayered Voice?”


12

G R A D E 5


LIST A: (20 marks) (Independent hands piece)• Just The Two Of Us – page 13• Piano Sketch No. 1: Jazz Waltz – page 16• Walking Song – page 20

LIST B: (20 marks) (Portable keyboard-style piece)• Tragedy – page 4• Your Song – page 7• Boheme – page 10

LIST C: (20 marks) (Own solo arrangement piece, max.: 3 mins)• Ain’t Misbehavin’ – page 23• Crockett’s Theme – page 26• Lily Was Here – page 28

The List C arrangement must be musically convincing and the candidate’s ownwork. Marks will be given for both a creative and musically convincingarrangement – and for the candidate’s performance. The technical difficulty of thearrangement must be at least Grade 4. The candidate must give a copy of thearrangement to the examiner before the performance.

Viva Voce: (5 Marks) One question on the own arrangement piece. 4 questionson musical theory and notation, taken from the other pieces played.

Technical Work/Improvisation: There is only one test at this grade.

IMPROVISATION: (15 Marks) This test will show the candidate’s ability to:a) Improvise a chordal accompaniment (Normal Play) over the first pass of

an 8-bar sequence (using a Piano voice), then, on the second pass,b) Improvise a RH melody solo using a suitable solo voice – eg, Synth Lead,

Distortion Guitar, Sax, etc, tending towards an 8th note feel. (Thecandidate is advised to save his/her chosen voices in the registrationmemory.)

The test is performed to a CD accompaniment: a Medium Blues, tempo = 120.The examiner gives the candidate the card containing the improvisation test,showing the chord sequence and a single Blues scale (either C, G or D) to beused for the RH melody improvisation. During this test, the candidate must notwrite anything down, on the card or elsewhere.

The examiner asks the candidate to look at the card and take 30 seconds toplay through and practise any ideas.


13

The examiner then plays the CD accompaniment for the first time. Thisconsists of a 2-bar introduction, followed two choruses of the sequence onthe card. The candidate may practice during the CD playback.

The examiner asks the candidate to take a further 30 seconds to try outfurther ideas.

The examiner then says:I will now play the CD again so you can give your final performance. Afterthe 2-bar introduction please provide a Normal Play chordalaccompaniment during the first 8 bars and a right hand melodyimprovisation during the repeat.The examiner plays the CD accompaniment again and marks the candidate’sperformance.

Marks will be awarded for convincing and expressive performance, withmelodic ideas derived entirely from the scale given on the card.

Sightreading: (10 Marks)

From Grade 5, the aural awareness is given directly after the sightreading, asthe two tests are linked.

BASS PART: The test at Grade 5 consists of an 8-bar bass line in bass clef.Marks will be given for a musically convincing performance, with attention toaccuracy in pitch, rhythm, phrasing and expression, as indicated on the score.

The candidate will be allowed 30 seconds preparation time in which topractise sections of the test. The examiner will not specify a tempo.

Aural Awareness: (10 Marks)

To be given directly after the Sightreading Test.

Each Sightreading Test from Grades 5-8 has a corresponding Aural Test. TheGrade 5 Aural Test, given on CD, will feature the last 4 bars of the bassSightreading Test the candidate has just performed, plus a drum part. Thecandidate is required to work out and play the Drum part along with thebacking track.

DRUM PART: The candidate must set up a drum voice, capable of playing atypical rock or swing drum part containing voices chosen from: Bass Drum,Snare, Hi-Hat (Open and Closed), Crash Cymbal & Ride Cymbal.

The rubric for the CD test will be:I’d like you to work out and play the 4-bar drum part, from the CDperformance. Please set up for keyboard percussion playing.You may try out your ideas at any time, except during the repeat of ‘Music3’, when I will mark your final performance of bars 1 & 2. and during therepeat of ‘Music 5’, when I will mark your final performance of bars 3 & 4.

After the sound check, please follow the instructions given on the CDrecording.


14


G R A D E 6


LIST A: (20 marks) (Independent hands piece)• Four Calling Birds – page 39• The Road To Santiago – page 42• Eleanor Rigby – page 46

LIST B: (20 marks) (Portable keyboard-style piece)• Comin’ Home – page 32• The Girl From Sligo – page 34• Soupa Samba – page 37

LIST C: (20 marks) (Own solo arrangement piece, max.: 3.5 mins)• Live And Let Die – page 50• Somethin’ Stupid – page 54• The Most Beautiful Girl In The World – page 58

In preparing the Own Solo Arrangement piece, the candidate must demonstrate anawareness of the conventions of the original style of the piece and be prepared, inthe Viva, to justify his/her choices and decisions in their own arrangement,particularly where the arrangement departs from the original style, harmony,structure, etc.

Marks will be awarded for both a creative and musically convincing arrangement– and for the candidate’s performance. The technical difficulty of the arrangementmust be at least Grade 5. The candidate must give a copy of the arrangement tothe examiner before the performance.

Viva Voce: (5 Marks) One question on the own arrangement piece. 4 otherquestions on musical theory and notation, taken from the other pieces played.

Technical Work/Improvisation:

IMPROVISATION: (15 Marks) This test is intended to show the candidate’sability to:a) Improvise a chordal accompaniment (Normal Play) over the first pass of

a 12-bar sequence (using a Piano voice), then, on the second pass:b) Improvise a RH melody solo using a suitable Electric or Distortion Guitar

voice, tending towards an 8th-note feel.

The test is given as for Grade 5, but:1. It will be a Rock Shuffle or Blues, tempo = 130.


15

2. The sequence on the card is now 12 bars long with a change of scaleindicated every 4 bars, for the RH melody improvisation.

3. Scales given for improvisation may include Blues/Minor Pentatonic Scaleson B, E, A, D & G and Major Pentatonic scales on D, G, C F & Bb).

4. The candidate at this grade is given 40 seconds to practise before andafter the first hearing of the CD.

At this point the rubric will be:I will now play the CD again so you can give your final performance. Afterthe 2-bar introduction please provide a Normal Play chordalaccompaniment during the first 12 bars and a right hand melodyimprovisation during the repeat.

The examiner plays the CD accompaniment again and marks the candidate’sperformance. Marks will be awarded for convincing and expressiveperformance, musical phrasing and the ability to pass smoothly from one scaleto another, as indicated on the card.


(The aural awareness is given directly after the sightreading.)

MELODIC PART: The test at Grade 6 consists of an 8-bar melodic line in trebleclef, which may feature occasional 2- or 3-note chords. Marks will be givenfor a musically convincing performance, with attention to consistency of pulse,accuracy in pitch, rhythm, phrasing and expression, etc, as indicated on thescore.

The candidate will be allowed 30 seconds preparation time in which topractise the test. The examiner will not specify a tempo.

Aural Awareness: (10 Marks) To be given directly after the SightreadingTest.

The examiner will use the Aural Test which corresponds with the SightreadingTest the candidate has just completed. The Grade 6 Aural Test, given on CD,will feature the last 4 bars of the melody part Sightreading Test, along with adrum part and a bass part. For this test the candidate is required to work outand play the bass part with the backing track.

BASS PART: The rubric for the CD test will be:I’d like you to work out and play the 4-bar Bass part, from the CDperformance. Please set up a Bass Guitar voice.You may try out your ideas at any time, except during the repeat of ‘Music3’, when I will mark your final performance of bars 1 & 2. and during therepeat of ‘Music 5’, when I will mark your final performance of bars 3 & 4.


NB: the candidate’s performance is assessed only during Music 3 and Music5. Non-assessed practice is permitted at other times without penalty.


16

G R A D E 7


LIST A: (20 marks) (Independent hands piece) • Black & White Boogie• Watercolour No. 1• Maple Leaf Rag

LIST B: (20 marks) (Portable keyboard-style piece)• I’m Beginning To See The Light• Tico Tico• So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright

LIST C: (20 marks) (Own band arrangement piece, max.: 3.5 mins)• Cry Me A River• Higher Love• Satin Doll

The List C Band Arrangement must be scored for at least Drums, Bass, NormalPlay Chords (scored in treble and bass clef) and Melody. The idea is for thecandidate to write him/herself in as the keyboard player, as if in a live band. Thearrangement must include a full score (including a copy to be given to theexaminer before the performance) and a backing track.

The candidate’s part (to be played live with a MIDI file backing track preparedand recorded by the candidate) must be of at least Grade 5 standard and mustinclude sections of melody (or solo) playing as well as chordal accompaniment.

In the arrangement, performance and the Viva, the candidate must demonstrate ahigh level of stylistic awareness, musicality and expression.

Viva Voce: (5 Marks) Five questions on the own arrangement piece.


IMPROVISATION: (15 Marks) This test is intended to show the candidate’sability to:a) Improvise a chordal accompaniment (Normal Play) over the first pass of

an 8-bar sequence (using a Piano voice), then, on the second and thirdpasses:

b) Improvise a RH melody solo using a suitable Electric Guitar or DistortionGuitar voice.

The test is given as for Grade 6, but:1. It will be either a Ballad (tempo = 76, tending towards a 16th-note feel for

the melody improvisation) or a Slow Rock (tempo = 86, tending towardsan 8th-note triplet feel for the melody improvisation).


17

2. The chord sequence on the card is 8 bars long with mostly one chord perbar. The scales to be used with each chord for the melody improvisationare to be chosen by the candidate. Though an effective improvisation canbe achieved with the use of appropriate Blues and Pentatonic scales, thecandidate is at liberty to use any appropriate scales and modes.


At this point the rubric will be:I will now play the CD again so you can give your final performance. Afterthe 2-bar introduction please provide a Normal Play chordalaccompaniment during the first time through the 8-bar sequence, and amelody improvisation during the 2nd and 3rd times through the sequence.

The examiner plays the CD accompaniment again and marks the candidate’sperformance. Marks will be awarded for convincing and expressiveperformance, musical phrasing, appropriate matching of scales types to thegiven chord types, and the ability to pass smoothly from one scale to another.



BASS PART: The test at Grade 7 consists of an 8-bar bass line in bass clef, ata medium tempo. Marks will be given for a musically convincing performance,with attention to consistency of pulse, accuracy in pitch, rhythm, phrasing,expression and use of pitch bend, as indicated on the score.

The candidate will be allowed 30 seconds preparation time in which to practisethe test. The examiner will not specify a tempo.

Aural Awareness: (10 Marks) To be given directly after the sightreading test.

The Grade 7 Aural Test, given on CD, will feature the last 4 bars of the bassSightreading Test, plus a drum part and a chordal part. It is the chordal partwhich the candidate is required to work out and play along with the backingtrack.

CHORDAL PART: The rubric for the CD test will be:I’d like you to work out and play the 4-bar chordal part, from the CDperformance. You can play the chords as Normal Play chords, or you mayuse only one hand, in any inversion. You should play the chords in therhythm used on the CD. Please choose an Electric Piano voice.You may try out your ideas at any time, except during the repeat of ‘Music3’, when I will mark your final performance of bars 1 & 2, and during therepeat of ‘Music 5’, when I will mark your final performance of bars 3 & 4.


NB: the candidate’s performance is assessed only during Music 3 and Music5. Non-assessed practice is permitted at other times.


18

G R A D E 8


LIST A: (20 marks) (Independent hands piece) • The Girl With The Flaxen Hair• Dirty Corners• Alligator Crawl

LIST B: (20 marks) (Portable keyboard-style piece)• Street Life• Revolutionary Study• Theme from ‘The Sweeney’

LIST C: (20 marks) (Own band arrangement piece, max.: 3.5 mins)• Les Barricades Mystérieuses• Being Alive• Bridge Over Troubled Water

The List C Band Arrangement is to follow the guidelines for the previous grade,except:

1. The full score (including a copy for the examiner) should include at least:Drums, Bass, Normal Play Chords (scored in treble and bass clef), one ormore inner parts (eg: melody fill-ins, stabs, etc) and Melody.

2. The candidate’s part (again played against the candidate’s original MIDIfile backing track) should be of at least Grade 6 standard and mustdemonstrate both melody ‘soloing’ (eg: a written out improvisation) aswell as keyboard-style chordal band skills.

3. The candidate must demonstrate a high level of stylistic awareness,creativity, musicality and expression, as well as the ability to control anarrangement and performance to deliver a desired, convincing, emotionaleffect at a professional level.

Viva Voce: (5 Marks) Five questions on the own arrangement piece.


IMPROVISATION: (15 Marks) This test is intended to show the candidate’s abilityto:

a) Improvise a chordal (Normal Play) accompaniment over the first pass ofa 12-bar sequence (using a Piano voice), then, on the second and thirdpasses,

b) Improvise a RH melody solo using a piano or electric piano voice. At thisgrade the RH solo may be accompanied by LH chords, added at thecandidate’s discretion and played in any stylistically consistent way. Eg:comping using rooted or rootless chords.

The test is given as for Grade 7, but:


19

1. It will be a Jazz Rock, Funk or Fusion, tempo =96.2. The chord sequence on the card is 12 bars long. The scales to be used with

each chord for the melody improvisation are to be chosen by thecandidate, using a range of appropriate and convincingly executed scalesand modes appropriate to the style.


At this point the rubric will be:I will now play the CD again so you can give your final performance. Afterthe 2-bar introduction please provide a Normal Play chordalaccompaniment during the first 12 bars and a right hand melodyimprovisation during the repeat.The examiner plays the CD accompaniment again and marks the candidate’sperformance. The Melody Solo may have a predominantly 16th note feel.

Marks will be awarded for convincing, expressive, communicative andmusical performance, appropriate matching of scales types to the given chordtypes and a strong sense of forward momentum.



The candidate will be allowed 60 seconds preparation time in which to set up thekeyboard and practise the test.

2-HANDED PART: The test at Grade 8 consists of a rhythmic 8-bar independenthands piece in treble and bass clef. The piece may use chords and melodicphrases in the RH and a rhythmic, melodic bass part in the LH.

The candidate must first read through the score and set an appropriate splitpoint so the full range of the LH part can be played on a Bass Guitar Voice(sounding at the correct pitch) and the RH part can played correctlythroughout its range on the Voice indicated in the score.

Marks will be given for a musically convincing performance, with attention toconsistency of pulse, accuracy in pitch, rhythm, phrasing, expression and useof pitch bend, as indicated on the score.

The examiner will not specify a tempo.

Aural Awareness: (10 Marks) To be given directly after the sightreading test.

The Grade 8 Aural Test, given on CD, will feature the last 4 bars of the 2-handed part Sightreading Test, plus a drum part bass part and a melodicStrings/Countermelody part. It is the Strings/Countermelody part which thecandidate is required to work out and play along with the backing track.

STRINGS/COUNTERMELODY PART: The rubric for the CD test will begin:I’d like you to work out and play the 4-bar String part, from the CDperformance. Please choose a Strings voice.


20

You may try out your ideas at any time, except during the repeat of ‘Music3’, when I will mark your final performance of bars 1 & 2. and during therepeat of ‘Music 5’, when I will mark your final performance of bars 3 & 4.


NB: the candidate’s performance is assessed only during Music 3 and Music5. Non-assessed practice is permitted at other times.

yamaha/tcl keyboard syllabus, grades 1-8, version: 14 ... · pdf fileyamaha/tcl keyboard...

Documents