Technical Exercises

In this section you will be required to play a selection of exercises drawn from each of the groups below. The examiner will
be looking for the speed of your response and will also give credit for the level of your musicality. Please see the syllabus
guide for details on the marking criteria.

All scales and arpeggios need to be played hands separately, in straight feel, ascending and descending, in the keys, octaves
and tempos shown. Pentatonic scales are right hand only. You may use your book for Group A and Group B. Group C
exercises must be played from memory.

Note that Groups A and B need to be played to a click and any fingerings shown are suggestions only.

Group A: Scales
The tempo for this group is q = 52 bpm.

1. C major scale | right hand

œ
3 4 5

œ œ
2

& œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
1 2 3 1

œ œ œ œ

2. C major scale | left hand

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
?œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
1 3 2 1
5 4 3 2

3. A natural minor scale | right hand

œ
3 4 5

& œ œ
2

œ œ œ œ
1 2 3 1

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
4. A natural minor scale | left hand

? œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
5 4 3 2 2 1
1 3

5. C major pentatonic scale | right hand

œ
5

& œ œ œ
3 4

œ œ
1 2

œ œ œ

6. A minor pentatonic scale | right hand

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& œ
5

œ œ
1 2 3 4

œ œ œ œ œ œ
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Group B: Arpeggios/Broken Chords
The tempo for this group is q = 92 bpm.

1. C major broken chord | right hand

œ œ œ
& 43 œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙. œ œ ˙.
1

œ œ œ œ œ œ
5 2 5 1 3 5 3
3

œ
1

2. C major broken chord | left hand

œ œ ˙. œ œ
? 43 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ ˙.
5 1 3 1 5 2 1 2
3 5

3. A natural minor broken chord | right hand

& 43 œ œ œ
5 1 3 3

œ œ œ ˙. œ œ
5

˙.
5 2

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
1 3 1

4. A natural minor broken chord | left hand

œ œ ˙. œ œ
? 43 œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙.
5 3 5 1 2 1 2
1 3 5

Group C: Chord Voicings

Major and Minor Triads

In the exam you will be asked to play either the C major voicings or the C minor voicings below, from memory. The
examiner will state the exercise and the key. This test is performed in free time (without backing track or click), but the
examiner will be looking for the speed of your response.

1. C major

ww
& 44 www ww
w w

2. C minor

b ww
& 44 b www w
b ww w
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 Sight Reading

In the exam, you have a choice between either a Sight Reading test or an Improvisation & Interpretation test. The examiner will ask
you which one you wish to choose before commencing. Once you have decided you cannot change your mind.

In the sight reading test, the examiner will give you a 4–6 bar melody in the key of C major. You will first be given 90
seconds to practise, after which the examiner will play the backing track twice. The first time is for you to practise and the
second time is for you to perform the final version for the exam. For each playthrough, the backing track will begin with a
one bar count-in. The tempo is q = 60.

During the practice time, you will be given the choice of a metronome click throughout or a one-bar count in at the beginning.

The backing track is continuous, so once the first playthrough has finished, the count in of the second playing will
start immediately.

Sight Reading | Example 1

& 44 ∑ ∑ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙

? 44 œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙
∑ ∑

Sight Reading | Example 2

& 44 ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ ∑ ∑

? 44 ∑ ∑ ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙

Please note: The tests shown are examples: The examiner will give you a different version in the exam
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Improvisation & Interpretation

In the exam, you have a choice between either a Sight Reading test or an Improvisation & Interpretation test. The examiner will ask
you which one you wish to choose before commencing. Once you have decided you cannot change your mind.

In the Improvisation & Interpretation test, the examiner will give you a 4–6 bar chord progression in the key of C major. You
will first be given 90 seconds to practise, after which the examiner will play the backing track twice. The first time is for you
to practise and the second time is for you to perform the final version for the exam. For each playthrough, the backing track
will begin with a one bar count-in. The tempo is q = 60.

During the practice time, you will be given the choice of a metronome click throughout or a one bar count-in at the beginning.

The backing track is continuous, so once the first playthrough has finished, the count-in of the second playing will
start immediately.

You are only required to improvise single note melodies, with either right or left hand. It is permissible to play chord
voicings, but please note you will only be marked on melodic content.

& 44 ’ ’ ’ ’
C Am F C

’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’

Please note: The test shown is an example. The examiner will give you a different version in the exam.

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 Ear Tests

In this section, there are two ear tests:

■■Melodic Recall
■■Chord Recognition

You will find one example of each type of test printed below and you will need to perform both of them in the exam.

Test 1 | Melodic Recall

The examiner will play you two consecutive notes. You will need to identify whether the last note is higher or lower than the
first. You will hear the test twice, each time with a one bar count-in. The tempo is q = 95 bpm.

For this exercise, please use the word ‘higher’ or ‘lower’ in your answer.

˙
& 44 ˙

Please note: The test shown is an example. The examiner will give you a different version in the exam.

Test 2 | Chord Recognition

The examiner will play you a sequence of chords, each with a C root note. You will hear the chord sequence twice, each
time with a one bar count-in. You will then be asked to identify which chord played was major and which chord was minor.
The tempo is q = 95 bpm.

& 44 b www n www

? 44 w w

Please note: The test shown is an example. The examiner will give you a different version in the exam.
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General Musicianship Questions

The final part of your exam is the General Musicianship Questions section, which features five questions relating to one of
your choice of the performance pieces.

1. You will be asked a question relating to the harmony from a section of one of your pieces
2. You will be asked a question relating to the melody in a section of one of your pieces
3. You will be asked a question relating to the rhythms used in a section of one of your pieces
4. You will be asked a question relating to the technical requirements of one of your pieces
5. You will be asked a question relating to the genre of one of your pieces

Further guidance on the types of questions asked at this grade can be found at the RSL website www.rslawards.co.uk

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