Is Grade 6 piano A-level?

The Grade 6 Piano exam is for candidates who have been typically learning in the region of four or more years and who have reached the first stage of advanced level playing.

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Buy Your Book The essential syllabus for the aspiring, contemporary pianist. Piano Grade 6 will provide you with everything you need for your Grade 6 exam, including a diverse range of repertoire, a truly innovative range of supporting tests and a vast array of professionally recorded backing tracks and audio examples. VISIT THE STORE We have published 2 versions of this edition as shown in the pictures here; one version is more USA centric with some American English terms and background information referring billboard chart success rather than the UK charts. Please note that both versions of the book have everything you need for an exam and are both valid editions for when you enter for the assessment. Exam Structure There are two types of exam available, a Grade Exam or Performance Certificate. Grade Exam 3 Performance Pieces (two of which may be Free Choice Pieces) Candidates choose to play either

Performance Pieces or Technical

Exercises first These account

for 60% of the

exam mark Technical Exercises

(Section A, B, C and D for Level 3 qualifications) Candidates choose to play either

Performance Pieces or Technical

Exercises first These account

for 15% of the

test to prepare and perform This accounts

for 10% of the exam marks 2 Ear Tests Candidates respond to 2 aural tests. These account

for 10% of the

exam marks 5 General Musicianship Questions Candidates answer 5 questions based

on one of the pieces performed These account

for 5% of the

exam marks Performance Certificate 5 Performance Pieces only

(three of these can be Free Choice Pieces) These account for 20% of the exam mark each. Performance Pieces The pieces in the grade book can be used for both the Grade Exam and Performance Certificate. The expectation and length of pieces are designed so candidates can confidently understand and execute notation accuracy, values, evenness of sound, tone quality/ consistency, technical control, articulation, style awareness and sync at an early advanced level. There will be assured presentation of musical structure with clear, convincing expressive communication. Featured Repertoire: Africa – Toto

Cantaloupe Island – Herbie Hancock

In the End – Linkin Park

Defying Gravity – Wicked

The Way it is – Bruce Hornsby & The Range

He’s a Pirate – Pirates of the Caribbean

Technical Exercises At Grade 6 there are four groups of technical work: Scales, Arpeggios, Chord Voicings and technical studies. Candidates must prepare both natural minor and harmonic minor scales Major scales, minor scales, chromatic scales and arpeggios need to be played hands together, in straight or swung feel, ascending and descending, across four octaves (except contrary motion scales, pentatonics, lydian dominant and locrian modes, which must be played over two octaves, and extended arpeggios which are one octave only) Groups A, B and C (scales, arpeggios and chords) need to be played from memory. You may use your book for Group D (technical studies) The examiner will ask for a selection from groups A, B and C. Candidates can prepare the technical study of their choice from group D. Groups A and B need to be performed to a metronome click. Group C can be performed at a tempo of the candidate’s choice, but the examiner will be looking for the speed of response. The chosen technical study from Group D needs to be performed to a backing track. Note: the use of any notes or any reading from the grade book during the technical exercises will result in a deduction of overall marks for this section. (See Assessment Criteria). Any fingerings shown in the grade book are for suggestions only. GROUP A - Scales Tempo: 152 bpm Octave range: 4 octaves (except contrary motion scales, pentatonics, lydian dominant and locrian modes – 2 octaves)

Rhythms: Eighth notes, finishing on a quarter note. F # major

F# major (contrary motion)

Gb major

Gb major (contrary motion)

D# natural minor

Eb natural minor

D# harmonic minor

Eb harmonic minor

F# major pentatonic

Gb major pentatonic

D#minor pentatonic

Eb minor pentatonic

C lydian dominant

C locrian

Chromatic scale (starting on any black key stated by examiner) GROUP B - Arpeggios

Tempo: 100 bpm

Time Signature: 3/4, 4/4

Octave range: 4 octaves (except extended arpeggios - 2 octaves).

Rhythms: 3/4: Eighth notes, finishing on a dotted half. 4/4: Eighth notes, finishing on a half note. F# major arpeggio

Gb major arpeggio

D# minor arpeggio

Eb minor arpeggio

G7 arpeggio

F7 arpeggio

C#dim7 arpeggio

C 13#11 arpeggio

C7#5#9 arpeggio GROUP C - Chord Voicings

Candidates will be asked to play one of the following chordal exercises, chosen by the examiner: Cmaj13

C13

Cminor13 Candidates will be asked to play one of the chord exercises from memory. The examiner will state the chord type/exercise. This test is performed in free time (without backing track or click), but the examiner will be looking for the speed of your response. Group D: Technical Studies Candidates will be required to perform one technical study of their choice to the backing track. Supporting Tests At Grade 6 candidates will be offered the choice between Sight Reading or Improvisation and Interpretation. Both are previously unseen and examples of each are given in the grade book. Sight Reading Key: Gb major or F# major

Tempo: 60–130 bpm

Time Signature: Simple or compound

Rhythms: Whole, dotted half, half, dotted quarter, quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes, associated rests. Eighth, quarter, sixteenth note ties The sight reading test is in the form of a 12–16 bar example in the key of either Gb major or F# 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 60–130 bpm. 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 Improvisation and Interpretation Key: Gb major or F# major

Tempo: 60–130 bpm

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Time Signature: 3/4, 4/4 The Improvisation test is in the form of a 8–16 bar chord progression with all chord symbols indicated. Candidates are required to improvise melodies and chordal comping between left hand and right hand, in any way they wish, interpreting the chord progression and backing track given in the exam. Candidates will have 90 seconds to practise after which the examiner will play the backing track twice. The first time is to practise and the second time is to perform the final version for the exam. For each playthrough, the backing track will begin with a one bar count-in. During the practice time, candidates will be given the option 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. Ear Tests At Grade 6 there are two ear tests: Melodic Recall and Harmonic Recall. Both are previously unseen and an example of each is shown in the grade book. Melodic Recall Key: C major

Tempo: 95bpm

Time Signature: 4/4

Rhythms: Half, quarter, eighth notes. The examiner will play a 2 bar diatonic melody in the key of C major, with a range up to an octave. There will be a C root note at the beginning of the test, then the melody will be played twice. After this, candidates need to play the melody back to a metronome click. Both playings of the melody and the metronome backing for the exam version will be preceded by a one bar count-in. The first note of the melody will be either the root or fifth. It is acceptable for candidates to play over the track as the test is being played and there will be 10 seconds to practise after the second playing. The piano can be used to assist at any time prior to being counted in to perform the exam version. Note: the 10 seconds is pre-recorded on the audio track so the count-in for the exam version may begin while candidates are still practising. Harmonic Recall Key: C major

Tempo: 95bpm

Time Signature: 4/4

Rhythms: Whole, half notes The examiner will play a chord progression containing chords I, II, III, IV, V, VI in any order or combination in the key of C major, including seventh chords. Candidates will hear the test twice, then play the chords back to a metronome click. Both playings of the initial test and the metronome backing for the exam version will be preceded by a one bar count-in. Note: there is no requirement for the chords to be voicing specific but the diatonic progression needs to be correct. It is acceptable for candidates to play over the track as the test is being played and there will be 10 seconds to practise after the second playing. The piano can be used to assist at any time prior to being counted in to perform the exam version. Note: the 10 seconds is pre-recorded on the audio track so the count-in for the exam version may begin while candidates are still practising. General Musicianship Questions (GMQ'S) At Grade 6 candidates will be asked five questions, one from each of the following groups: One question relating to harmony

One question relating to melody

One question relating to rhythms

One question relating to technical requirements

One question relating to genre Candidates can choose the piece on which basis the questions will be asked. It must be one of the pieces performed in the exam. The exact bars or phrases will be chosen by the examiner. The questions will cover the following topics: Group 1: Harmony Appropriate modes which can be played over maj7 / min7 / dom7 / sus4 / 9sus4 / maj9# chords. Group 2: Melody

Interval of any note relative to the chord symbol. Group 3: Rhythm

Whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, thirty-second notes, any dotted notes, triplets, any associated rests up to one crotchet length. Group 4: Technical Fingering used to play the 3rd//5th/7th/9th/11th note of a chord. Group 5: Genre

Melodic / harmonic / rhythmic devices indicative of the genre chosen.

Assessment Criteria Performance Pieces Attainment Band Distinction Merit Pass Below Pass Below Pass 2 Mark Range 18–20 15–17 12–14 6–11 0–5 Command of Instrument Consistently clear production of sound and even tone quality throughout Mostly clear production of sound and even tone quality overall Some clear production of sound and generally even tone quality Sound produced is unclear with uneven quality of tone produced No attempt and/or incomplete performance Sync or Pulse Performance consistently synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained Performance mostly synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained Performance sometimes synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained Performance not synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse not maintained No attempt and/or incomplete performance Accuracy & Understanding all of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated throughout. Understanding of musical structure shown all of the time. Most of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated overall. Understanding of musical structure shown most of the time. Some of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills generally demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure shown some of the time. Written music not accurately performed or equivalent skills not demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure not evidenced. No attempt and/or incomplete performance Style & Expression Consistently convincing projection of the music. Mostly convincing projection of the music. Some convincing projection of the music. Music not convincingly projected. No attempt and/or incomplete performance Technical Exercises Attainment Band Distinction Merit Pass Below Pass Below Pass 2 Mark Range 13–15 11–12 9–10 4–8 0–3 Command of Instrument Consistently clear production of sound and even tone quality throughout Mostly clear production of sound and even tone quality overall Some clear production of sound and generally even tone quality Sound produced is unclear with uneven quality of tone produced No attempt and/or incomplete performance Sync or Pulse Performance consistently synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained Performance mostly synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained Performance sometimes synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained Performance not synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse not maintained No attempt and/or incomplete performance Accuracy & Understanding all of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated throughout. Understanding of musical structure shown all of the time. Most of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated overall.

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Understanding of musical structure shown most of the time. Some of the written music accurately performed or equivalent

skills generally demonstrated.

Understanding of musical structure shown some of the time. Written music not accurately performed or equivalent skills not demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure not evidenced. No attempt and/or incomplete performance General Musicianship Questions Attainment Band Distinction Merit Pass Below Pass Below Pass 2 Mark Range 5 correct responses 4 correct responses 3 correct responses 2 correct responses 0–1 correct responses Performance Certificate Attainment Band Distinction Merit Pass Below Pass Below Pass 2 Mark Range 18–20 15–17 12–14 6–11 0–5 Command of Instrument Consistently clear production of sound and even tone quality throughout Mostly clear production of sound and even tone quality overall Some clear production of sound and generally even tone quality Sound produced is unclear with uneven quality of tone produced No attempt and/or incomplete performance Sync or Pulse Performance consistently synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained Performance mostly synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained Performance sometimes synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained Performance not synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse not maintained No attempt and/or incomplete performance Accuracy & Understanding All of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated throughout. Understanding of musical structure shown all of the time. Most of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated overall. Understanding of musical structure shown most of the time. Some of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills generally demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure shown some of the time. Written music not accurately performed or equivalent skills not demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure not evidenced. No attempt and/or incomplete performance Style & Expression Consistently convincing projection of the music. Mostly convincing projection of the music. Some convincing projection of the music. Music not convincingly projected. No attempt and/or incomplete performance

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