Q. Do I need to have any grade theory exams to take a Rockschool exam?
No, there is no need to have taken any theory exams to take a Rockschool exam.

Q. I've been playing for quite a while and would like to take grade 5 but haven't taken a grade exam before. Do I need to have previous grades to take this exam?
You can take any Rockschool exam at any grade without having taken a prior or equivalent exam. Ideally, if you haven't taken an exam before, you might like to consider taking an exam at a slightly lower grade to gain some experience of taking an exam.

Q. What are Free Choice pieces?
Free choice pieces are an alternative to playing a piece/pieces from the syllabus books. You may bring in either your own composition or songs in the public domain, including hits from the charts. In addition you may also use solos or studies from other exam boards, equivalent to the grade you are taking. You must, however, make sure that the piece conforms to the free choice criteria in your grade book.

Q. I need some advice on the technical aspects of the exams. What do I do?
Rockschool has published Companion Guides for Guitar, Bass, Drums and Vocals which give extra support and guidance for teachers. These can be bought from good music shops or online from www.musicroom.com. If you require additional help, you may call the Rockschool office on 0845 460 4747 or send us an email and we will do our best to help you.