Rockschool offers grade exams, performance certificates and band exams in Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals, Popular Piano (there is no Grade 7 for Piano) from Debut up to Grade 8 and Band Based Keys from Debut to Grade 5.

All our qualifications are accredited by Ofqual, so you can be assured that you are getting a recognised qualification. Our exams are open to all irrespective of age and musical taste, rock, metal, indie, we don't mind. Each grade has set original repertoire inspired by music legends of all genres PLUS you have an element of free choice so you can play the music you love in the exam.

Get started today and download the syllabus guide of your choice, below is a brief introduction to the syllabus for each instrument and the choice of exams you can take.

Further Information: Click to jump to each section
Guitar, Bass and Drums
Piano
Band Based Keys
Vocals
Grade Exams
Performance Certificates
Band Exams
Free Choice Pieces

Guitar, Bass and Drums:

The core of any rock band and the core of our grade exams. Our Guitar, Bass and Drums syllabus has the same great original repertoire at grades 3, 5 & 8 - perfect for group learning. Each grade builds on the skills developed from the one before and encourages creativity and improvisation, essential skills for any musician. rockschool develops your skills to play different types of music and gives you the opportunity to specialise in the music you love.

Piano:

Popular Piano and Electric keyboards is for the solo artist who wants to play the music they love and stretch their skills. Popular Piano covers a range of styles and genres while still having a free choice element. Each grade builds on the skills developed from the one before and encourages creativity and improvisation - essential skills for any pianist.

Band Based Keys:

Band Based Keys is a syllabus for keyboard players who want to be part of the band. This realistic and practical syllabus has original repertoire inspired by Def Leppard and Coldplay, fact files and walk throughs for each piece and a CD with full mixes and backing tracks. This syllabus develops yours skills to play different types of music and the opportunity to specialise in the music you love.

Vocals:

Vocals, is a syllabus divided in to male and female repertoire that is designed to showcase performances across a range of popular styles. The performances are the benchmark by which the grades are measured and the printed performance repertoire reflects the standard which vocalists should be at if they are to successfully fulfill the exam requirements. Each grade builds on the skills developed from the one before and encourages creativity and improvisation, essential skills for any vocalist.

Grade Exams:

If you want to develop your performance and technical skills then a grade exam is for you. For the full requirements at each grade read the syllabus guide for your instrument. Generally what you will be required to do is:

• Perform three pieces from the relevant rockschool grade book OR two pieces from the book and one free choice piece (details are in the grade books on how to get this approved up front)

• Technical exercises demonstrating your abilities
• Demonstrate skills to the appropriate level in sight reading, improvisation and interpretation or a Quick Study Piece
• Demonstrate skill to the appropriate level in ear tests
• You will be asked general musicianship questions based on what you played and your knowledge of your instrument

Debut Grade Exams:

Rockschool is pleased to announce the launch of a new set of Debut grade exams. These will be available for candidates to enter from 1st April 2008 onwards. The Debut grade exam contains the following elements:

• Perform three pieces from the debut rockschool grade book (no free choice element)
• Technical exercises demonstrating your abilities
• Sight reading test
• Ear tests
• General musicianship questions about the pieces you have performed and your instrument

The marking scheme is similar to other grade exams from grades 1 to 5 except that candidates will achieve a pass or a fail only (ie: there is no pass with merit or with distinction). This is to conform to the criteria for entry level exams operated by the QCA. The pass mark remains at 65%. A Debut performance certificate (pass mark at 70%) remains available as before.

Candidates wishing to enter for the new Debut grade exams can download the additional material.

Performance Certificates:

If you want to focus on your performance and not have to do the technical side, then a performance certificate is for you. For the full requirements at each grade check out the syllabus guide for your instrument . Generally what you will be required to do is:

• Perform five pieces from the relevant rockschool grade book ORperform 3 pieces from the relevant rockschool grade book and two free choice pieces
• Performance certificates have higher pass marks than Grade exams, check your grade book or syllabus guide for the criteria

Band exams:

Band exams are great for school teachers and people who are in a band and learning together. This exam is taken with all three instruments, Drums, Bass and Guitar playing the parts from the books together, as a group. The designated band exams are at Grades 3, 5 and 8.

Free choice pieces:

Within each exam (except Debut) there is an element of free choice, which means if you want to play a track by your favourite band or artist and it is technically equivalent to the grade you are sitting, you can! You will be marked on that piece as well as performing the set repertoire in the grade books. There are a few points that the track needs to fulfil in order for us to accept it as an examination piece, check that here or give us a call on 08454604747.

Thank you to all our candidates who have returned exam feedback forms to us. We take all your comments seriously and endeavour to act upon your suggestions wherever appropriate.