Certificate Examinations in 2009

From 1st January until 31st March 2009 there will be no change in the types of Certificate examinations offered, although some names have changed in the entry process. See below under Entry Arrangements & Fees for more details of how to enter.

First Concert Certificate and Performer's Certificate will be available for Piano, Violin and Singing only.

Repertoire lists are available on the Trinity Guildhall website.

A new suite of Certificate Examinations from 1 April.

A new set of Certificate examinations for all the most commonly played instruments will be released via the Trinity Guildhall website on 1st April 2009.

This new range of Certificates will be available at three levels:

1. Foundation
Post Grade 3 level ¨C NQF level 1

2. Intermediate
Post Grade 5 level ¨C equivalent to First Concert Certificate ¨C NQF level 2

3. Advanced
post©\\Grade 8 level ¨C equivalent to Performer's Certificate ¨C NQF level 3

Which instruments will be available?

Initially the new examinations will be available for: Piano, Keyboard, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Recorder, Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Drum Kit, Classical Guitar, Singing, Violin and Cello. Other instruments may be added in due course.

What is the format?

The format of all three examinations is the same; a programme is selected by the candidate whereby the number of pieces is not prescribed but must fill a given time period as follows:

• Foundation 8 - 10 minutes
• Intermediate 15 - 20 minutes
• Advanced 25 - 30 minutes

A list of suggested repertoire is provided, but in addition there will be some element of free choice, including the option to include a candidate's own composition(s). In addition, material from adjacent Grade examinations can also be used; i.e. repertoire from Grade 3 can be offered for a Foundation Certificate, or Grade 8 repertoire can be presented for Advanced Certificate.

The particular programme chosen will be marked within the Programme planning, Notes and Presentation Skills section. Unlike with Diploma examinations, however, there will be no facility for pre-approval of own©\\choice repertoire, either by Trinity Guildhall's Head Office or by individual examiners.

What is the Mark Scheme?

The mark scheme does not award marks for individual pieces, but instead looks at three aspects of the overall performance, awarding up to 30% of the marks for each area:

Technique - Instrumental control and the ability to draw the most from the instrument; intonation, tone colour, articulation, pedalling etc

Communication - the ability to convey musical intent to the listener with commitment and a sense of performance

Musical Awareness - the accurate realisation of notation and directions sustained at an appropriate tempo

The examination as a whole is marked out of 100. Each of these areas are marked out of 30, making a total of 90 marks available for the performance of the pieces The remaining 10 marks are given for:

- the planning and construction of the programme
- the overall balance of the pieces played and the way in which they show different facets of the candidate's abilities
- a short set of written programme notes ¨C ranging from simply a sentence about each piece at Foundation level to a more extended and insightful piece of work at Certificate Examinations in 2009

Presentation Skills - the way in which the candidate presents the performance to the listener, including stagecraft and personal presentation and comportment.

The Pass mark is 60 and Distinction is awarded for marks of 80 or more.

Ensemble examinations

Certificate examinations for ensembles, but not Choral Assessments, will also use this new format and mark scheme.

Entry arrangements & fees

If a candidate has been preparing a First Concert Certificate then in 2009 they should enter using the fee and code for Intermediate Certificate ¨C the examination itself will be unchanged from the 2008 model.

Similarly if they have been working towards a Performer's Certificate then they should enter using the Advanced Certificate fee and code ¨C again the format of the examination will be exactly the same.

Paperwork and certificates will continue to refer to First Concert and Performer's Certificate.

What are the overlap arrangements?

Format

All Certificate Examinations taken from 1 April 2009 will bear the new names, and this is the name that will appear on all the paperwork and on the certificates issued on successful completion of the qualification. During the period to the end of 2009 examiners of Intermediate or Advanced Certificates for Piano, Violin and Singing will accept programmes prepared either under the new rules or under those appearing in syllabus beginning in 2007.

Repertoire - Violin & Singing

The repertoire currently available for First Concert and Performer's Certificates in Singing and Violin syllabuses 2007 ¨C 2009 will, in virtually all circumstances, be carried over into the new repertoire lists. In addition, all repertoire so listed will be valid during 2009 and for the first session of 2010 under standard overlap arrangements.

Repertoire - Piano

The 2009 - 2011 Piano syllabus does not contain any repertoire listings for Certificate examinations. Instead the listings for Intermediate and Advanced Certificates are available on the Trinity Guildhall website. Almost all of the repertoire listed in the 2007 - 2008 syllabus for First Concert and Performer's Certificates is included in these lists, together with a wide range of new material, and all repertoire from the 2007 - 2008 syllabus will be accepted throughout 2009.

Trinity exam entry form

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