Trinity Guildhall Syllabuses

Woodwind and Jazz syllabuses 2012

Woodwind Books

From October Trinity will be publishing new repertoire books for Flute, Clarinet, and Saxophone as part of the new Trinity Performer's Series. These will include newly commissioned compositions and arrangements from beginner to intermediate standard. This is an exciting new resource for teachers, for both stand-alone use and for exam preparation, containing repertoire which is well researched, commissioned from high-profile educational composers, and authoritatively edited. Trinity will also be publishing Recorder anthologies containing repertoire from Trinity’s extensive back catalogue. Trinity plan to extend the series to include other instruments in 2012.

All of Trinity's syllabus development is informed by extensive research with the teachers who use Trinity's qualifications. As a result of this Trinity are currently developing a radical new approach to syllabus design which, as well as making the syllabuses more user friendly, will provide better support for teachers and their pupils. In order for the woodwind teacher to gain the full benefit of this new syllabus format Trinity are delaying the full launch of the new woodwind syllabus. Rest assured it will be worth the wait!

Interim syllabuses with additional repertoire

Trinity will be updating the existing syllabus and extending its validity until the end of 2012. Woodwind and Jazz will be published in two separate books. This interim syllabus will be published in October 2011. The interim syllabuses will be accompanied by a repertoire supplement available through Trinity's website – this supplement will include repertoire selected from across the full range of the new woodwind books.

Trinity remains committed to supporting excellence in music teaching. If you have any thoughts, comments or suggestions, or you would like any clarification of the above information, please do not hesitate to contact Nicholas Keyworth, Trinity Chief Music Examiner, at nicholas.keyworth@trinitycollege.co.uk.

New piano syllabus from Trinity Guildhall!

Why Trinity Guildhall piano exams?

• Choice and flexibility – In Grade exams candidates can choose any three pieces from the repertoire for the exam. They may offer their own composition for one choice allowing them to express their individuality. In Grade exams candidates also have an element of choice in the Supporting Tests and Sight Reading is not compulsory until Grade 6. In Certificate exams candidates create a mini recital with their own choice of programme. The pieces can be chosen from the repertoire lists or can be sourced by the candidate.
• A range of consultants and composers contributed to the syllabus, resulting in an enjoyable and diverse range of styles.
• A varied and exciting repertoire, expertly chosen, graded and edited by leading educators. New and extensive alternative lists are also available to invigorate teaching.
• Internationally recognised qualifications with UCAS points available at the higher grades.
• Personal contact with local Trinity Guildhall representatives.
• Examiners who are accomplished musicians and performers, trained to provide maximum support and encouragement throughout the exam process.
• Clear and detailed mark scheme and fast turnaround of results via individual report forms.
• Great value graded repertoire books and CDs, and a range of Sight Reading books.

How are the Graded piano exams structured?

Pieces:

Candidates play any three pieces from the repertoire listed in the syllabus – there is no requirement to choose from periodic lists. The repertoire lists have been developed with top international contributors and cover a broad range of styles and genres. Candidates may substitute one piece for their own composition if they wish. The candidates are marked on the performance of their composition along with their explanation of how the piece was composed, and the structure and presentation of the piece.

Technical Work:

The Technical Work section of the exam has been designed to encourage the development of the necessary technical skills for piano, particularly with regards to overall performance.

Scales and arpeggios :

Candidates prepare the scales and arpeggios set for the grade, and play a selection as requested by the examiner. Scale requirements cover major scales and harmonic, melodic and natural minor scales. A small selection of scales is set for each grade, structured progressively through the grades. Up to and including Grade 1 candidates may choose to play either harmonic or melodic or natural minor scales. At Grades 2–5 candidates have a choice of harmonic or melodic and at Grades 6, 7 and 8 both harmonic and melodic minors must be prepared.

Exercises:

Candidates choose three exercises, two of which are played in the exam: one chosen by the candidate and one chosen by the examiner. The exercises are designed to demonstrate: Tone, balance and voicing, Co-ordination, and Finger and wrist strength and flexibility.

Supporting Tests:

Up to and including Grade 5, candidates choose two of four Supporting Tests: Aural, Sight Reading, Musical Knowledge, and Improvisation. At Grades 6, 7 and 8, the first test must be Sight Reading but the candidate may choose between Aural and Improvisation for the second test. This element of choice makes the Trinity Guildhall exam syllabus more flexible than other examination boards, suiting different teaching and learning styles and allowing candidates to demonstrate their skills.

Mark Scheme:

Trinity Guildhall piano exams place an emphasis on overall performance. Most candidates typically spend the highest proportion of their lesson and practice time working on the pieces they are learning, and Trinity Guildhall rewards this hard work by allocating a substantial part of the marks in an exam to the performances of these pieces. Trinity Guildhall’s assessment scheme is more diagnostic, with three separate marks for different aspects of the candidate’s performance and clear comments from the examiner about how the marks were awarded. The three key performance areas Trinity Guildhall piano exams asses are: notational accuracy and fluency (the candidate and the music), technical facility (the candidate and the instrument) and communication and interpretation (the candidate and the audience). The remainder of the marks are allocated to the Technical Work and Supporting Tests.

Certificate exams for piano

Certificate examinations are available for Piano Solo, Piano Duet and Piano Six Hands and these are included within the 2012-2014 piano syllabus. Trinity Guildhall Certificate examinations are performance only, providing an alternative to Grade examinations. They are available at Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced levels and are structured as a mini recital. The Candidate is marked on their performance as a whole, assessing their performance of the chosen pieces and their ability to plan a well constructed programme.

In summary…

The new Trinity Guildhall piano syllabus is available now (Initial-Grade 8) and includes newly selected and arranged repertoire, and newly composed exercises. A new set of Graded repertoire books and CD’s are also available now and in three formats – book only, book with CD and CD only.

Summary of current syllabus dates:

Keyboard & Organ 2011
Woodwind 2007-2011
Brass 2010-2012
Guitar 2010-2012
Singing 2010-2012
Strings 2010-2012
Percussion 2011-2013
Diploma 2009 (until the end of 2014)
Theory 2009 (until further notice)

Syllabus and publication development for 2011 and 2012

Trinity exam entry form.

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