It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Subscribe to our Patreon, and get image uploads with no ads on the site!
Base theme by DesignModo & ported to Powered by Vanilla by Chris Ireland, modified by the "theFB" team.
Comments
Its broken down into 6 sections:
1. Scales (arpeggios from grade 3 onwards)
2. Chords
3. Rhythm Playing (candidate plays through a chord chart seen on the day only)
4. Lead Playing (candidate improvises to a chord progression, again only seen on the day)
5. Spoken Tests
6. Aural Assessments (repetition of rhythm, melodic phrases, pitch, harmony and keeping time).
There are also performance based exams for those who don't want to do the whole scale learning and tests, great for younger learners where all you do is pre-prepare 3 pieces and play them, either on video you can send in, recorded which you also send in or in the exam room if you still want to travel to an exam centre.
There is also a "hybrid" type course which mixes performance with the technical exercises (like scales and tests) so you get a good all-round test.
I have just started to put some people in for Rockschool exams and its similar but in my opinion very poorly laid out. Some of the technical exercises and requirements are really confusing and there could be different permutations like "what if I played this...would it be accepted..." etc. Having said that it does well to pinpoint actual contemporary pieces (Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Chili Peppers etc) where RGT are a bit behind in its repertoire. I use the acoustic guitar performance pieces often with non-exam learners and it works well as its a specially arranged version for like beginners where they still keep the main characteristics of the tune but its easier to play.
Out of the two I think RGT is better structured but Rockschool has its uses and what RGT lacks Rockschool makes up for and vice versa.
I hope I've helped and if you have any questions feel free to ask!
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
I ask because i remember tutors accompanying me on piano for woodwind exams when i was younger.
I did Rockschool Grade 5, but then switched to Trinity Guildhall for Grades 6 and 7. Why? Simply because the Rockschool pieces were didactic compositions prepared for the exams themselves, while the Trinity syllabus by contrast used arrangements of 'actual' rock songs, so while studying for the exam you are learning a record that you (hopefully) like and know. And can then have something to trot out when your mates do the whole 'you play guitar, go on play something for us' thing. I found that a lot more inspiring.
Not sure if I'll ever get to Grade 8 as for one reason and another I've stopped taking lessons, and I don't care fr most of the songs on the syllabus except Funkadelic's Maggot Brain, which I'm working my way through from the record at the moment.
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself