CANDIDATE
PREPARATION
PACK
Piano syllabus 2018-2020
GETTING READY FOR YOUR
PIANO EXAM
Your teacher will help you to prepare
for your piano exam with Trinity College
London. Their expertise will be
invaluable in guiding you to reach
examination standard.
The resources in this Candidate
Preparation Pack will help you to get
ready for the big day. All the content
here is taken from the 2018-2020
piano syllabus.
Download the complete piano syllabus
EXAM
DURATIONS
See how long your
exam will last
EXAM
DURATIONS
DURATIONS
EXAM DURATIONS
Exam Durations
Exams
are designed
are
Exams
designed
toare
include
designed
to include
sufficient
to include
sufficient
time sufficient
fortime
setting
fortime
setting
up and
for up
setting
presenting
and presenting
up and
all componen
presentin
all com
erall Exams
and overall are
durations designed
and durations
overall
are as to include
durations
follows: sufficient
are as follows: time
are as follows:for setting up and presenting all components,
and overall durations are as follows:
tial Initial Initial Grade 1Grade
Grade11Grade 1 Grade 2Grade 2Grade
mins10 mins10 mins 11 mins11 mins 11 mins 11 mins11 mins 11 mi
Grade33
de 3Grade 3Grade Grade44
Grade 4Grade Grade 4 Grade 5Grade 5Grade
mins12 mins12 mins 16 mins16 mins16 mins 16 mins16 mins16 mi
de 6Grade 6Grade
Grade66 Grade 7Grade
Grade77Grade 7 Grade 8Grade
Grade 8
22 mins22 mins
mins 22 mins
22 mins22 mins 27 mins27 mins27 mi
SIGHT READING
Find out what’s expected
of you for sight reading
at each grade
Parameters For Sight Reading Tests
Initial
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
ASSESSMENT
CRITERIA
See how your exam
will be marked
How The Pieces Are Marked
Examiners use the criteria below to decide on the mark:
7 MARKS 6 MARKS 5 MARKS
Fluency An excellent sense A very good sense A good sense of
& accuracy of fluency with of fluency with fluency though
secure control of only momentary with occasional
pulse and rhythm. insecurities in control inconsistencies in
A very high degree of pulse and rhythm. control of pulse and
of accuracy in notes. A high degree of rhythm. A good
accuracy in notes — degree of accuracy
slips not significant. in notes despite
some slips.
7 MARKS 6 MARKS 5 MARKS
Technical The various technical The various technical The various technical
facility demands of the music demands of the demands of the music
fulfilled to a very high music fulfilled with fulfilled for the most
degree. An excellent only momentary part. A good level of tone
level of tone control. insecurities. A very control though with
good level of tone occasional lapses.
control despite
minimal blemishes.
8 MARKS 7 MARKS 6 MARKS
Communication An excellent level A very good level A good level of stylistic
& of stylistic understanding of stylistic understanding understanding though
interpretation with keen attention to with most performance occasional performance
performance details. details realised. Effective details omitted.
Highly effective communication and Communication and
communication interpretation overall. interpretation mostly
and interpretation. effective.
4 MARKS 3 MARKS 1-2 MARKS
A generally reliable sense Only a limited sense of Little or no sense of fluency
of fluency though with fluency with a lack of — control of pulse and
some inconsistencies and basic control of pulse rhythm not established.
stumbles in the control and rhythm. Accuracy in Accuracy in notes very
of pulse and rhythm. notes sporadic, with errors limited with many errors
A reasonable degree of becoming intrusive. of substance.
accuracy in notes despite
a number of errors.
4 MARKS 3 MARKS 1-2 MARKS
The various technical The technical demands of the Many or all of the technical
demands of the music music often not managed. demands of the music not
generally managed despite The performance lacks a managed. Significant flaws
some inconsistencies. A basic basic level of tone control. in tone control.
level of tone control despite
some insecurity.
4 MARKS 3 MARKS 1-2 MARKS
A reasonable level of stylistic Stylistic understanding Stylistic understanding not
understanding though generally lacking with limited apparent with little or no
some performance details realisation of performance realisation of performance
omitted. Communication and details. Communication and details. Communication and
interpretation basically reliable interpretation inconsistent. interpretation ineffective.
though with some lapses.
How Technical Work Is Marked
Examiners use the criteria below to decide on the mark:
DISTINCTION MERIT
13–14 MARKS 11–12 MARKS
Scales & arpeggios An excellent or very A good sense of fluency
good sense of fluency and accuracy with
and accuracy. occasional errors.
A very high degree of A good degree of
technical control. technical control.
Prompt responses. Prompt responses overall.
DISTINCTION MERIT
13–14 MARKS 11–12 MARKS
Exercises An excellent or very A good sense of fluency
good sense of fluency and accuracy with
and accuracy. occasional errors.
A very high degree of A good degree of
technical control. technical control.
Keen attention to Good attention to
performance details performance details and
and musical character. musical character overall.
PASS BELOW PASS 1 BELOW PASS 2
9–10 MARKS 6–8 MARKS 1–5 MARKS
A generally reliable sense Limited or very limited Little or no sense of
of fluency and accuracy fluency and accuracy with fluency and accuracy
despite a number of errors. errors becoming intrusive. with many errors.
A reasonable degree of An inconsistent degree An unreliable degree
technical control despite of technical control. of technical control.
some inconsistences.
Hesitancy in responses Uncertain responses with
Generally prompt responses and restarts. many restarts and/or items
despite some hesitancy and/ not offered.
or restarts.
A generally reliable sense of Limited or very limited Little or no sense of
fluency and accuracy despite fluency and accuracy with fluency and accuracy
a number of errors. errors becoming intrusive. with many errors.
A reasonable degree of An inconsistent degree An unreliable degree
technical control despite of technical control. of technical control.
some inconsistences.
Limited attention to Little or no attention to
Some attention to performance details performance details and
performance details and musical character. musical character.
and musical character.
How Supporting Tests Are Marked
Examiners use the criteria below to decide on the mark:
DISTINCTION MERIT
9–10 MARKS 8 MARKS
Sight reading An excellent or very good A good sense of fluency
sense of fluency with though with occasional
secure control of pulse, inconsistencies in control of
rhythm and tonality. pulse, rhythm and tonality.
A good degree of accuracy
A very high degree of
accuracy in notes, with in notes despite some
musical detail realised. slips, with some musical
detail realised.
Aural An excellent or very good A good degree of aural
degree of aural perception perception in the majority
in all aspects. of aspects.
Confident and prompt Mostly confident and
responses. prompt responses.
Musical knowledge An excellent or very good A good degree of musical
degree of musical knowledge knowledge in the majority
in all aspects. of aspects.
Confident and prompt Mostly confident and
responses. prompt responses.
Improvisation An excellent or very good A good sense of musical
sense of musical structure, structure, based on the
based on the stimulus, stimulus, delivered with
delivered with a high level a good level of fluency.
of fluency.
A creative and imaginative
A highly creative and response overall.
imaginative response.
PASS BELOW PASS 1 BELOW PASS 2
6–7 MARKS 4–5 MARKS 1–3 MARKS
A generally reliable sense Only a limited sense of Little or no sense of fluency
of fluency though with fluency with a lack of basic — control of pulse, rhythm
some inconsistencies and control of pulse, rhythm and tonality not established.
stumbles in the control of and tonality.
pulse, rhythm and tonality. Accuracy in notes very
Accuracy in notes sporadic limited with no attention
A reasonable degree of with no attention to to musical detail.
accuracy in notes despite musical detail.
a number of errors and
with little attention to
musical detail.
A generally reliable degree A limited or very limited aural Unreliable aural perception
of aural perception in perception with some lack of in the majority or all aspects.
most aspects though with precision in most aspects.
some imprecision. Very hesitant or uncertain/
Hesitant or uncertain missing responses.
Generally confident and responses.
prompt responses though
with occasional hesitation
or uncertainty.
A generally reliable degree A limited or very limited Unreliable musical knowledge
of musical knowledge in degree of musical knowledge in the majority or all aspects.
most aspects. in most aspects.
Very hesitant or uncertain/
Generally confident and Hesitant or uncertain missing responses.
prompt responses though responses.
with occasional hesitation
or uncertainty.
A generally reliable sense of A limited or very limited Musical structure only
musical structure, based on sense of musical structure, partially or not apparent
the stimulus, delivered with with little relation to the with no relation to the
a reasonable level of fluency stimulus, delivered with some stimulus and fluency
despite occasional lapses. hesitations and stumbles often compromised.
in fluency.
Some element of creativity Little or no creativity or
and imagination in A lack of creativity and imagination in the response.
the response. imagination in the response.
