TCL Grade 2 Keyboard Percussion
General Info
1. Candidates are encouraged to play their pieces on the instruments specified, although Glockenspiel / Xylophone / Vibraphone / Marimba will be acceptable regardless of the specification.
2. Candidates should always attempt to suit the instrument chosen to the music played.
3. The use of the vibraphone pedal or finger damping on the glockenspiel is not required.
4. Sticks must be appropriate to the instrument played, and should be in good condition.
5. At least one accompanied piece must be performed. Pieces that are published with an accompaniment may not be performed unaccompanied.
Pieces / Studies
Candidates can express their musical identity by choosing pieces and studies from our varied repertoire lists. Drum kit candidates choose two pieces with backing tracks and one unaccompanied piece, from a wide range of authentic styles including jazz, funk, show tunes, film, TV, Latin, reggae and swing. Percussionists choose from a varied selection of tuned percussion, timpani and snare drum pieces with accompanied and unaccompanied options. Candidates can further personalize their program by including an own composition.
Song List
| Item | Works | Composer | Publication | Publisher | Video |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Along the Riverbank | Mark Aldous | Tuned Percussion Solos | Mark Aldous | |
| 2 | Woodpecker | Mark Aldous | Tuned Percussion Solos | Mark Aldous | |
| 3 | The Can-Can | Craig Alan | FIRST RECITAL SERIES (Mallet Percussion) | Curnow Music | |
| 4 | Melissa the Donkey | David Hext | Tuned In | Southern Music | |
| 5 | The Carousel | David Hext | Tuned In | Southern Music | |
| 6 | Rumba | Jan Faulkner | Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies Tuned Percussion: Grades 1-5 | Trinity College London Press | |
| 7 | Hi Five! | Jan Faulkner | Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies Tuned Percussion: Grades 1-5 | Trinity College London Press | |
| 8 | In the Clouds | Jan Faulkner | Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies Tuned Percussion: Grades 1-5 | Trinity College London Press |
Study List
| Item | Works | Composer | Instrument | Publications | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grade 2 Major Study | Jan Faulkner | Tuned Percussion | Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies Tuned Percussion: Grades 1-5 | Trinity College London Press |
| 2 | Grade 2 Minor Study | Jan Faulkner | Tuned Percussion | Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies Tuned Percussion: Grades 1-5 | Trinity College London Press |
Technical Works
This section of the exam supports the development of technical skills by assessing candidates’ performance in a range of technical work requirements. A range of instrument-specific technical work features in our percussion exams, including exercises, scales & arpeggios, orchestral figures and orchestral extracts. Candidate need to memorize all scales and arpeggios.
About the test
Scales
1. D / B♭ Major in one octave with ♩ = 80
2. B / G Minor (Natural / Harmonic / Melodic) in one octave with ♩ = 80
3. Chromatic Scale starting on D / B♭ in one octave with ♩ = 80
Arpeggios
1. D / B♭ Major in one octave with ♪ = 120
2. B / G Minor in one octave with ♪ = 120
Supporting Publications
For practice purposes, all scales and arpeggios requirement are published by Trinity College London Press in Tuned Percussion Scales & Arpeggios. Purchasing the book is not a requirement.
Sight reading
This test assesses candidates’ ability to perform a previously unseen musical extract, at a level approximately two grades lower than the exam being taken.
About the Test
After 30 seconds’ preparation time, candidates perform a previously unseen musical extract at a level lower than the exam being taken. Candidates choose whether to perform the test on keyboard percussion, snare drum or timpani.
Supporting Publications
For practice purposes, sample Sight-reading tests are published by Trinity College London Press in Graded Percussion Sight-Reading, Grades 1-8. Purchasing the book is not a requirement.
Aural
This test supports the development of candidates’ abilities in musical perception and understanding by requiring them to recognize musical features by ear (for example meter and pulse, pitch, performance characteristics). All questions are based on a single musical example played at the piano by the examiner.
Candidates are asked to describe various features of the music such as dynamics, articulation, texture and style. Candidates are not required to sing.
1. Listen to the melody three times and clap the pulse on the third playing, stressing the strong beat
2. Listen to the melody once, describe the dynamics and identify the articulation (Staccato & Legato)
3. Listen to the first two bars of the melody once and identify the last note as higher or lower than the first note
4. Listen to the melody twice, with a change of rhythm or pitch in the second playing, identify where the change occurs and as rhythm or pitch