TCL Grade 8 Keyboard Percussion
General Info
1. Candidates must be played on the instrument stated in the printed music. Where no instrument is specified, candidates should choose the most suitable instrument for performance.
2. Technical Works requires a four-octave instrument.
3. The use of the vibraphone pedal is required.
4. Sticks must be appropriate to the instrument played, and should be in good condition.
5. 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 | Instrument | Publications | Publisher | Video |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Memories | Daniel Berg | Marimba | - | Edition Svitzer |
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.
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 candidate's abilities in musical perception and understanding by requiring them to recognize musical features by ear. All questions are based on a single musical example played at the piano by the examiner.
About the Test
1. Listen to the piece once and Identify the time signature
2. Listen to the piece once and comment on the dynamics
3. Listen to the piece once and comment on the articulation
4. Listen to the piece twice and comment on three other characteristics of the piece
5. Study a copy of the piece, listen to it twice with three changes, locate and describe the changes as pitch or rhythm.
Supporting Publications
For practice purposes, sample Sight-reading tests are published by Trinity College London Press in Aural Tests Book 2 from 2017 (Grade 6-8). Purchasing the book is not a requirement.
Improvisation
This test assesses candidates’ ability to improvise fluently, coherently and creatively in response to a musical stimulus. Candidates can choose between three types of improvisation stimulus: stylistic, harmonic or motivic.
Stylistic stimulus
This option requires candidates to improvise on their instrument over a notated accompaniment played by the examiner at the piano.
- Candidates are given a stimulus which includes the notated piano part and chord symbols. The stimulus begins with a two-bar introduction played by the examiner alone, followed by a further section over which
candidates must improvise for a specified number of repeats.
- The examiner plays the stimulus twice for candidates’ reference, without repeats.
- Candidates are then given 30 seconds’ preparation time, during which they may prepare for their improvisation aloud.
- The test then follows. The examiner plays the stimulus again, and candidates join in after the introduction, improvising for the specified number of repeats. Candidates should aim to improvise in a way that complements the musical style of the stimulus.
Motivic stimulus
This option requires candidates to improvise solo in response to a short melodic fragment.
- Candidates are given a notated melodic fragment, which the examiner plays twice on the piano for candidates’ reference.
- Candidates are then given 30 seconds’ preparation time, during which they may prepare for their improvisation aloud.
- The test then follows. Candidates should aim to improvise within the specified duration range and may begin by quoting the stimulus directly, developing their improvisation from there. However, they are not required to quote the stimulus directly, and may instead develop their improvisation from ideas taken from the stimulus such as a small group of notes or an interval. Responses must use the given time signature.
Harmonic stimulus
This option requires candidates to improvise solo in response to a chord sequence.
- Candidates are given a notated chord sequence, including chord symbols, which the examiner plays twice on the piano for candidates’ reference.
- Candidates are then given 30 seconds’ preparation time, during which they may prepare for their improvisation aloud.
- The test then follows. Candidates should improvise for the specified number of repeats, following the chord sequence. Responses should contain melodic / rhythmic interest.