Acoustic Guitar Grade 10-6
Examination Procedure
Duration
Grades 10-8: 15 minutes, Grades 7-6: 20 minutes
Instrument and Equipment
Candidates are expected to bring the instrument and equipment needed for the exam.
Candidates are expected to tune their instrument to A=440Hz on their own.
If candidates have a problem with their instrument during the exam, for example, a broken string, a spare instrument prepared in the exam room may be used. Candidates are expected to solve any problems prior to the exam on their own.
If a capo tasto is used in the Free Selection, the candidates are expected to bring their own equipment.
Subject Details
I. Repertoire
I-I. Compulsory Piece
Candidates prepare one piece from the Compulsory Piece List and play it with the backing track.
Procedure
1. Examiners play the beginning of the backing track for several bars so that the candidate can play along to set an appropriate volume and balance.
2. Candidate plays the piece with the backing track.
- Note:
- Candidates are allowed to use the score if necessary.
- Examiners may stop the performance before it reaches the end of the piece.
- The backing track files are prepared at the exam room.
- For Grade 7, the backing track for “Etude 1” is provided in the ACOUSTIC GUITAR 2 textbook streaming service.
Compulsory Piece List
Grade 10
Book 1 - Chapter 1: Michael Row the Boat Ashore (Traditional American Song) - Melody Playing
Book 1 - Chapter 2: When the Saints Go Marching In (Traditional American Song) - Melody Playing
Grade 9
Book 1 - Chapter 3: My Grandfather's Clock (H. C. Work) - Melody Playing
Book 1 - Chapter 4: Aura Lee (Traditional American Song) - Accompaniment with Finger Picking
Grade 8
Book 2 - Chapter 5: Amazing Grace (Traditional English Song) - Accompaniment with Finger Picking
Book 2 - Chapter 6: Annie Laurie (Traditional Scottish Song) - Part I (Melody Playing)
Grade 7
Book 2 - Chapter 9: Someone to Watch Over Me (G. Gershwin) - 1st Chorus: Playing Part II, 2nd Chorus: Playing Part I
Etude 1 (Yamaha) - Finger Picking
Grade 6
Book 3 - Chapter 10: Down by the Sally Gardens (Traditional Irish Song) - Solo Performance
Book 3 - Chapter 11: DADDAD Tuning (Yamaha) - Chord Strumming
Book 3 - Chapter 12: Blues 2 (Yamaha) - Finger Picking
I-II. Free Selection
Candidates prepare one free selection piece and play it.
Points to consider when selecting a piece to prepare for Free Selection:
The level of the Free Selection piece is expected to be equivalent to the Compulsory Piece for the grade.
Candidates may choose a Free Selection piece from the textbook or the Compulsory Piece List provided that it is not the same piece they have prepared for the Compulsory Piece selection.
Free Selection can be played in any style such as chord strumming, finger picking, melody playing, or any style of solo performance.
Procedure
1. Candidate informs the examiners whether or not they will play along with a backing track.
2. If the candidate chooses to play along with the backing track, examiners play the beginning of the backing track for several bars so that the candidate can play along to set an appropriate volume and balance.
3. Candidate plays the piece.
- Note:
- Candidates are expected to bring the scores of the pieces they have prepared to the exam.
- Examiners may ask to see the score.
- Candidates are allowed to use the score if necessary.
- A simple score that shows the structure of the piece, chord progression, etc. is acceptable. The score itself will not to be evaluated.
- Candidates are allowed to choose whether or not to play along with a backing track.
- a) If candidates choose a piece from inside the textbook, the backing track will be prepared at the exam room.
- b) If candidates choose to play a piece outside of the textbook and will play the piece along with a backing track, candidates are expected to bring the MP3 files or MIDI data.
- Examiners may stop the performance before it reaches the end of the piece.
II. Chord Playing
Candidates prepare three (Grades 10, 9), five (Grades 8-6) given chord progressions out of five pieces, and will be asked to play one (Grades 10, 9), two (Grades 8-6) chosen by the examiners, with the rhythm track.
Scores of the chord progression and the rhythm pattern are provided as PDF files.
Procedure
1. Examiners select one chord progression for the candidate to play.
2. Examiners play the beginning of the rhythm track for several bars so that the candidate can play along and set an appropriate volume and balance.
3. Candidate plays the chord progression with the rhythm track from the beginning to the end.
4. Repeat the next piece in the same manner as 1-4. (Grades 8-6)
III. Sight Playing
Examiners select one piece and ask the candidate to play it by sight.
Procedure
1. Candidate is presented the score of the exam piece.
2. Candidate is given 30 seconds to look at the score as preview.
3. Candidate plays the piece after the examiner’s cue.
- Note:
- Movements, such as playing without sound, fingering/stroke motion practice etc., are not allowed during preview time.
Examples
Grade 10
Grade 9
Grade 8
Grade 7
Grade 6
IV. Scale
Candidates play one (Grades 10, 9), two (Grades 8-6) scales selected by the examiners without the use of a score.
Procedure
1. Examiners give candidate information on the type, key, range and starting note of the scale to be played.
2. For Grades 7 and 6, examiners use a metronome to give the candidate the tempo as written in the score. *For Grades 10 to 8, candidates may play the scales in their own tempo.
3. Candidate plays the scale as required.
4. For Grades 8-6, repeat procedures 1 to 3 for the next scale.
- Note:
- Candidates are not allowed to use scores during the exam.
- The last note of ascending/descending may be played longer than the other notes.