Piano and Keyboard Exams

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The Associated Board of the Royal Schools offers a range of examinations all the way to university level and beyond. Exams take place 3 times a year and are held in various locations locally.

Junior Music Exam Piano

The JME is a CMS exam and is the first exam you will take with us, usually in the 1st or 2nd year of lessons. Assessment takes place in school, with your instrumental teacher.

Senior Music Exam Piano

The SME is a CMS exam and is the second exam you will take with us, usually in the 2nd or 3rd year of lessons. Exams usually take place at the Music Centre with a senior teacher from the music service.

Syllabus

List A

A1 J.S. Bach, Minuet in G Major (BWV Anh.114)
A2 Ludwig van Beethoven, Sonatina in G Major, Anh.5 Moderato
A3 D.G. Turk, Das Ballett (No. 19 from 60 Handstucke Fur Angehende Klavierspieler, Book 1)
A4 “The Harpsichord Player” (J.W.S. B, p. 6)
A5 “The Country Fiddler” (J.W.S. B, p. 4)

Syllabus

List A

A1 Marchello /J.S. Bach, Adagio from Concerto for solo Keyboard No.3 (easy version arranged by GALYA)
A2 W.A. Mozart, Menuet in G, K.1e
A3 Domenico Scarlatti, Minuet, Kp.40
A4 Muzio Clementi, Sonatina Op.36 No. 1, First Movement
A5 Thomas Attwood, Allegro (First movement from Sonatina No.2 in C)
A6 Russian Melody, Wild Goose Chase (Arr. J W. Schuam)
A7 Mexican Hat Dance (Arr. J W. Schuam)

List B

B1 Johann Strauss, The Blue Danube (Easy arrangement)
B2 Ludwig van Beethoven, Fur Elise (Arranged by Ian Cantor)
B3 Franz Gruber, Silent Night (Easy arrangement by GALYA)
B4 The Spider Dance (J.W.S. B, p. 28)
B5 “The Magic Flute” (J.W.S. B, p. 9)

List B

B1 Robert Schuman, The Wild Rider (Album for the Young, op.68, No.8)
B2 P. Tchaikovsky, Theme from “Swan Lake” (Easy arr. by Galya)
B3 Charles Stanford, Lullaby (No.5 from Six Sketchers)
B4 Nicolai Podgornov, Bear Dance (from Graded Pieces for Piano, Vol. 1)
B5 Bobby Timmons, Moanin’ (Arr. Hodge)
B6 Old American Song, On the Levee

List C

C1 Scott Joplin, The Entertainer (by Rock School)
C2 Christopher Norton, Microstyles 1 no.12 Short and Sweet- Boogie
C3 David Mitchell, Sunshine Rag (from Squeeze the Keys, Vol. 2)

List C

C1 Scott Joplin, The Entertainer (Arranged by David Bruce)
C2 David Mitchell, Ghost Train Boogie (from Squeeze the Keys, Vol. 2)
C3 Terence Greaves, Bonny Bobby Bluetoe (No.10 from Swinging Rhythms)
C4 Hanna, Barbera and Curtin, Top Cat!
C5 Wild Goose Chase, Russian Melody arr. J W. Schuam

Scales/Arpeggios

Two octaves hands separately (crotchet = 63)

Major Scales: C, G, D, F
Minor Scales: A, D – harmonic or melodic at candidate’s choice
Contrary-motion scale: C major
Broken chords – hands separately – C, G, F major; A and D minor

Scales/Arpeggios

Two octaves hands together and separately (crotchet = 63)

Major Scales: G, D, A, F
Minor Scales: E, D, G – harmonic or melodic at candidate’s choice
Contrary-motion scale: C, E majors
Arpeggios – G, D, A majors and D, G minors – hands separately two octaves
Broken chords – F major and E minor (in 4-note pattern) hands separately two octaves

Junior Music Exam Keyboard

The JME is a CMS exam and is the first exam you will take with us, usually in the 1st or 2nd year of lessons. Assessment takes place in school, with your instrumental teacher.

Senior Music Exam Keyboard

Syllabus

List A

A1 Bad Moon Rising (CKP, Revised Edition)
A2 Super Trouper (CKP, p. 35)
A3 Blowin’ in the Wind (CKP, p. 28)
A4 The Brass On Parade (LCM, p. 46)
A5 The Dainty Cha Cha (LCM, p. 44)

Syllabus

List A

A1 Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, Strauss
A2 Theme from Ma Vlast, Smetana
A3 Dark Eyes, traditional arr. Ward

List B

A1 Rio Grande (CKP, Revised Edition)
A2 Annie’s Song (CKP, p. 36)
A3 Tales of the Unexpected (CKP, p. 32)
A4 Swing Waltz (LCM, p. 51)
A5 Waltz With Me (LCM, p. 49)

List B

B1 Yellow Bird, traditional arr. Ward
B2 Orla’s Treat, Ward
B3 The Pink Panther, Mancini arr. Ward

List C

C1 Do Wah Diddy Diddy (CKP, Revised Edition)
C2 Birdie Song/ Birdie Dance (CKP, p. 39)
C3 La Bamba (CKP, p. 40)
C4 The Happy Rumba (LCM, p. 53)
C5 Layla (LCM, p. 47)

List C

C1 Kalinka, traditional arr. Ward
C2 Love Changes Everything, Lloyd Webber arr. Ward
C3 Who Will Buy? Bart arr. Ward

Scales/Arpeggios

Scales hands separately, legato: 2 octaves from memory (crotchet = 60)
Arpeggios hands separately, legato: 1 octave from memory

C major
G major
F major
A minor
D minor

Scales/Arpeggios

Scales hands separately, legato: 2 octaves from memory (crotchet = 70)
Arpeggios hands separately, legato: 2 octaves from memory

D major and A major
E harmonic minor and B harmonic minor
Contrary-motion scale: C major – two octaves
G major fingered chord scale (minim = 60)

Aural Tests

Help available here

Sight Reading

Material available directly from your CMS teacher