RSL Classical

Learn Classical Piano

The RSL Classical Piano syllabus proudly represents Classical music in all its forms, including music from the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras together with repertoire from the 20th and 21st century. The pieces sit alongside a range of scales, arpeggios and technical studies to provide a challenging and engaging syllabus for the 21st-century musician. We’re delighted to have developed the most representative classical syllabus available!

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Academically Rigorous

RSL Classical Piano has been designed with industry relevance, student engagement, and academic rigour in mind. Every practical, theoretical and aural test has been written and developed by industry professionals to give students an unrivalled level of academic assurance.

Diverse Repertoire

Carefully graded to foster and support progression, RSL Classical Piano includes an exceptional selection of pieces from a diverse roster of composers including some of the most cherished and admired pieces from the Classical repertoire, alongside minimalism, impressionism, jazz, and film scores.

Exceptional Composers

We’re proud to have developed such a representative classical syllabus, featuring the likes of; Debussy, Clara Schumann, Alexis Ffrench, JS Bach, Elfrida Andrée, Isaac Albéniz, Mozart, Florence Price, John Williams, Zenobia Powell-Perry, Germaine Tailleferre, Chopin and Beethoven.. to name just a few!

Internationally Recognised

Upon completion of an RSL Graded Music Exam, every candidate will have earned a globally recognised qualification, which has been designed to support progression routes towards higher education and the creative industries.

UCAS Points

Grades 6 to 8 are UCAS recognised aiding Higher Education applications. Candidates can gain up to 30 UCAS points for completion of these Level 3 qualifications.

Digital Downloads

The digital books contain all the repertoire and supporting tests, together with exclusive exemplar audio recordings of each track and Fact Files and Performance Notes. Students and teachers can instantly access their favourite graded music materials from their desktop, tablet or smartphone and, with Replay, have access to an interactive sheet music player with a range of playback and practice functions.

Learn the Classical Piano with RSL Classical

Ready to dive into the world of RSL Classical Piano? We highly recommend checking out the video below, which offers valuable insights into how this amazing syllabus has been brought to life.

How it works

Whether you’re learning the piano independently or with a music teacher, it’s easy to get started learning with RSL Classical.

Download the syllabus and buy your grade book

Our publications provide you with everything you need: professionally arranged and produced repertoire alongside innovative technical exercises and supporting tests.

Start practicing with our innovative resources

From our physical publications to our interactive e-books and Learning Platform app, our teaching and learning resources are here to support you become a better musician.

Sit the exam and reap your rewards

If you’re ready and want to take a Graded Music Exam, achieve your very own RSL Classical qualification after putting in the hours of dedication towards mastering your instrument.

Classical Piano
Debut

The Debut Piano exam is for candidates who have been learning a short time and have developed elementary skills, techniques, co-ordination and musical understanding.

There are two main types of exams available at Debut, either a Grade Exam or Performance Certificate, which can be booked as a face-to-face exam or recorded video exam and is also available in some centres as a live-streamed video exam.

Estimated Examination Time:

Grade Exam: 15 minutes (approx.)
Performance Certificate: 12 minutes (approx.)

Purchase Your Book & Exam Entry

Classical grades for the modern musician. RSL Classical Piano Debut will provide you with everything you need for your Debut exam, including a diverse range of repertoire, a truly innovative range of supporting tests and a vast array of professionally arranged and recorded backing tracks.

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Classical Piano Debut

The essential syllabus for the aspiring pianist. RSL Classical Piano Debut will provide you with ...

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Graded Music Exam: Debut

All Instruments - General guidance: Graded Music Exams Overview - How to book an exam UK / Republ...

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Performance Pieces

The performance pieces in the grade book can be used for both the Grade Exam and Performance Certificate, and designed so candidates can demonstrate the required assessment criteria.

Featured Repertoire:

Yann Tiersen – La Valse d’Amélie
Ludovico Einaudi – Una Mattina
Pauline Hall – Martian’s March
Melanie Spanswick – Celebration (DUET)
Trad. Spiritual – Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Helen Madden – Andante Verde
Zenobia Powell Perry – Vignette No. 1
Béla Bartók – Play
Elvina Pearce – Sand Castle
Claude Debussy – Claire de Lune

Technical Exercises

At Debut, there are three groups of technical work: Scales, Arpeggios/Broken Chords and Technical Studies.

All scales and broken chords need to be played hands separately, legato, ascending and descending, in the keys and octaves shown.
Pentatonic scales are right hand only.
There is no memory requirement, and candidates may use their book for all technical sections at this grade.
Any fingerings shown are suggestions only.
All groups are played unaccompanied (without metronome or click).
Candidates will be marked on tone quality and consistency, maintenance of pulse, and accuracy. Performances slower than the stated minimum tempo may be subject to qualitative judgement by the examiner, according to extent and commensurate with the grade.

GROUP A – Scales

Minimum tempo: 53bpm
Range: One octave
Rhythms: Quavers (eighth) notes, finishing on a crotchet (quarter note)

C major (right hand)
C major (left hand)
A natural minor (right hand)
A natural minor (left hand)
C major pentatonic (right hand) A minor pentatonic (right hand)

GROUP B – Arpeggios

Minimum tempo: 92bpm
Time signatures: 3/4
Rhythms: Crotchets (quarter notes), finishing on a dotted minim (dotted half note)

C major broken chord (right hand)
C major broken chord (left hand)
A minor broken chord (right hand)
A minor broken chord (left hand)

GROUP C – Technical Studies

Minimum tempo: 80bpm
Candidates perform their choice of one of the technical studies from the grade book.

Supporting Tests

Sight Reading or Improvisation & Interpretation

At Debut, candidates will be offered the choice between Sight Reading or Contemporary Improvisation & Interpretation. Both are previously unseen and examples of each are given in the grade book.

Sight Reading

In the sight reading test, the examiner will give the candidate a 4–6 bar melody in the key of C major, to be played unaccompanied. Candidates will first be given 90 seconds to practise. After the practise time, the examiner will ask the candidate to commence the test.

Minimum tempo = 60 bpm.
Candidates are tested on their ability to perform previously unseen pitches and rhythms. No dynamics are shown, however, candidates should maintain an even tone quality throughout.
While the assessed part of the test is not played to a metronome click, candidates may ask to hear the minimum tempo on a metronome at the start of, or throughout their practice time. Additionally, candidates may ask to hear a few seconds of the tempo on a metronome before the assessed part of the test begins.

Improvisation & Interpretation

Key: C major
Tempo: 60bpm
Time signature: 4/4

The Contemporary Improvisation & Interpretation test is in the form of a 4–6 bar chord progression, with all chord symbols indicated.

Candidates may improvise either a melodic line or a chordal part to complement the backing track. Candidates will have 90 seconds to prepare after which the examiner will play the backing track twice. The first time is to practise and the second time is to perform the final version for the exam. For the first play through, there will be four clicks. For the test, there will be a one bar count-in. During the practice time, candidates will be given the option of a metronome click throughout or a one bar count-in at the beginning.

The backing track is continuous so once the first playthrough has finished the count-in of the second playing will start immediately.

Ear Tests

At Debut there is one ear test, assessing melodic recall skills. An example is shown in the grade book.

Melodic Recall

Tempo: 95bpm
Rhythms: Minims (half notes)

The examiner will play two minims one after the other. Candidates are to state whether the second note is higher or lower in pitch than the first note. The test will be played twice, each time preceded by four clicks. There will also be a C root note at the beginning of the test for reference. For this exercise, candidates are to use the words ‘higher’ or ‘lower’.

Credit will be given for speed of response.

General Musicianship Questions

At Debut candidates will be asked five questions on topics relating to their choice of piece performed in the examination, and general musical and instrumental knowledge.

Music Knowledge

At Debut candidates will be asked to identify:

The treble and bass staves
The treble and bass clefs
Note pitch names (within treble stave only)
Minim (half) and crotchet (quarter) note values

Instrument Knowledge

In Debut candidates will be asked to identify:

One of the following parts of piano: black and white keys, middle C (C4)

Exam Structure

There are two types of exam available, a Grade Exam or Performance Certificate.

Grade Exam

3 Performance Pieces (two of which may be Free Choice Pieces)	Candidates choose to play either Performance Pieces or Technical Exercises first	These account for 60% of the exam mark
Technical Exercises (Section A, B, C and D for Level 3 qualifications)	Candidates choose to play either Performance Pieces or Technical Exercises first	These account for 15% of the exam mark
Sight Reading or Improvisation & Interpretation (Debut to Grade 5); Quick Study Pieces (Grade 6 to Grade 8)	Candidates are given an unseen test to prepare and perform	This accounts for 10% of the exam marks
2 Ear Tests	Candidates respond to 2 aural tests.	These account for 10% of the exam marks
5 General Musicianship Questions	Candidates answer 5 questions based on one of the pieces performed	These account for 5% of the exam marks

Performance Certificate

5 Performance Pieces only (three of these can be Free Choice Pieces)

These account for 20% of the exam mark each.

Assessment Criteria

Performance Pieces

Attainment Band	Distinction	Merit	Pass	Below Pass	Below Pass 2
Mark Range	18-20	15-17	12-14	6-11	0-5
Command of Instrument	Consistently clear production of sound and even tone quality throughout	Mostly clear production of sound and even tone quality overall	Some clear production of sound and generally even tone quality	Sound produced is unclear with uneven quality of tone produced	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Sync or Pulse	Performance consistently synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance mostly synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance sometimes synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance not synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse not maintained	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Accuracy & Understanding	all of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated throughout. Understanding of musical structure shown all of the time.	Most of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated overall. Understanding of musical structure shown most of the time.	Some of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills generally demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure shown some of the time.	Written music not accurately performed or equivalent skills not demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure not evidenced.	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Style & Expression	Consistently convincing projection of the music.	Mostly convincing projection of the music.	Some convincing projection of the music.	Music not convincingly projected.	No attempt and/or incomplete performance

Technical Exercises

Attainment Band	Distinction	Merit	Pass	Below Pass	Below Pass 2
Mark Range	13–15	11–12	9–10	4–8	0–3
Command of Instrument	Consistently clear production of sound and even tone quality throughout	Mostly clear production of sound and even tone quality overall	Some clear production of sound and generally even tone quality	Sound produced is unclear with uneven quality of tone produced	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Sync or Pulse	Performance consistently synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance mostly synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance sometimes synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance not synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse not maintained	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Accuracy & Understanding	all of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated throughout. Understanding of musical structure shown all of the time.	Most of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated overall. Understanding of musical structure shown most of the time.	Some of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills generally demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure shown some of the time.	Written music not accurately performed or equivalent skills not demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure not evidenced.	No attempt and/or incomplete performance

Ear Tests

Attainment Band	Distinction	Merit	Pass	Below Pass	Below Pass 2
Mark Range	9-10	7-8	6	3-5	0-2
Accuracy & Understanding	All of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated throughout. Understanding of musical structure shown all of the time.	Most of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated overall. Understanding of musical structure shown most of the time.	Some of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills generally demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure shown some of the time.	Written music not accurately performed or equivalent skills not demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure not evidenced.	No attempt and/or incomplete performance

Supporting Tests

Attainment Band	Distinction	Merit	Pass	Below Pass	Below Pass 2
Mark Range	9-10	7-8	6	3-5	0-2
Command of Instrument	Consistently clear production of sound and even tone quality throughout	Mostly clear production of sound and even tone quality overall	Some clear production of sound and generally even tone quality	Sound produced is unclear with uneven quality of tone produced	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Sync or Pulse	Performance consistently synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance mostly synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance sometimes synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance not synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse not maintained	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Accuracy & Understanding	All of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated throughout. Understanding of musical structure shown all of the time.	Most of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated overall. Understanding of musical structure shown most of the time.	Some of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills generally demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure shown some of the time.	Written music not accurately performed or equivalent skills not demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure not evidenced.	No attempt and/or incomplete performance

General Musicianship Questions

Attainment Band	Distinction	Merit	Pass	Below Pass	Below Pass 2
Mark Range	5 correct responses	4 correct responses	3 correct responses	2 correct responses	0-1 correct responses

Performance Certificate

Attainment Band	Distinction	Merit	Pass	Below Pass	Below Pass 2
Mark Range	18-20	15-17	12-14	6-11	0-5
Command of Instrument	Consistently clear production of sound and even tone quality throughout	Mostly clear production of sound and even tone quality overall	Some clear production of sound and generally even tone quality	Sound produced is unclear with uneven quality of tone produced	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Sync or Pulse	Performance consistently synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance mostly synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance sometimes synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse maintained	Performance not synchronised to the music, or an internal pulse not maintained	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Accuracy & Understanding	All of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated throughout. Understanding of musical structure shown all of the time.	Most of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills demonstrated overall. Understanding of musical structure shown most of the time.	Some of the written music accurately performed or equivalent skills generally demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure shown some of the time.	Written music not accurately performed or equivalent skills not demonstrated. Understanding of musical structure not evidenced.	No attempt and/or incomplete performance
Style & Expression	Consistently convincing projection of the music.	Mostly convincing projection of the music.	Some convincing projection of the music.	Music not convincingly projected.	No attempt and/or incomplete performance

Classical Piano
Grade 1

The Grade 1 Piano exam is for candidates who have mastered the key basic debut level skills and have since acquired greater use of technique, rhythms, co-ordination and musical understanding. There is also an opportunity to build on basic improvisation.

There are two types of exams available at Grade 1, either a Grade Exam or Performance Certificate, which can be booked as a face-to-face exam or recorded video exam and is also available in some centres as a live-streamed video exam.