Rockschool

Learn to Play Keyboard

The Rockschool Keys syllabus provides contemporary pianists and keyboard players with an essential resource to improve their skills and abilities. This syllabus covers a broad range of topics, from keyboard-specific sound manipulation to developing traditional pianistic techniques. Explore new creative possibilities on the keyboard with Rockschool’s keyboard syllabus – an indispensable tool for any serious keys player.

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Ability to Specialise

The tracks featured at each Grade are split into three keyboard-specific and three piano-specific hit tunes. We want you to plot your stylistic specialism, helping you to develop an in-depth understanding of the type of music that appeals to you most, whether that’s a particular genre, keyboard-specific sound manipulation or developing traditional pianistic techniques.

Keyboard-specific Repertoire

The Rockschool Keys Grades feature a collection of meticulously researched and suitably arranged hit tunes from the world’s greatest artists, films and musicals. The tracks have been devised for students to learn through the music they love with repertoire arranged and benchmarked with the key technical skills required at each Grade. These keyboard-specific arrangements utilise varied levels of sound manipulation, patch switching, layers and splits. Due to these specifications we ask that all candidates bring their own keyboard on the day, along with a music stand.

Brand New Hit Tunes

The Rockschool keyboard repertoire provides students with an expansive song choice, from a diverse range of genres, including tracks from Ariana Grande, Chvrches, Michael Jackson, Kate Bush, Stevie Wonder, Tori Amos, Eurythmics, Snarky Puppy, Pirates of the Caribbean, Schindler’s List and and many, many more. With 9 levels of keyboard grades, all abilities are covered.

Downloadable Audio

Download all of your backing tracks for your keyboard practice: examples, performances and practice materials directly from our online store. On our stores you’ll find all you need to pass your keyboard exam.

Learn the keyboard with Rockschool

Whether you’re learning to play the keyboard or teaching the keyboard, Rockschool is here to support your journey.

How it works

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

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 Rockschool qualification after putting in the hours of dedication towards mastering your instrument.

Keys
Debut

The Rockschool Keyboard syllabus is an essential resource for contemporary pianists and keyboard players. Created with the modern musician in mind, it equips all aspiring keyboard players with the knowledge needed to confidently perform within the dynamic world of popular music.

Estimated Examination Time:

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

Purchase Your Book & Exam Entry

The essential syllabus for the aspiring, contemporary keyboardist. Keys 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 recorded backing tracks and audio examples.

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Keys Debut

The essential syllabus for the aspiring, contemporary keyboardist. Keys Debut will provide you wi...

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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 pieces in the grade book can be used for both the Grade Exam and Performance Certificate. The expectation and length of pieces are designed so candidates can concentrate on the requirements of notation accuracy, values, evenness of sound, tone quality / consistency, technical control and sync at a beginner level, including; single patch settings, layers and the basic use of effects/sound manipulation.

Featured Repertoire:

Beauty and the Beast – Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson
Next to Me – Emeli Sandé
Imagine – John Lennon
One Love / People Get Ready – Bob Marley & The Wailers
Mr. Brightside – The Killers
Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers

Technical Exercises

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

All scales and arpeggios need to be played hands separately, in straight feel, ascending and descending. Pentatonic scales are right hand only.

The examiner will ask for a selection from each group and Groups A and B need to be played to a compulsory metronome click. Group C does not require a metronome and can be played at a tempo of the candidate’s choice.

The book can be used in the exam for Groups A and B. Group C needs to be played from memory. For Group C, candidates will be required to close their grade books.

Note: the use of any notes or any reading from the grade book when performing Group C will result in a deduction of marks for this element. (See Assessment Criteria).

Any fingerings shown in the grade book are for suggestions only.

GROUP A – Scales

Tempo: 52bpm
Range: One octave
Rhythms: Eighth notes, finishing on a 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

Tempo: 92bpm
Time signatures: 3/4
Rhythms: Quarter notes, finishing on a dotted half note

C major broken chord (right hand)

C major broken chord (left hand)

A natural minor broken chord (right hand)

A natural minor broken chord (left hand)

GROUP C – Chord Voicings

C major

C minor

Candidates need to play either the C major voicings or the C minor voicings from memory. The examiner will state the exercise. This test is performed in free time (without backing track or click), but the examiner will be looking for the speed of your response.

Supporting Tests

At Debut, candidates will be offered the choice between Sight Reading or Improvisation and Interpretation. Both are previously unseen and an example of each is shown in the grade book.

Sight Reading

Key: C major
Tempo: 60bpm
Time signature: 4/4
Rhythms: Whole, half, quarter notes, associated rests

The Sight Reading test is in the form of a 4–6 bar melody.

Candidates are required to play hands separately and only single notes will be required to be played with both left and right hands.

Candidates will have 90 seconds to practise 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.

Improvisation and Interpretation

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

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

Candidates are required to improvise single note melodies with either left or right hand. It is permissible to play chord voicings, or use both hands, but marks will only be awarded for melodic content.

Candidates will have 90 seconds to practise 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 each playthrough, the backing track will begin with 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 are two ear tests: Melodic Recall and Chord Recognition. Both are previously unseen and an example of each is shown in the grade book.

Melodic Recall
Tempo: 95bpm
Rhythms: Half notes

The examiner will play two half notes 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 a one-bar count-in. 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

Chord Recognition
Tempo: 95bpm
Rhythms: Whole notes

The examiner will play two chords, each with a C root note. Candidates are to state which chord played was major and which chord played was minor. The test will be played twice, each time preceded by a one-bar count-in. Credit will be given for speed of response.

General Musicianship Questions

At debut candidates will be asked five questions, one from each of the following groups:

One question relating to harmony

One question relating to melody

One question relating to rhythms

One question relating to technical requirements

One question relating to genre

Candidates can choose the piece on which basis the questions will be asked. It must be one of the pieces performed in the exam. The exact bars or phrases will be chosen by the examiner.

The questions will cover the following topics:

Group 1: Harmony
Identification of major / minor triad chord symbols.

Group 2: Melody
A pitch in the treble clef within the stave.

Group 3: Rhythm
Whole / half / quarter notes.

Group 4: Technical
Fingering used in a crotchet length phrase. (Either hand.)

Group 5: Genre
Genre of the piece.

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

Keys
Grade 1

The Grade 1 Keyboard exam is for candidates who have been typically learning for six months to one year. They have mastered the key basic debut level skills and have since acquired greater use of technique, rhythms, co-ordination and musical understanding.

At Keyboard Grade 1 you will be examined on your choice of three performance pieces from artists such as Taylor Swift, Bat For Lashes and Rag’n’Bone Man, with some keyboard-specific techniques that could include single patch settings, layers and the basic use of effects/sound manipulation (eg. pitch bend).