Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician.
Alto Saxophone
Grade 5
The Grade 5 Alto Sax exam is for candidates who have been typically learning for three years or more and who have fully consolidated their intermediate level playing. They have mastered the key skills up to Grade 4 and since acquired a greater use of appropriate technique, more complex rhythms, coordination and musical understanding. Candidates will have developed a good sense of expression, have a strong grasp of stylistic awareness, and there is also the opportunity to improvise which is now individual, assured, accurate and expressive.
There are two types of exam available at Grade 5, either a Grade Exam or Performance Certificate.
Estimated Examination Time:
- Grade Exam: 27 minutes (approx.)
- Performance Certificate: 25 minutes (approx.)
Purchase Your Book & Exam Entry
The Alto Sax Grade 5 book contains everything you need to sit your Grade 5 exam – in one essential book.
Alto Sax Grade 5
The essential syllabus for the aspiring, contemporary Saxophonist. Rockschool Alto Saxophone Grad...
Graded Music Exam: Grade 5
All Instruments - General guidance: Graded Music Exams Overview - How to book an exam UK / Republ...
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 acquire a solid understanding and execution of notation accuracy, values, evenness of sound, tone quality/consistency, technical control, articulation, expression, style awareness and sync at an early intermediate level.
Featured Repertoire:
- Marvin Gaye – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
- Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk
- Alicia Keys – Fallin’
- Dusty Springfield – Son-of-a-Preacher Man
- The Specials – Ghost Town
- Camila Cabello – Bam Bam
Technical Exercises
At Grade 5 there are three groups of technical work: scales, arpeggios and a technical study.
The examiner will ask for a selection of scales (Group A) and arpeggios (Group B). All scales and arpeggios should be prepared with tongued and slurred articulation. The examiner will announce the key, scale or arpeggio type and articulation for each example.
GROUP A – Scales
Tempo: Crotchet=80 bpm
- E major scale, two octaves
- F major scale, two octaves
- E dorian mode, two octaves
- F dorian mode, two octaves
- E mixolydian mode, two octaves
- F mixolydian mode, two octaves
- E minor pentatonic scale, two octaves
- F minor pentatonic scale, two octaves
- E blues scale, two octaves
- F blues scale, two octaves
- E chromatic scale, two octaves
GROUP B – Arpeggios
Tempo: Crotchet=70 bpm
- E major 7th arpeggio, one octave
- F major 7th arpeggio, one octave
- E minor 7th arpeggio, one octave
- F minor 7th arpeggio, one octave
- E dominant 7th arpeggio, one octave
- F dominant 7th arpeggio, one octave
- E diminished 7th arpeggio, one octave
- F diminished 7th arpeggio, one octave
GROUP C – Technical Study
Candidates are to perform their choice of one of the three technical studies given in the grade book. The examiner will ask which study the candidate has prepared.
Supporting Tests
Sight Reading or Improvisation & Interpretation
At Grade 5, candidates will be offered the choice between Sight Reading or Improvisation & Interpretation. Before seeing the test, the examiner will ask the candidate which they would like to perform. Before seeing the test, the examiner will ask you which you would like to perform. Once you have decided you cannot change your mind. An example is shown in the Grade 5 book.
Sight Reading
In the Sight Reading test, the examiner will give you a short piece to be played to a metronome click. At this grade, there will be four bars where you will need to improvise melodies to complement the surrounding notated melody during your performance. Chord symbols are shown as guidance for the four bars of improvisation.
The test will be:
- 12 bars duration
- In the key of E major, E minor, F major or F minor
- Melodies are predominantly diatonic – there may be occasional accidentals
- In 4/4, 6/8 or 12/8 time
The examiner will show you the notation, and you will have 90 seconds to prepare. You may ask for a metronome click at the start of, or throughout your practise time. After the 90 seconds practise time, the examiner will play you the click track again, and you will be required to perform the test.
Improvisation & Interpretation
Key: A major or A minor
Tempo: Crotchet=95 bpm
At Grade 5, the examiner will give the candidate a 12-bar lead sheet, over which they will be required to improvise a melody on your instrument. Four bars within the test will contain notated melody which they must perform as written during your performance. The candidate will have 90 seconds preparation time, after which the examiner will play the backing track twice. The examiner will offer the metronome as a guide throughout this time. Candidates will then have a complete practice run through with the backing track, and then on the repeat the test will be examined.
Ear Tests
There are two tests: Melodic Recall and Harmonic Recall.
Melodic Recall
Tempo: Crotchet=95 bpm
The examiner will play a two-bar melody with a drum backing using the E major or E minor scale. The first note of the melody will be the root note. The candidate will play the melody back on their instrument. They will hear the test twice, each time the melody is played it is preceded by a vocal count-in.
Harmonic Recall
Tempo: Crotchet=95 bpm
The examiner will play a two-bar chord sequence in the key of C major, drawn from chords I, IIm, IV, V and VIm. The test contains two chords per bar, and the first chord will be the root chord. The candidate will be asked to identify the chord sequence.
General Musicianship Questions
In this part of the exam candidates will be asked five questions drawn from the topics listed below. For the notation section, the examiner will ask you to choose a piece you’ve played in the exam.
Notation
In Grade 5, candidates will be asked to:
- Explain the meaning of the time signature or key signature
- Explain the meaning of the tempo marking or any dynamic marking found on the score
- Identify any note pitch name(s) or rhythm value(s) found on the score
- Explain the meaning of any articulation or expression mark found on the score
Your Chosen Piece
In Grade 5, candidates will be asked to give one example of a musical feature of the piece which is representative of the genre, e.g. rhythmic
features, harmonic features, tempo, feel etc.
Music Theory
In Grade 5, candidates will be asked to describe the construction of a diminished 7 chord or a minor 7b5 chord.
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 |
