Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician.
Classical Piano
Grade 8
The Grade 8 Piano exam is for candidates who have now consolidated their playing to a high level. They have mastered the key skills up to Grade 7 and developed heightened technique, use of expressive devices, rhythmic complexity, fluency, co-ordination and musical understanding. Candidates will be able to improvise to an advanced level with effortless assurance and personality plus demonstrate seamless musical form and structure. There will be an innate stylistic conviction and distinctive musicality with strong individuality. Communication will be commanding.
There are two types of exams available at Grade 8, 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: 30 minutes (approx.)
- Performance Certificate: 28 minutes (approx.)
Purchase Your Book & Exam Entry
Classical grades for the modern musician. RSL Classical Piano Grade 8 will provide you with everything you need for your Grade 8 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.
Classical Piano Grade 8
The essential syllabus for the aspiring pianist. RSL Classical Piano Grade 8 will provide you wit...
Graded Music Exam: Grade 8
All instruments - General guidance: Graded Music Exams Overview - How to book an exam UK / Republ...
Performance Pieces
The performance pieces in the grade book can be used for both the Grade Exam and Performance Certificate and are designed so candidates can demonstrate the required assessment criteria.
Featured Repertoire:
- Johann Sebastian Bach – Prelude and Fugue in C minor
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Allegro
- Edvard Grieg – Papillon
- Claude Debussy – Arabesque No. 1 in E
- Bill Evans – Blue in Green (Take 3)
- Scott Joplin – Maple Leaf Rag
- Ludwig van Beethoven – Allegro
- Francis Poulenc – Mouvements perpétuels
- Clara Schumann – Impromptu: Le Sabbat
- Samuel Coleridge-Taylor – Cameo No. 3
Technical Exercises
At Grade 8 there are three groups of technical work: Scales, Arpeggios and Technical Studies.
- Candidates must prepare natural minor, harmonic minor and melodic minor scales
- Major scales, minor scales, chromatic scales and arpeggios (including those from previous grades) need to be played:
– hands together
– ascending and descending
– either legato or staccato articulation (as directed by the examiner)
– across four octaves (except half-whole and whole tone scales, which must be played over two octaves) - The examiner may also ask for legato or staccato.
- Groups A and B (scales & arpeggios) must be played from memory. Candidates may use their book for Group C (Technical Studies).
- All groups are played unaccompanied (without metronome or click).
- Any fingerings shown are suggestions only.
- 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: 176 bpm
Rhythms: Quavers (eighth notes), finishing on a semibreve (whole note).
- C half-whole diminished (two octaves)
- C whole tone (two octaves)
GROUP B – Arpeggios
Minimum Tempo: 132 bpm
Time Signature: 3/4, 4/4
Octave range: 4 octaves
Rhythms: 3/4: Quavers (eighth notes), finishing on a dotted minim (dotted half note). 4/4: Eighth notes, finishing on a semibreve (whole note).
- Diminished 7th arpeggio (from the starting notes C, C# or D)
- Dominant 7th arpeggio (from the starting notes G, D, A, F, Bb, or Eb)
Additional Scale
Candidates will be asked to perform one additional scale from any of the Group A exercises in any of the previous grades, selected by the examiner. The scale will need to be played ascending and descending, in quavers (eighth notes) and hands together. The examiner will confirm the scale, number of octaves, whether legato or staccato, tempo and time signature.
Additional Arpeggio
Candidates will be asked to perform one additional arpeggio from any of the Group B exercises in any of the previous grades, selected by the examiner. The scale will need to be played ascending and descending, in quavers (eighth notes) and hands together. The examiner will confirm the scale, number of octaves, whether legato or staccato, tempo and time signature.
GROUP C – Technical Studies
Candidates perform their choice of one of the technical studies from the grade book.
Supporting Tests
Sight Reading or Improvisation & Interpretation
At Grade 8 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
Key: Any
Time signature: Any
Dynamics/articulation: any
In the sight reading test, the examiner will give candidates a piece of music of up to 24 bars in length, to be played unaccompanied. Candidates will first be given 90 seconds to practise. After the practise time, the examiner will ask candidates to commence the test.
Contemporary Improvisation & Interpretation
Key: Any
Tempo: 60–200 bpm
Time Signature: 4/4, swung 4/4
In the Contemporary Improvisation & Interpretation test, the examiner will give candidates a 16–24 bar chord progression in any key. Candidates will first be given 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 each playthrough, the backing track will begin with a one bar count-in. The tempo = 60 –200bpm.
Candidates have the choice to improvise either a melodic line or a chordal part to complement the backing track. During the preparation time, candidates will be given the choice 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 Grade 8 there is one ear test, assessing melodic recall skills. An example is shown in the grade book.
Melodic Recall
Key: C major, C natural minor or C harmonic minor
Tempo: 95bpm
Time Signature: 4/4
Rhythms: Minims (half notes), crotchets (quarter notes), quaver (eighth notes).
The examiner will play a two-bar diatonic melody in the key of either C major, C natural minor or C harmonic minor, with a range up to an octave. There will be a C root note at the beginning of the test, then the melody will be played twice (each time preceded by four clicks). After this, candidates will hear a one bar count-in and will then need to play the melody back to a metronome click. The first note of the melody will be either the root, third or fifth. It is acceptable for candidates to play over the track as the test is being played and there will be 10 seconds to practise after the second playing. The piano can be used to assist at any time prior to being counted in to perform the exam version.
Note: the 10 seconds is pre-recorded on the audio track so the count-in for the exam version may begin while candidates are still practising.
General Musicianship Questions
The Examiner will ask five questions on topics relating to the candidate’s choice of piece performed in the examination, and on general musical and instrumental knowledge.
Music Knowledge
At Grade 8 candidates will be asked to identify:
- The meaning of tempo marking e.g. bpm, allegretto, poco moto etc. and key signature marking
- Any note pitch name (bass and treble staves plus all ledger lines)
- Any note and rest values within the chosen piece
- The meaning and application of any expressive musical marking found in the piece including all dynamic markings, rit., rall., a tempo, subito, simile, molto and poco a poco
- The construction of three of four cadence types; perfect, imperfect, plagal and deceptive, in the key of C, D, F or G major.
- The examiner will choose one cadence from the list and state the key. The candidate must then state the chord progression as chords from the chosen key
Instrument Knowledge
In Grade 8 candidates will be asked to identify:
- Identify the location, function and use of any part of the instrument
- Give a brief explanation of stylistic and technical considerations in preparation and performance of chosen piece (with demonstration – no use of notes or book)
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 |
