Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician.
Classical Piano
Grade 3
The Grade 3 Piano exam is for candidates ready to consolidate their final stage as beginner players. They have mastered the key skills up to Grade 2 and since acquired greater use of technique, rhythms, co-ordination and musical understanding. Improvisation phrasing is now confident and articulate and candidates have started to develop the beginnings of stylistic awareness.
There are two types of exams available at Grade 3, 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: 25 minutes (approx.)
- Performance Certificate: 18 minutes (approx.)
Purchase Your Book & Exam Entry
Classical grades for the modern musician. RSL Classical Piano Grade 3 will provide you with everything you need for your Grade 3 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 3
The essential syllabus for the aspiring pianist. RSL Classical Piano Grade 3 will provide you wit...
Graded Music Exam: Grade 3
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:
- Teresa Richert – Sniffing Around
- Alexis Ffrench – Bluebird
- Christine Donkin – Witches and Wizards
- Muzio Clementi – Allegro
- Nikki Iles – Lost Boys Blues
- Franz Joseph Haydn – Allegro
- Jóhann Jóhannsson – A Model of the Universe
- Camille Saint-Saëns – The Elephant
- Mona Rejino – Nocturne
- Béla Bartók – Dance
Technical Exercises
At Grade 3 there are three groups of technical work: Scales, Arpeggios and Technical Studies.
Major scales, minor scales and arpeggios need to be played hands together, ascending and descending, in the keys and octaves shown.
Candidates must choose to play either natural minor or harmonic minor or melodic minor scales in the exam. The examiner will ask the candidate to state which set of minor scales they have prepared.
Pentatonic scales are right hand only.
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: 80 bpm
Range: Two octaves
Rhythms: Eighth notes, finishing on a quarter note
A major
Eb major
F# natural/harmonic/melodic minor
C natural/harmonic/melodic minor
Eb major pentatonic (right hand)
A major pentatonic (right hand)
C minor pentatonic (right hand)
F# minor pentatonic (right hand)
GROUP B – Arpeggios
Minimum Tempo: 69bpm
Time signature: 3/4, 4/4
Rhythms: 3/4: Quavers (eighth notes), finishing on a dotted minim (dotted half note) | 4/4: Quavers, finishing on a semibreve (whole note)
- A major arpeggio
- Eb major arpeggio
- F# minor arpeggio
- C minor arpeggio
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 3 candidates will be offered the choice between Sight Reading or Improvisation and Interpretation. Both are previously unseen and examples of each are given in the grade book.
Sight Reading
Key: Eb major or A major
Tempo: 60–95 bpm
Time Signature: 4/4
Rhythms: Semibreve (whole), dotted minim (dotted half), minim (half), dotted crotchet (dotted quarter), crotchet (quarter), quaver (eighth) notes, quaver ties, associated rests.
Dynamic Markings: mf, mp
Articulation: staccato, legato
In the sight reading test, the examiner will give candidates a 4– 6 bar piece in A major or Eb major, 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. 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 the 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: Eb major or A major
Tempo: 60–95 bpm
Time Signature: 4/4
In the Contemporary Improvisation & Interpretation test, the examiner will give candidates a 4–6 bar chord progression in the key of either A major or Eb major. 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. Tempo = 60–95bpm.
- At this grade, 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 3 there is one ear test, assessing melodic recall skills. An example is shown in the grade book.
Melodic Recall
Key: C major
Tempo: 95bpm
Time Signature: 4/4
Rhythms: Minims (half notes), crotchets (quarter notes)
The examiner will play a two-bar diatonic melody in the key of C major, with a range up to a fifth. There will be a C root note at the beginning of the test, then the melody will be played twice, each preceded by four clicks. After this, there will be a one-bar count-in and then candidates need to play the melody back to a metronome click. The first note of the melody will be the root.
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
Grade 3 candidates will be asked five questions on topics relating to their choice of the piece performed in the examination and on general musical and instrumental knowledge.
Music Knowledge
In Grade 3 candidates will be asked to identify:
- The location and meaning of the time or key signature marking
- Note pitch names (bass and treble staves plus two ledger lines)
- Semibreve (whole), minim (half), crotchet (quarter), quaver (eighth), semiquaver (16th) note and rest values
- The location and meaning of dynamic markings found in the piece (pp, p, mp, mf, f and ff) and cresc. and dim. plus hairpins
- The construction of a major (tonic, major 3rd, perfect 5th) or minor (tonic, minor 3rd, perfect 5th) or dominant 7th (tonic, major 3rd, perfect 5th, flattened 7th) chords (root position only)
Instrument Knowledge
In Grade 3 candidates will be asked to identify:
- Identify the location and function of the sustain/damper pedal
- Explain how the sound is produced when a key is pressed
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 |
