Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician.
Music Production
Grade 4
The Grade 4 Music Production exam is for candidates who have a detailed understanding of modern music production.
Estimated Examination Time:
45 minutes (approx.)
Purchase Your Book & Exam Entry
The Rockschool Music Production Grade 4 book contains everything you need to pass your Grade 4 exam in one essential book, featuring a diverse range of production techniques, highly relevant technical DAW skills, and the fundamental music theory needed to succeed in today’s industry.
Music Production Exam: Grade 4
Music Production Grade 4
The Rockschool Music Production Grade 4 book contains everything you need to pass your Grade 4 ex...
Theoretical Written Exam
This will assess the candidate’s knowledge and understanding of the following two sections.
- Music Production Terminology
- Sound & Audio Fundamentals
At Grade 4 the theory content covered will include subject areas such as describing equipment controls, surround formats, wireless connectivity, backing up files, plugin concepts, stereo microphone techniques, non-linear editing, software instruments, side-chaining and sound propagation.
At Grade 4 candidates will be expected to:
- Describe the controls on studio equipment, to include threshold, ratio, attack, release, hold, on compressors, gates and expanders
- Describe sound formats including mono, stereo, 2.1, 5.1, 7.1, quadraphonic
- Describe the importance of file management and backing up
- Describe plugins, what they are for, their advantages and formats
- Describe stereo microphone techniques, to include XY, AB, MS
- Describe linear and non-linear editing, destructive and non-destructive editing
- Describe software instruments, their purpose, formats and common uses including synths, samplers and real instrument emulation
- Describe production techniques to include side-chaining, de-essing, including both dedicated plugins/devices, and using standard equipment to achieve the same result
- Describe basic acoustic concepts, including how sound travels through air/solids, sound waves, compression/rarefaction
Listening Test
The listening test will present candidates with questions relating to sonic fidelity, music theory and harmony and stylistic awareness. Audio files will be presented to the candidates and questions will relate specifically to the relevant audio file. This will assess the candidate’s ability to hear and interpret:
Sonic Fidelity
Identifying use of compression on instruments and mixes.
Music Theory & Harmony
Identifying semi tones and tones and compound time signatures.
Stylistic Awareness
Identifying specific genres.
At Grade 4 candidates will be expected to:
- Identify the difference between compressed and uncompressed audio recordings
- Identify the difference between compressed and uncompressed mixes
- Identify when a compressor is being controlled by a side-chain
- Identify semi tones (chromaticism) and whole tones
- Identify compound time signatures: 6/8 and 12/8
- Identify common western music genres from a choice of two: country and funk
Candidates are advised to practice these techniques using the mock assessment files available from your secure area.
Coursework Task
The Coursework Task combines:
Technical Skills
At Grade 4 the technical skills will centre around use of equalisation (EQ) for corrective/creative purposes.
Coursework Task
The candidate will be presented with a situation and must choose and implement appropriate technique to resolve the scenario. At Grade 4 the scenario will require candidates to remove unwanted noise from a recording using appropriate techniques such as manual editing, gating, crossfades.
Candidates must complete the Coursework Task before their exam and will be asked to upload the Task and the screenshots specified in the Coursework Task, during the exam. The completed session files must be appropriately named, saved and shared with your examiner as instructed, including all associated audio files. It is vital that candidates are able to accurately save their work as failure to do so will result in an unclassified mark.
Candidates will need to answer questions regarding the Task during the exam. These will focus on:
- The skills used to complete the Task
- How candidates approached the professional nature of the Task
- How candidates interpreted the creative elements
On your exam day, you must bring:
- 1 x closed headphones with a ¼ inch jack (Candidates without their own headphones will be unable to sit the exam)
- A hard copy of the Music Production syllabus book or your proof of digital purchase
- Your Coursework Task and screenshots to upload
Your exam centre will provide 1 x computer.
Candidates can take the exam on the computer provided at the examination centre or on their own laptop within the invigilated environment.
Assessment Structure
The graded examinations in Music Production are assessed via an examination. The examination is divided into the following sections:
A written examination covering knowledge of:
- Music production terminology
- Sound and audio fundamentals
A listening test divided into three sections:
- Sonic fidelity
- Music theory and harmony
- Stylistic awareness
A Coursework Task, including technical skills, which candidates must complete before the exam and upload during the exam.
| Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Form of Assessment | All assessments are carried out by external examiners. Candidates are required to carry out a combination of practical tasks and underpinning theoretical assessment |
| Unit Format | Unit specifications contain the title, unit code, credit level, credit value, learning outcomes, assessment criteria, grade descriptor, and types of evidence required for the unit. |
| Bands of Assessment | There are four bands of assessment (distinction, merit, pass and unclassified) for the qualification as a whole. |
| Quality Assurance | Quality Assurance ensures that all assessments are carried out to the same standard by objective sampling and re-assessment of candidates’ work. A team of external examiners is appointed, trained and standardised by RSL. |
Grading Criteria
Part A: Terminology and Fundamentals
| Attainment Band | Unclassified | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Range | 0-14 | 15-18 | 19-20 | 21-25 |
| Grade Descriptor | Demonstrated an understanding of the key terminology used in modern music production and the fundamentals of sound and audio less than 60% of the time. | Demonstrated an understanding of the key terminology used in modern music production and the fundamentals of sound and audio between 60% and 74% of the time. | Demonstrated an understanding of the key terminology used in modern music production and the fundamentals of sound and audio between 75% and 84% of the time | Demonstrated an understanding of the key terminology used in modern music production and the fundamentals of sound and audio more than 84% of the time. |
Part B: Listening Skills
| Attainment Band | Unclassified | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Range | 0–8 | 9–10 | 11–12 | 13–15 |
| Grade Descriptor | Demonstrated effective listening skills relevant to modern music production less than 60% of the time. | Demonstrated effective listening skills relevant to modern music production between 60% and 74% of the time. | Demonstrated effective listening skills relevant to modern music production between 75% and 84% of the time. | Demonstrated effective listening skills relevant to modern music production more than 84% of the time. |
Part C: Coursework Task
| Attainment Band | Unclassified | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Range | 0-35 | 36-44 | 45-50 | 51-60 |
| Grade Descriptor | Demonstrated effective music production technique in less than 60% of the coursework task. | Demonstrated effective music production technique in between 60% and 74% of the coursework task. | Demonstrated effective music production technique in between 75% and 84% of the coursework task. | Demonstrated effective music production technique in more than 84% of the coursework task. |
