Music Production
Grade 7
The Grade 7 Music Production exam is for candidates who are competent in music production technique, and are capable of overcoming challenging situations.
Estimated Examination Time:
70 minutes (approx.)
Purchase Your Book & Exam Entry
The Rockschool Music Production Grade 7 book contains everything you need to pass your Grade 7 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 7
Music Production Grade 7
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 7 the theory content covered will include subject areas such as working around equipment faults, format incompatibility, connectivity faults, software optimisation, latency, phase, stereo width, groove/quantisation, signal noise and studio monitoring.
At Grade 7 candidates will be expected to:
- Explain how to overcome technical challenges, such as faulty cables, faulty microphones
- Explain how to overcome format incompatibility, to include transferring projects between different
- Digital Audio Workstations using OMFs
- Explain how to find a fault in chain of devices, such as a drop in level, low frequency hum
- Explain how to optimise operating systems for audio work
- Explain latency and how to overcome it
- Explain phase issues and how to overcome them
- Explain how to add stereo width, using techniques to include the HAAS effect, dedicated plugins, manual use of delays and phase effects
- Explain quantisation and groove templates
- Explain how to minimise noise, through matching level and impedance
- Explain studio monitor designs, and how to set monitor speakers for optimum listening experience
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 stereo phase issues on instrument and full mix recordings.
Music Theory & Harmony
Identifying harmonic & melodic minor scales, son and rumba clave.
Stylistic Awareness
Identifying specific genres.
At Grade 7 candidates will be expected to:
- Identify phase issues in a recording
- Identify phase issues within a mix
- Identify harmonic and melodic minor scales
- Identify son and rumba claves (3:2 & 2:3)
- Introducing modern electronic music genres – drum & bass and techno
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 7 the technical skills will centre around correcting the timing in a performance.
Coursework Task
The candidate will be presented with a situation and must choose and implement appropriate technique to resolve the scenario. At Grade 7 the candidate may choose to specialise in Audio Production, Electronic Music Production or Sound for Media:
- Audio Production: The scenario will focus on creating a harmony to a vocal performance from a range of software techniques
- Electronic Music Production: The scenario will require a drum break to be edited and re-timed to a new tempo
- Sound for Media: The scenario will require the candidate to create a sonic solution to an animated logo
Candidates must complete the Coursework Task before their exam and will be asked to upload the Task and the screen shots 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. |