Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician.
Music Production
Grade 3
The Grade 3 Music Production exam is for candidates who have a good understanding of the core components of modern music production.
Estimated Examination Time: 45 minutes (approx.)
Purchase Your Book & Exam Entry
The Rockschool Music Production Grade 3 book contains everything you need to pass your Grade 3 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 3
Music Production Grade 3
The Rockschool Music Production Grade 3 book contains everything you need to pass your Grade 3 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 3 the theory content covered will include subject areas such as interpreting the functions of studio hardware, digital protocols, analogue connectivity, computer memory & storage, microphones, using loops, the MIDI protocol, dynamic processing and frequency.
At Grade 3 candidates will be expected to:
- Interpret functions of a mixing desk, to include gain, EQ, auxiliaries, faders, pan
- Interpret and identify digital transfer protocols, including their relative data transfer rates, including USB, Thunderbolt, MADI, SPDIF, ADAT
- Interpret analogue connections and their purpose, to include XLR, ¼” Jack, Mini Jack, Phono/RCA, D-Sub
- Interpret the purpose and advantages of computer systems, to include RAM, Hard Disks, Solid State Drives, including choosing the appropriate option in relation to data transfer rates
- Interpret appropriate use for DAW functions, to include templates, markers, bounce, piano roll / MIDI editors, quantise
- Briefly explain what a microphone is for and how it works
- Briefly explain the creation, use and advantages of audio loops
- Understand MIDI, including what the acronym stands for, what it is, and how it works from a user perspective
- Interpret and briefly explain audio technology, including compression, limiting, gating, expanding
- Understand frequency, including its units of measurement, the difference between Hz and kHz, human hearing range
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
Distinguishing between mono and stereo recordings and hearing different stereo widths.
Music Theory & Harmony
Identifying major, minor and blues scales and eighth note triplets.
Stylistic Awareness
Identifying specific genres.
At Grade 3 candidates will be expected to:
- Identify the difference between Mono and Stereo recordings
- Identify the difference between Mono and Stereo mixes
- Identify differences in stereo width
- Identify major, natural minor and blues scales
- Identify eighth note triplets in 4/4
- Identify common Western music genres from a choice of two: reggae and soul
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 3 the technical skills will centre around creating audio loops from provided material.
Coursework Task
The candidate will be presented with a situation and must choose and implement appropriate technique to resolve the scenario. At Grade 3 the scenario will require candidates to programme a simple backing track using a set chord structure. Therefore candidates must be confident in creating chords in the key of C major and G major.
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. |
