Music Notation

At Grade 2 you will cover the following aspects of music notation:

• Understanding note lengths and adding barlines

• Recognising note values (including 16ths) and adding time signatures

• Understanding time signatures

• Understanding how to beam notes of different values

• Adding together equivalent notes and rests, including full bar rests

• Understanding note names: two ledger lines

• Adding missing notes

• Recognising clefs

• Identifying chords

• Understanding repeats: 1st and 2nd time repeats, anacrusis

• Identifying and understanding dynamics: mp and mf

• Identifying and understanding articulation

• Understanding scales: major and minor

• Understanding grace notes

• Recognising note ranges: 2 ledger notes above and below

• Identifying pitch ranges: 2 ledger lines either side of bass and treble clef- bottom C to top C

Popular Music Harmony

At Grade 2 you will cover the following aspects of popular music harmony:

• Identifying major and minor thirds

• Identifying scale intervals

• Recognising scales, and understanding how to write them with the correct accidentals

• Applying scale knowledge

• Identifying arpeggios

• Applying chord knowledge

• Recognising tones and semitone

• Recognising chord patterns

• Recognising D, Bb major scales and chords

• Understanding relative minors: 2 sharps and flats

• Understanding minor chord formula

• Recognising the natural minor scale

Band Knowledge

At Grade 2 you will cover the following aspects of band knowledge:

• Identification of Drum kit parts

• Identification of Guitar and Bass Guitar parts

• Identification of keys: acoustic and electronic piano keyboards

• Understanding vocal pitch ranges

• Understanding and identifying varied instrumental notation

• Understanding and identifying instrumental scores and clefs

Band Analysis

At Grade 2 you will cover the following aspects of band analysis:

• Understanding scores with up to three different instruments

• Identification of tempo

• Understanding time signatures

• Identification of clefs

• Recognising keys

• Understanding pitch ranges across different instrumental disciplines

• Understanding duration and rhythm

• Chord analysis

• Recognising chord symbols

• Understanding intervals

• Understanding note values

Digital Popular Music Theory Exams

We’ve been working hard to make our Popular Music Theory Exams available online, and we’re delighted to announce that is now possible to continue your musical progression from the comfort of your own home.

The content of the exams remains largely unchanged and an interactive sheet music editor means you and your students’ exam experience will be straightforward and accessible.

You can learn more about how our Digital Popular Music Theory exams work, including how to enter for an individual exam or arrange a private exam day, here, and download the full list of FAQs below.

During your music theory exam, you will be expected to complete some tasks which involve writing notation. These are completed using software called ‘Flat’, which is embedded into the online exam system. Please download the guidance below for instructions on how to access the software and some sample tasks to help you practise prior to your exam day.