Performance Pieces

Candidates must prepare a total of three pieces for a Grade Exam and five pieces for a Performance Certificate.

The ten songs at grade 5 are:

Featured Repertoire:

• Fleetwood Mac – Don’t Stop
• Kings of Leon – Use Somebody
• Lady Gaga – A Million Reasons
• Ella Fitzgerald – Dream a Little Dream of Me
• Adele – Chasing Pavements
• Marvin Gaye / Allen Stone – What’s Going On
• Jorja Smith – Don’t Watch Me Cry
• Sam Smith – I’m Not the Only One
• John Legend – All Of Me
• Christina Aguilera – Reflection (from Mulan)

Technical Exercises

Please note: The following information relates to the new 2021 Vocals syllabus launched in September 2021. For exam information relating to the 2014 – 2021 Vocals syllabus, please download the syllabus specification at the base of this page!

There are five groups of technical exercises at this grade: Scales, Arpeggios, Intervals, Melodic Studies and Backing Vocals. The scale, arpeggios and intervals are to be performed to a click track, the melodic study and backing vocals to backing tracks. Unless specified otherwise, the exercises may be performed using any vocal sound except humming or whistling.

GROUP A – Scales

Candidates are to perform the following scale, as written in the grade book:

Minor Pentatonic Scale
Starting note: Candidate’s choice
Range: 1 octave
Tempo: 80bpm
Accompaniment: Click track

The examiner will ask the candidate which starting note they have chosen (the examiner can play starting notes in the range A3–G#4, but candidates may sing in any octave). Candidates will hear the starting note, followed by a 1-bar count in, before performing the test to the metronome click.

Group B: Arpeggios

Candidates are to perform the following arpeggio, as written in the grade book:

Major arpeggio (ascending), dominant 7 arpeggio (descending)
Starting note: Candidate’s choice
Range: Up to a twelfth
Tempo: 80bpm
Accompaniment: Click track

The examiner will ask the candidate which starting note they have chosen (the examiner can play starting notes in the range A3–G#4, but candidates may sing in any octave). Candidates will hear the starting note, followed by a 1-bar count in, before performing the test to the metronome click.

Group C – Intervals

Candidates are to prepare both of the following intervals, as written in the grade book. The examiner will ask for one of them to be performed in the exam:

Minor 6th, ascending
Starting note: Candidate’s choice
Tempo: 90bpm
Accompaniment: Click track

Minor 7th, ascending
Starting note: Candidate’s choice
Tempo: 90bpm
Accompaniment: Click track

The examiner will ask the candidate which starting note they have chosen (the examiner can play starting notes in the range A3–G#4, but candidates may sing in any octave). Candidates will hear the starting note, followed by a 1-bar count in, before performing the test to the metronome click.

Group D – Melodic Studies

Candidates are to perform one of the two melodic studies given in the grade book. The examiner will ask which study the candidate has prepared (Study 1 or Study 2). Candidates will hear the root note, followed by a 4-beat count in, before performing the test to the backing track.

Group E – Backing Vocals

Candidates are to perform one of the two backing vocals exercises given in the grade book. Each exercise in the book has two notated vocal parts — candidates must prepare both of these for their chosen exercise. The examiner will ask which exercise the candidate has prepared (Exercise 1 or Exercise 2). They will then select one of the vocal parts for the candidate to perform (the other two notated parts will be included on the backing track). Candidates will hear the root note, followed by a 4-beat count in, before performing the test to the backing track.

Supporting Tests

Please note: The following information relates to the new 2021 Vocals syllabus launched in September 2021. For exam information relating to the 2014 – 2021 Vocals syllabus, please download the syllabus specification at the base of this page!

Before seeing the tests, the examiner will ask whether the candidate wishes to perform a piece of sight reading or take a test of improvisation and interpretation. Once the candidate has decided, they cannot change their mind.

Sight Reading

Requirements

Candidates will be given a short previously unseen piece to perform. The piece will be 8 bars long, in the key of D major, Bb major, B minor, D minor or E minor, starting on the root note, covering a range of up to a octave. Candidates may sing in any octave. During the first 6 bars candidates will sing the written melody and lyrics. During the final 2 bars candidates will improvise a melody using any vocal sound except humming or whistling. The tempo will be 85–95bpm.

Process

Candidates will be given 90 seconds to practise, after which they will perform the test. Before the practice time begins, candidates will be given the choice of a metronome click throughout or having a 4-beat count in at the beginning. Whichever option candidates choose, the practice time will start with the examiner playing the root note. Candidates will receive the same choice when performing the test.

Improvisation & Interpretation

Requirements

Candidates will be given a previously unseen chord progression. The chord progression will be 8 bars long, in the key of D major, Bb major, E minor or D minor. During the first 6 bars candidates will sing the written melody and lyrics. During the final 6 bars candidates will improvise a melody, using any vocal sound except humming or whistling. The tempo will be 90–100bpm.

Process

Candidates will hear the backing track twice. Candidates can rehearse during the first playthrough, before performing the improvisation over the third playthrough. Only their performance over the final playthrough will be assessed. Both playthroughs will begin with the root note and a 4-beat count in. The backing track is continuous throughout, so once the first playthrough has finished, the root note and count in of the second playthrough will start immediately.

Ear Tests

Candidates will be given both of the following ear tests, examples of which are included in the grade book:

• Test 1: Melodic Recall
• Test 2: Harmony Vocals

Test 1: Melodic Recall

• Requirements: The examiner will play a melody. Candidates will then sing back the melody to a drum backing, using any vocal sound except humming or whistling. The melody will be a 2-bar diatonic melody in the key of Bb major or C minor, starting on the root note, using up to the first six notes of the scale (for minor key tests this will be the first six notes of the natural minor scale). Candidates my sing in any octave. The melody may contain half notes, quarter notes and eighth notes and will contain at least one rest. The tempo will be 90bpm.
• Process: The test will be played twice, each time preceded by a 4-beat count in. There will be a short gap after each playthrough. After the gap following the second playthrough candidates will be given a vocal count in, after which they should play the melody back to the drum backing.

Test 2: Harmony Vocals

• Requirements: The examiner will play a 4-bar melody. Candidates will be asked to harmonise the melody a diatonic 3rd above, using the same rhythm and lyrics. The melody will be based on chords I, IV and V. The tempo will be 90–110bpm.
• Process: Candidates will be asked whether they would like a higher-pitched test or a lower-pitched test. The higher-pitched test will be in A or F major (Option 1), the lower-pitched test in C or A major (Option 2). They will be given the lyrics for their test. The test will be played twice, each time preceded by the root note and a 4-beat count in. There will be a short gap after each playthrough. After the gap following the second playthrough candidates will be given a vocal count in, after which they should sing their harmony line. The length of time available after the second playthrough is pre-recorded on the audio track so the vocal count in may begin while the candidate is still practising.

General Musicianship Questions

Candidates will be asked five questions. Four of these will be music knowledge questions, based on any one of the pieces performed in the exam, the fifth will be about knowledge of the candidate’s own voice. Candidates can use brief demonstrations to support their verbal explanations.

Part 1: General Music Knowledge
There will be four music knowledge questions in relation to one of the pieces performed in the exam. Candidates will be asked which piece they would like to be asked about. If the candidate’s copy of the chosen piece contains extensive handwritten notes the examiner may either use their own version of the score as the basis for the questions or they may request that candidates select a different piece.

Candidates may be asked to identify:

• • • Identify any pitch name (including stating flat, sharp or natural)
    • Identify note values, and adjacent note value combinations, from the following:

– Whole note

– Half note

– Quarter note

– Eighth note

– Sixteenth note

– Triplet eighth notes

• • Identify rest values, and adjacent rest value combinations, from the following:
  – Whole note
  – Half note
  – Quarter note
  – Eighth note
  – Sixteenth note
  • Identify any interval up to a 7th between two adjacent notes (candidates will not need to state major, minor or perfect)
  • Identify and explain the meaning of any of the following:
    – Any time signature marking
  • • – Any dynamic marking
    • – Any tempo marking
    • – Any key signature
    • – A swung rhythm marking

  Part 2: Knowledge of the Voice

  There will be one question about the candidate’s knowledge of their voice, chosen by the examiner from the list below. Candidates may be asked:

  • Using your articulators (mouth/lips/tongue/teeth/jaw), how can you modify a bright ‘ee’ sound to produce a less bright tone?
  • How would you prevent straining during prolonged use of louder dynamics?
  • Can you suggest two exercises that can help develop control over dynamics across your range?