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 2 are:

Featured Repertoire:

• Anika Noni Rose – Almost There (from The Princess and the Frog)
• Macy Gray – I Try
• Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop the Feeling
• Childish Gambino – Summertime Magic
• The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
• Harry Styles – Sign of the Times
• Ella Fitzgerald – Summertime
• Noisettes – Don’t Upset the Rhythm
• Ellie Goulding – Your Song
• Ed Sheeran – Afterglow

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 four groups of technical exercises at this grade: Scales, Arpeggios, Intervals and Technical Studies. The scale, arpeggio and intervals are to be performed to a click track, the technical study to a backing track. 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:

Scale: Natural minor 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 prepare both of the following arpeggios, as written in the grade book. The examiner will ask for one of them to be performed in the exam:

Minor arpeggio | Pattern 1
Starting note: Candidate’s choice
Range: Up to the 5th
Tempo: 80bpm
Accompaniment: Click track

Minor arpeggio | Pattern 2
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 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:

Major 3rd, ascending
Starting note: Candidate’s choice
Tempo: 90bpm
Accompaniment: Click track

Minor 3rd, 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 C – Technical Studies

Candidates are to prepare both the rhythmic study and the melodic study from the grade book. The examiner will ask for one of them to be performed in the exam.

Rhythmic study
If the examiner requests the rhythmic study, candidates will hear a 4-beat count in, before performing the test to the backing track. The tempo is 86bpm.

Melodic study
If the examiner requests the melodic study, they will ask candidates which option they are going to perform (Option 1: A major or Option 2: E major). Candidates will hear the starting note, followed by a 4-beat count in, before performing the test to the backing track. The tempo is 100bpm.

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 rhythm to perform, using any vocal sound except humming or whistling. The rhythm will be 4 bars long, in the key of C major or A minor, covering a range of up to a major 3rd. The tempo will be 70–80bpm.

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, over which they will improvise a melody using any vocal sound except humming or whistling. The chord progression will be 4 bars long, in the key of A minor. The tempo will be 90bpm.

Process

Candidates will hear the backing track three times. Candidates can rehearse during the first and second playthroughs, before performing the improvisation over the third playthrough. Only their improvisation over the final playthrough will be assessed. Each playthrough 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 and third playthroughs 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: Rhythmic Recall

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 C major, starting on the root note, using the first three notes of the scale. Candidates may sing in any octave. The melody will be based on half notes and quarter notes. The tempo will be 85bpm.
• 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: Rhythmic Recall

There are two parts to this test: Rhythm Recall and Identification.

Part 1: Rhythm Recall

• Requirements: The examiner will play a 2-bar rhythm. Candidates will be asked to sing the rhythm back, on any pitch, using ‘da’ or ‘ba’ vocal sounds. The rhythm will be played on a single note, to a drum backing. 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 sing the rhythm back. 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.

Part 2: Identification

• Requirements: Candidates will be asked to identify the rhythm they heard in Part 1.
• Process: Candidates will be shown two notated rhythms. They will be asked to identify one which matches the rhythm they heard in Part 1.

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 (candidates will not need to state flat, sharp or natural)
    • Identify rhythmic values, from the following:

– Whole note

– Half note

– Quarter note

– Eighth note

– Sixteenth note
• Identify any rest values
• Identify and explain the meaning of any of the following:

– 4/4 time signature marking

– Repeat marks, 1st and 2nd time bars

– Staccato marks

– Slurs

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:

• • • What is the meaning of ‘diction’?
    • What is the meaning of ‘tone’?
    • During a song, when would be a better time to take a breath?
    • Why is posture important when singing?