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2022 Rockschool updates

https://www.utas.edu.au/australian-music-examinations-board/subjects-and-syllabuses/rockschool

What's new this year? HEAPS! On top of the usual syllabus updates, there are some really great tweaks to increase flexibility and provide more options to your students.

Rockschool syllabuses are known for being cutting edge and living the title of "contemporary". The UK team seem to have been going above and beyond because this year's updates are even more exciting than usual!
LIVE ACCOMPANIMENT
This is a major change to ALL Rockschool exams. Live accompaniment is now permitted in exams! The accompanist could be a pianist, or a guitarist (or anything really). Only one accompanying artist is permitted in the exam room and only while performing the accompaniment - they must leave the room once their parts have been performed.
SELF-ACCOMPANIMENT
Candidates may now accompany themselves. For example, a singer may accompany themselves on guitar or piano, or a guitarist may wish to sing. The Examiner will only assess the examined instrument of course but this gives much more flexibility to the music making.
‘ADAPTED’ REPERTOIRE
‘Adapted’ Repertoire is now a thing. These will be permitted as Grade Book pieces and may include:
  • Grade book pieces that have been adapted slightly (minor deviations) eg – musical embellishments, slight changes to notations etc.
  • Grade book pieces played with a non-Rockschool backing track or no backing track where one is usually required.
  • Grade book pieces from a higher or lower grade (however a lower grade piece will be marked lower).

IMPORTANT: Any Grade book piece that has a major deviation from the written score (eg a significantly altered tempo, structure, or style) will be allocated and marked as a Free Choice Piece by the examiner. Apologies but we won't be able to provide approval for any adaptations but feel free to give us a call to chat through your ideas if you're unsure.

FREE CHOICE PIECE RULES
Backing tracks are no longer required for any FCPs. This is a major change! Candidates will not be penalised if they don’t provide backing tracks for their Free Choice Pieces.
Important things to note though:

  • Sheet Music is still required for all FCPs. The music must fully reflect the version of the piece being performed, including all musical directions. Chord charts, tab and lyric sheets are not acceptable.
  • Any style of music is now permitted, not just contemporary. For example, traditional music, classical music, and world music may be performed.
  • If a singer is performing a song in a language other than English, an English translation must be provided.
  • If more than the specified number of FCPs are presented, the extra pieces will receive zero marks.

A reminder that Grade Exams and Video Graded Exams are max 2 FCPs. Performance Certificates and Video Performance Certificates are max 3 FCPs.

SYLLABUS UPDATES
A new Vocals syllabus has been introduced, with the old syllabus available to the end of 2022 (read on about that one).
The old Ukulele syllabus has been withdrawn - only the new syllabus is available but don't forget that it now goes through all the grades and has lots of new features.
The old Piano syllabus has been withdrawn - only the new syllabus is available with great new repertoire.
The old-style Rockschool Diplomas have been withdrawn but check out the new Professional Diplomas!
Coming in 2023: Rockschool Horns including trumpet, trombone and saxophone. Very exciting!

NEW VOCALS SYLLABUS INFO
Key changes are:

  • No more gender split of repertoire.
  • 10 songs in each book (up from 6 in the last editions).
  • Repertoire may be sung in any key.
  • Candidates must bring any transposed backing tracks to the exam on a USB.
  • Technical work is the same as the old syllabus, but any starting note is now acceptable.
  • Piano accompaniments are provided with the books.

VIDEO EXAMS
The two types of Video Exams are here to stay.
Don't forget that you can choose between Video Graded Certificates (now all the way up to Grade 8) and Video Performance Certificates depending on what suits your student best.

As you can see, there are quite a few new features this year and we think you’ll agree that they're going to offer far more opportunities and flexibility for your students. More information on all of these are (or soon will be) available on our dedicated Rockschool website: rockschool.ameb.edu.au

Published on: 23 Feb 2022 3:15pm