Lesson Description

Grade 6

These classes enhance the learning process to compliment their practical lessons and prepare students for a Grade 6 ABRSM Theory Exam. It covers all aspects of the exam, and the student will learn how to write music and understand why music is written the way it is. It is highly advised lessons on previous grades have been taken before working towards grade 6.

The student will learn as in preceding grades, with the addition of:

•    The use of 5/3, 6/3 and 6/4 chords on any degree of the major or minor (harmonic and melodic) scale
•    The recognition of the dominant seventh chord in root position, first, second and third inversions, and the supertonic seventh chord in root position and first inversion, in any major or minor key; and the figuring for all these chords. 
•    The principles of modulation and a knowledge of cadences, ornamentation and melodic decoration (which might include passing notes, auxiliary notes, appoggiaturas, changing notes and notes of anticipation) will also be expected.
•    Preparation for questions will cover:
1)    Writing specified chords for voices in four parts or for keyboard (at the candidate’s choice) above a given bass part of about four bars.
2)    The indication of suitable chords for the accompaniment of a diatonic melody of about eight bars in any key, using any recognized method of notation, or, at the candidate’s choice, the provision of a bass to a given melody, adding figures to indicate the intended harmonies.
3)    Composition of a melody for a specified instrument (a choice will be given), using a given opening. Modulation to the dominant, subdominant, relative major or relative minor may be required.
4)    Questions on short extracts of music written for piano or in open score for voices or for any combination of instruments and/or voices, designed to test the candidate’s knowledge of the elements and notation of music, including the realization of ornaments, the identification and notation of underlying harmonic structure, phrase structure, style, performance, and on the voices and instruments for which the works were written.

 

Grade 7

These classes enhance the learning process to compliment their practical lessons and prepare students for a Grade 7 ABRSM Theory Exam. It covers all aspects of the exam, and the student will learn how to write music and understand why music is written the way it is. It is highly advised lessons on previous grades have been taken before working towards grade 7.

The student will learn as in preceding grades, with the addition of:

•    Recognition of all diatonic secondary seventh chords and their inversions
•    The Neapolitan sixth and the diminished seventh chords
•    All figures commonly used by composers during the period c.1620–1790 to indicate harmonies above a bass part.
•    Preparations for exam questions, covering:
1)    The indication of chords and movement of the inner parts by figuring the bass in a passage in which both the melody and bass are given.
2)    Rewriting a given passage to include appropriate suspensions and notes of melodic decoration.
3)    Continuation of a given opening for solo instrument with keyboard accompaniment, which will be given in full throughout the passage, by completing the solo part, or, at the candidate’s choice, composition of a melody for a specified instrument (a choice will be given) based on a given progression of chords or melodic figure.
4)    Answering questions on short extracts of music written for piano or in open score for voices or for any combination of instruments and/or voices, designed to test the candidate’s knowledge of the elements and notation of music, including the realization of ornaments, the identification and notation of underlying harmonic structure, phrase structure, style, performance, and on the voices and instruments for which the works were written.

 

Grade 8

These classes enhance the learning process to compliment their practical lessons and prepare students for a Grade 8 ABRSM Theory Exam. It covers all aspects of the exam, and the student will learn how to write music and understand why music is written the way it is. It is highly advised lessons on previous grades have been taken before working towards grade 8.

The student will learn as in preceding grades, with the addition of:
•    The harmonic vocabulary expected will include all standard diatonic and chromatic chords.
•    Preparation for exam questions will cover:
1)    Continuation of a given opening of a passage from a Baroque trio sonata for two treble instrumentsand basso continuo. The basso continuo part will be given throughout and fully figured(but a realization for keyboard will not be required).
2)    Completion of an outline of a short passage for keyboard. Some knowledge of the styles practisedby composers from the time of Haydn onwards will be assumed.
3)    Continuation of a given opening of a melody for a specified instrument (a choice will be given).
4)    Questions on short extracts of music written for piano or in open score for voices or for any combinationof instruments and/or voices, designed to test the candidate’s knowledge of the elementsand notation of music, including the realization of ornaments, the identification and notation ofunderlying harmonic structure, phrase structure, style, performance, and on the voices andinstruments for which the works were written.