Picking pieces is only half the story – Trinity music exams also check the technique that powers your playing and the musicianship you’ll need in real-world situations. This guide pulls together the technical-work options for every instrument family, the supporting-test choices for graded face-to-face exams, and the Playback/Improvising session-skills used in Rock & Pop. Grab your syllabus, then use the tables below to plan an approach that highlights your strongest skills.
Technical work – what’s the same for everyone
- Memory: all scales/arpeggios are played from memory (unless your syllabus makes an exception).
- Pattern: run scales & arpeggios up then down; pace climbs a little each grade.
- No click tracks: metronomes or tempo aids aren’t allowed in the exam.
- Exercises, studies, and extracts are short, published by Trinity (or listed in the syllabus), and tested exactly as written.
Instrument-by-Instrument Breakdown
| Family | What you prepare | How the exam works |
|---|---|---|
| Piano | Scales & arpeggios · 3 exercises | Examiner picks a scale set; one exercise is your choice, one theirs |
| Singing | Choose one: Vocal Exercises · Vaccai · Unaccompanied Folk Song | Perform the chosen option from memory; live accompaniment from Grade 4 (excl. folk song) |
| Bowed Strings | Bowing exercise → one: Scales/Arpeggios + Tech Ex. · Studies (G1-5) · Orchestral Extracts (G6-8) | Two studies/extracts: you pick one, examiner picks one |
| Harp | Choose: Scales/Arps + Exercises · Studies · Orchestral Extracts (pedal, G6-8) | Two studies/extracts heard |
| Classical Guitar | Technical exercise → then one of: Scales/Arpeggios · Studies (Initial–Grade 7) · Concerto Extracts (Grade 8) | Two studies/extracts: one yours, one examiner’s |
| Acoustic Guitar | Full set of scales, chord sequences, cadences, exercises | Examiner selects items; all from memory |
| Woodwind | Initial-5: choose Scales/Arps or Exercises · 6-8: Scales/Arps or Extract/Study | Memory rules per syllabus |
| Jazz Woodwind | Same as Woodwind (jazz studies at G6-8) | Follows same structure as Woodwind. Jazz studies replace standard extracts at Grades 6–8. |
| Brass | Lip-flexibility exercise → one: Scales/Arps · Exercises (G1-5) · Extracts (G6-8) | Two exercises/extracts played |
| Drum & Percussion | Drum Kit: 3 rudiment exercises · Tuned/Snare/Timp./Orch. Perc.: follow syllabus grid | Examiner chooses the items |
| Electronic Keyboard | Keyboard exercise → one: Scales & Chord Knowledge · Exercises | Two exercises (one candidate, one examiner) |
| Organ | Scales & arpeggios (all) + Pedal Study (G6-8) | Examiner selects scales; pedal study once |
(Always refer to your syllabus for full details of keys, speeds, scale patterns and any memory exceptions.)
Supporting Tests (Face-to-Face Grades Only)
| Grade band | Your pick | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Initial – G5 | Choose any two | Sight Reading · Aural · Improvisation · Musical Knowledge |
| G6 – G8 | Sight Reading + choose Aural or Improvisation | — |
| Test | What you do in the exam | What it shows the examiner |
|---|---|---|
| Sight Reading | Study a short, unseen extract for 30 seconds, then perform it. (The piece is written about two grades below the exam you’re taking.) | Demonstrates fluent decoding, steady pulse and confident decision-making—essential for performing unfamiliar music under pressure. |
| Aural | Listen to a piano extract and answer on character, dynamics, articulation, texture and style. (Un-pitched version for drums/perc.) | Active listening, awareness of musical detail, and stylistic recognition. |
| Improvisation | Create a short improvisation from a given prompt: stylistic, harmonic or motivic (rhythmic for untuned percussion). | Creativity, harmonic awareness and the ability to respond musically in real time. |
| Musical Knowledge | Talk with the examiner about the pieces you performed: form, style, notation, instrument techniques, and historical context. | Assesses the depth of understanding behind the performance, including context and stylistic awareness. |
Rock & Pop Session Skills (available in face-to-face exams only)
| Option | Exam format | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Playback | 30 s to scan a song chart → listen once → copy each short phrase over a backing track (second run is marked). | Tests quick listening, groove recall and reading under pressure—core “first-take” studio skills. |
| Improvising | View a chord chart → hear a preview loop → 30 s plan → improvise over the backing track (practice pass, then marked pass). | Shows stylistic feel, creativity and the ability to build a coherent solo on the spot. |
Resources
Video demos of technical work & supporting tests – Piano resources page
General resource hub – trinitycollege.com/qualifications/music/resources
Session-skills audio & charts – trinityrock.com
Download the latest syllabus and use the tables above to plan your technical work and tests with confidence.
See also:
Exam Formats (Face-to-Face / Digital)
Music Diploma Exam Requirements
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