Accompaniment and Backing Tracks

Modified on Fri, 11 Jul at 4:25 PM

This guide explains Trinity’s requirements for accompaniment and backing tracks across Music Performance Qualifications. It outlines when live accompaniment is required, when recorded accompaniments are permitted, and which playback formats and responsibilities apply.

Classical & Jazz Exams

Face-to-face exams:

Recorded accompaniment is allowed up to and including Grade 3 (all grades for Jazz Woodwind).
Candidates should use a piano accompanist unless otherwise stated. Use of another accompanying instrument (e.g. accordion or drum) must be approved by Trinity at the time of booking.
Accompaniments must be performed as printed, without doubling the solo line.
Long intros/endings should be shortened if musically appropriate.
Candidates provide their own accompanists; Trinity cannot supply or recommend one. however Trinity's Teacher Directory may list instrumental teachers in your area.

Digital exams:

Recorded accompaniment is permitted at all grades.
Must be good quality, not alter the difficulty, and exclude the solo part unless written that way.
Candidates must provide and operate their own equipment.

Classical & Jazz Drum Kit and Percussion

Centres provide playback equipment and operate it; candidates may request a brief sound check.
Candidates may choose to use headphones; if so, they must bring their own headphones and splitter.
Drum kit and percussion candidates must not perform accompanied pieces unaccompanied.
From Grade 4, accompaniment must be live (unless otherwise stated).

All recorded accompaniments must be:

Good quality
Solo part excluded (unless written into the printed accompaniment)
Performed on a single instrument
Provided and operated by the candidate

Rock & Pop Exams

Songs 1 and 3 (technical focus) must use the official Trinity backing track provided in our Music books.

Own-choice songs (Song 2) may:

Be unaccompanied
Be performed with a backing track, excluding the solo part; can be self-created as long as the track meets the required quality and instrumental limitations
Include added vocals, performed live by the candidate
Be accompanied live by a musician, who may stay in the room for Song 2 only
Backing tracks for own-choice songs must be high-quality MP3 files, presented on a USB stick or audio CD. Tracks must not include the solo part.
Only official Trinity backing tracks may be used for songs from Trinity Rock & Pop books. Adapted or edited versions are not allowed.

Drums candidates may choose to use backing tracks with or without metronome click, and should indicate their choice on the appointment form.

Diploma Exams - face-to-face

For single-line instruments, only one unaccompanied piece may be included.
Pieces with accompaniments must not be performed unaccompanied.
Candidates must provide their own accompanist (normally one).
Recorded accompaniments are not allowed, unless required by genre and approved in advance.
Any electrical equipment must meet health and safety requirements.

Digital ATCL and LTCL Diplomas:

Recorded accompaniments may be used if:

They match the printed piano accompaniment
They are clearly audible and played through an external speaker
A count-in is allowed where no introduction exists
Verbal/non-verbal cues or extra instruments during performance are not permitted