Vocal Grade 10-6
Examination Procedure
Duration
Grades 10-8: 15 minutes, Grades 7-6: 20 minutes
Subject Details
I. Repertoire
I-I. Compulsory Piece
Candidates prepare one piece from the Compulsory Piece List and sing it with the backing track.
Procedure
1. Examiners play the beginning of the backing track for several bars so that the candidate can sing along with the track to set an appropriate volume and balance.
2. Candidate sings the piece with the backing track.
- Note:
- Candidates are allowed to use the score if necessary.
- Examiners may stop the performance before it reaches the end of the piece.
- The backing track files are prepared at the exam room.
- Any syllable may be sung, such as solfege in fixed do, movable do, or “la, la, la”.
- For Grades 10-8, candidates are expected to sing in the flow of the music. For Grades 7-6, in addition to the above, candidates are expected to sing with accurate pitch, rhythm and tempo.
Compulsory Piece List
Grade 10
VOCAL Unit 1 - Solfege: 2
VOCAL Unit 2 - Solfege: 2
Grade 9
VOCAL Unit 3 - Solfege: 2
VOCAL Unit 4 - Solfege: 2
Grade 8
VOCAL Unit 5 - Solfege: 1
VOCAL Unit 6 - Solfege: 2
Grade 7
VOCAL EXTENSION - Melodies: 1, 2, 3, 4
Grade 6
VOCAL EXTENSION - Melodies: 5, 6, 7, 8
I-II. Free Selection
Candidates prepare one free selection piece and sing it.
Points to consider when selecting a piece to prepare for Free Selection:
The level of the Free Selection piece is expected to be equivalent to the Compulsory Piece for the grade.
Candidates may choose a Free Selection piece from the textbook or Compulsory Piece List provided that it is not the same piece they have chosen for the Compulsory Piece selection.
Procedure
1. Candidate informs the examiners whether or not they will sing along with a backing track.
2. If the candidate chooses to sing along with the backing track, examiners play the beginning of the backing track for several bars so that the candidate can sing along to set an appropriate volume and balance.
3. Candidate sings the piece.
- Note:
- Candidates are expected to bring the scores of the pieces they have prepared to the exam.
- Examiners may ask to see the score.
- Candidates are allowed to use the score if necessary.
- A simple score that shows the structure of the piece, chord progression, etc. is acceptable. The score itself will not to be evaluated.
- Candidates are allowed to choose whether or not to play along with a backing track.
- a) If candidates choose a piece from inside the textbook, the backing track will be prepared at the exam room.
- b) If candidates choose a piece outside of the textbook and will sing the piece along with a backing track, candidates are expected to bring the MP3 files or MIDI data.
- Examiners may stop the performance before it reaches the end of the piece.
II. Sight Singing
Examiners select one piece and ask the candidate to sing it by sight.
Procedure
1. Candidate is presented the score of the exam piece.
2. Candidate is given 30 seconds to look at the score as preview.
3. Examiner plays the tonic chord and the first note of the melody on the piano. Then, the candidate sings the piece after the examiner’s cue.
- Note:
- Singing aloud is not allowed during preview time.
Examples
Grade 10
Grade 9
Grade 8
Grade 7
Grade 6
III. Interval / Chord Tone
Interval (Grades 10-8)
Candidates prepare an interval pattern in two keys. Examiners choose one of the keys and ask candidates to sing the interval pattern in the chosen key with the backing track.
Scores of the interval patterns are included in the textbook.
Procedure
1. Examiners select the key for the candidate to sing.
2. Examiners play the beginning of the backing track for several bars so that the candidate can sing along with the track to set an appropriate volume and balance.
3. Candidate sings the piece with the backing track.
- Note:
- The tonic chord is played with Piano sound at the beginning of the backing track.
- Candidates are allowed to use the score if necessary.
- The backing track files are prepared at the exam room.
- Any syllable may be sung, such as solfege in fixed do, movable do, or “la, la, la”.
Chord Tone (Grades 7-6)
Candidates sing a chord tone given by the examiners after the chord is played by a backing track.
Procedure
1. Examiners select one of two patterns for the candidate to sing.
2. Examiner informs the candidate which chord and chord tone have been selected.
3. The chord is played by the backing track for 4 beats with Piano sound.
4. Following the chord, the candidate sings the chord tone with the backing track.
5. Repeat procedures 3 and 4 again.
6. Repeat procedures 2 to 5 for the next chord tone.
- Note:
- Any syllable that is appropriate for singing a long tone may be sung, for example “ah” or “woo.”.
- Sound track for “VOCAL EXTENSION” No. 156, 161, 164, 166 will be transposed and used as the backing track.
Examples
VOCAL EXTENSION No.156 (Page 58)
*The example shows the pattern in C major as in the textbook. However, the pattern in the actual exam will be given in the key listed in the syllabus.
IV. Rhythm Reading
Candidates prepare three given rhythm patterns. Examiners choose one of the 3 prepared patterns and ask the candidate to sing it with the rhythm track.
Scores of the rhythm patterns are provided as PDF files.
Procedure
1. Examiners select one pattern for the candidate to sing.
2. Examiners play the beginning of the rhythm track for several bars so that the candidate can confirm the tempo.
3. Candidate sings the piece with the rhythm track.
- Note:
- Candidates are expected to express the rhythm only. Candidates are not expected to add pitch.
- Candidates may express the rhythm by speaking any syllable, such as “La”, “Ta” or “Na”.