Component 1: Technical Work (15 marks)

Candidates can prepare either Option 1: Scales and arpeggios, or Option 2: Study.

Option 1: Scales and arpeggios

The examiner will ask for a selection of the scales below. All are to be performed ascending and descending, from memory. Tempo markings reflect the capabilities expected at this level.

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Requirements                                                                   Range

Scales                                                                                                                                        

G, D, A, E, F major;                                                                   2 octaves                                                         
A, E, D minor (harmonic or melodic, candidate’s choice)

Contrary motion scale

C, G major                                                                               2 octaves

Chromatic scale

Beginning on D                                                                        1 octave                                                                                                            

Broken chords

G, F major;                                                                              1 octave                                                           

E, D minor

Arpeggios

C major;                                                                                  2 octave                                                           

A minor 

 

Option 2: Study 

Friedrich Burgmüller              La Candeur (Sincerity)               Piano Handbook 2021–2024: Grade 2 (LCM)

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Component 2: Performance (60 marks)

Performance of three pieces, one from each list, A, B and C. At least one piece performed in the exam must be taken from LCM Piano Handbook 2021-2024.

List A

Composer                                                                                  

J. S. Bach

Mélanie Bonis

Joseph Haydn

Jeremiah Clarke

Louis-Claude Daquin

Georg F. Handel

Wolfgang A. Mozart

Henry Purcell

Maria Szymanowska

 

List B

Composer                                                                          

Flor Peeters

Robert Schumann

Pam Wedgwood

Anne Crosby Gaudet

Norman Dello Joio

Aleksandr Grechanínov

Michael Jordansky

Nicolai Podgornov

Arthur Somervell

Béla Bartók

Hermann Berens

Pauline Hall

Aleksandr Grechanínov

Peter Wild

Simone Plé

Audrey Sheard

Kevin Wooding

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List C

Composer                                                                        

Nikki Iles

Wynn-Anne Rossi

Vera Mohrs

June Armstrong

Martha Mier

Vincent Persichetti

Arlen arr. Matz

Elie Siegmeister

Sarah Watts

Brian Chapple

Kenneth Gange

Nicholas J. Grace

P. Hall & P. Drayton

Pauline Hall

Christopher Norton

Mátyás Seiber

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Component 3: Discussion (7 marks)

Grades 1 and 2

This component of the exam consists of a short discussion with the examiner. The piano may be used to demonstrate where necessary. Candidates should be able to:

• name, and explain the meaning of, all basic notational elements in the music performed in the

  Performance component of the exam, including: staff, bars and barlines, clefs, pitches of individual notes, rhythmic values of notes and rests (including dotted notes), key and time signatures, accidentals, dynamics, articulation markings, phrases, ornaments, and any additional markings

• explain which is their favourite piece and why

• assign simple descriptive words to pieces to describe their mood (‘happy’, ‘sad’, ‘bouncy’, ‘jazzy’,

  ‘gentle’ etc)

• name different parts of the instrument (keys, pedals, strings, tuning pins, hammers etc.)

• describe good posture (sitting position, height of piano bench, distance from keys, basic hand position)

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Component 4: Sight Reading (10 marks)

Candidates will perform a short, previously unseen piece of music. Up to one minute’s preparation time will be allowed to study the test before playing, during which the candidate may try parts of the test if they wish. Sight reading parameters for each grade are listed. 

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Component 5: Aural Tests (8 marks)

Test 1 (Rhythm)
A short harmonised passage, approximately 8 bars in length, will be played. The passage will be in either 34 or 4 time. Candidates will be asked the following:

     1a. To identify the time signature as ‘3’ or ‘4’ time (1 mark)

     1b. To beat (conduct) time, with a clear beat shape (conducting pattern), in time with the examiner’s playing as the passage is repeated (1 mark)

The examiner will select one bar from the passage and play an unharmonised version of it. Candidates will then be asked to identify and describe the note values (rhythmic values) in the bar.

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Test 2 (Pitch)

A major or minor triad will be played, followed by one note taken from the triad. Candidates will be asked the following:

     2a. To identify the note as ‘bottom, middle or top’, ‘doh, mi or sol’ or ‘root, 3rd or 5th’ (1 mark)

The triad will be played again. Candidates will be asked the following:

     2b. To state if the triad is major or minor (1 mark)

The key-chord of a major key (C, F, G, and D majors only) will be played, and the key stated, followed by the first five notes of the scale in ascending order. The examiner will then play any one of these notes again. Candidates will be asked the following:

     2c. To identify the note by letter name, by tonic sol-fa name or by number (1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) (1 mark) The test will be repeated in a different key (1 mark)

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