Details

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hands separately and together

piano and forte ♩= 96

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hands together, piano and forte ♩=96

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hands separately, piano and forte ♩= 96

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hands together, piano and forte ♩=96

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hands separately, forte ♩= 76

hands together, forte ♩= 76

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, arpeggios and broken chords 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                                                                                                                                        

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

Contrary motion scale

G and D major                                                                        2 octaves

A harmonic minor

Chromatic scale

Beginning on any note                                                            2 octaves                                                                                                   

Chromatic contrary motion scale

Beginning on D and A♭                                                          2 octaves

Arpeggios

E♭, A♭ major;                                                                       2 octaves                                                           

B, F#, C# minor;                                                                      2 octaves        

 

Option 2: Study 

Stephen Heller                Study No.7                                       Piano Handbook 2021–2024: Grade 4 (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. C. F. Bach

Louis Köhler

Edvard Grieg
J. S. Bach
Muzio Clementi

Georg F. Handel

Joseph Haydn

Nikolai Myaskovsky

Gertrud Willert-Orff

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List B

Composer                                                                          

Samuil Maykapar

Catherine Rollin

Robert Schumann

Béla Bartók
Amy Beach

Cécile Chaminade

Simone Plé
Jean Sibelius

Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Johann Burgmüller

Johann Burgmüller

Delibes (arr. Turner)

Edward Elgar

Dmitri Kabalevsky

Genari Karganov

Nicholas J. Grace

William Lloyd Webber

John Rowcroft

Colin Taylor

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List C

Composer                                                                        

Florence B. Price

Halim El-Dabh

Phillip Keveren

Brian Chapple

Gerard Hengeveld

Robert Muczynski

Beverly Porter

Judith Weir

Arika Yuyama

Martyn Williams

Brian Chapple

Brian Chapple

Mike Cornick

Gerard Hengeveld

Michel Jacques

Roy Stratford

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Component 3: Discussion (7 marks)

Grade 4

This component of the exam consists of a short discussion with the examiner. The piano may be used to demonstrate where necessary. In addition to requirements to previous grades, candidates should be able to:

• identify intervals up to and including an octave by numerical value only (‘fourth’, ‘seventh’ etc)

• demonstrate basic knowledge of composers of the music performed, including their nationality and approximate dates

• discuss their approaches to learning the pieces, and to identify any particular difficulties (musical or technical) which were encountered

• demonstrate a basic understanding of the workings of the piano and name its principal constituent parts

• name another instrument in the keyboard family and be able to describe some similarities and differences with the modern piano (dynamic capabilities, range, action, etc.)

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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)

Grade 4

Test 1 (Rhythm)

A short harmonised passage, approximately 8 bars in length, will be played. The passage will be in either 2/4 3/4 , 4/4 or 6/8 time. Candidates will be asked the following:

     1a. To beat (conduct) time, with a correct and clear beat shape (conducting pattern) according to the time signature of the music, in time with the examiner’s playing as they play the passage again (passages in 68 time should be conducted with a 2-beat pattern) (1 mark)

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An unharmonised version of a short phrase (approximately 2 bars) from the passage will be played twice. The phrase will include no rhythmic values shorter than a semiquaver but may include simple dotted patterns. Candidates will be asked the following:

     1b. To clap or tap back the rhythm of the phrase (2 marks)

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Test 2 (Pitch)

An interval will be played twice, once with the pitches sounded successively, and once with the pitches sounded together. The interval will be restricted to any major, minor or perfect interval up to and including an octave. Candidates will be asked the following:

     2a. To identify the interval, by type and numerical value (major 2nd, minor 3rd, perfect 4th, major 7th etc.) (1 mark)

The test will be repeated, using a different interval (1 mark)

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Candidates will be shown three similar versions of a short melody). The versions will differ in pitch, but not in rhythm. One of the versions will be played, twice. Candidates will be asked the following:

     2b. To identify which version was played (2 marks)

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