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, F#, F, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭ major;                                         4 octaves                                                         
E, B, F#, F, A#, E♭, G#, C# minor (harmonic minor and melodic)

Staccato scales

G, D major;                                                                              4 octaves 

A, C harmonic minor                                                                     

Contrary motion scale

B♭, A♭, D♭major;                                                                 2 octaves

B, G, F harmonic minor

Chromatic scale

Beginning on any note                                                             4 octaves                                                                                                   

Chromatic contrary motion scale

Beginning on E, B♭                                                                 2 octaves

Arpeggios

G, A, B, F#, B♭, E♭, D♭ major;                                               4 octaves                                                           

G, A, B, F,# B♭, E♭, C# minor 

Dominant 7th arpeggio

In the key of C major                                                               3 octaves 

 

Option 2: Study 

Moritz Moszkowski                Study in G minor No. 10              Piano Handbook 2021–2024: Grade 6 (LCM) 

Victor Hollaender                  Frühlingslied Op. 3 No. 1              Piano Handbook 2021–2024: Grade 6 (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.

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List A

Composer                                                                                  

J. S. Bach

Jan L. Dussek

Alexander Tcherepnin

John Alcock

Thomas Chilcot
Felix Mendelssohn

Jean-Baptiste Loeillet

Melanie Spanswick

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List B

Composer                                                                          

Fryderyk Chopin

Modest Mussorgsky

Toru Takemitsu

Agathe Backer Grøndahl

Bohuslav Martinů

Mai Fukasawa

Sergey Prokofiev

Robert N. Dett

Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Isaac Albéniz

Richard R. Bennett

Max Bruch

Reinhold Glière

Edvard Grieg

Dmitri Kabalevsky

Jules Massenet

Henryk Pachulski

František Dušek

Sergei Prokofiev

Nicolas Slonimsky

Trad. Irish Air (arr. Cornick)

Robert Schumann

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List C

Composer                                                                        

André Previn

Gabriel Grovlez

Lennox Berkeley

Chinese trad. (arr. Zhang)

Christine Donkin

Ernst Krenek

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Elissa Milne

Federico Mompou

Yann Tiersen

Nicholas J. Grace

Jennifer Linn

Joplin (arr. Turner)

Christopher Norton

Emerson Peters

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Component 3: Discussion (7 marks)

Grade 6

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 melodic and harmonic features of the music (sequence, melodic inversion, circle of fifths,

  pedal points, etc.)

• demonstrate knowledge of formal structures (ternary, binary, rondo etc.)

• discuss their personal responses to the music performed: the extent to which they like or dislike it, or

  find it challenging or rewarding, and why

• demonstrate a self-critical awareness of their own performance, indicating to the examiner which

  aspects of their performance they were happy or unhappy with, and why

• describe their approach to learning the music, including the use of certain techniques, and aspects of interpretation

• describe any techniques or exercises they have incorporated into their practice to train or strengthen their fingers and the effect this has had on their performance

• describe different kinds of pedalling techniques (full, half, legato, una corda etc) and in what contexts they might apply them

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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 6
Test 1 (Rhythm and Pitch)
A harmonised passage, in simple time, not more than six bars in length, containing some syncopated patterns, will be played, twice. Candidates will be asked the following:

     1a. To identify the time signature (1 mark)
     1b. To identify whether the passage is in a major or minor key (1 mark)
     1c. To identify, by number and type, any interval within the octave, occurring in the melody line between

two succeeding notes (these pitches will be played again, first as occurring in the melody, and then with the pitches sounded together) (1 mark)

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An unharmonised version of a short phrase (1 to 2 bars) from the passage will be played. Candidates will be asked the following:

     1d. To clap or tap back the rhythm of the phrase (1 mark)
     1e. To identify and describe the note values (rhythmic values) in the phrase in any order (for example

crotchets and quavers, or quarter notes and eighth notes) (2 marks)

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Test 2 (Pitch)

The key-chord of a major key will be played, followed by a short melody in the same key, approximately 2 bars in length, finishing with a harmonised cadence (perfect, imperfect, or interrupted) in the home key. Candidates will be asked the following:

     2a. To identify the cadence by its conventional name (1 mark)

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The key-chord of a major key will be played and the key named. A short harmonised passage in the same key, approximately 4 bars in length, will then be played. The passage will contain one modulation to a related key (dominant, subdominant, or relative minor), finishing with a perfect cadence in that key. Candidates will be asked the following:

     2b. To identify the key into which the passage has modulated, either by name or by relationship to the home key (candidate’s choice) (1 mark)