Music for your Grade Exam
Board: Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Like exams delivered by the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music, the Conservatoire’s Scottish Traditional Music Graded Exams are divided into four sections and last 15-20 minutes depending on the grade.
Total possible marks in each Scottish Traditional Music Graded Exam are 150. 100 marks are required to reach a Pass; 120 marks to pass with Merit; and 130 marks to pass with Distinction. The four sections of the exam are:
• PERFORMANCE – 90 marks
• TECHNICAL WORK – 18 marks
• QUICK STUDY – 21 marks
• PRACTICAL AND AURAL MUSICIANSHIP – 21 marks
The performance part of the exam has 3 pieces: 1) Airs, 2) Dance Tunes and 3) Recently-composed Tunes. Each piece is marked out of 30.
As the grades progress, you are allowed more time and scope to perform your programme of music, chosen from the increasingly challenging repertoire lists:
• At Grades 2 and 3, you are allowed a total of 6 minutes to play two stand-alone tunes and one set of two tunes. At least one tune from each of the three categories should be played.
For more information visit the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland website.
Pieces (select one from each list)
AirsAvailable In
1. Major Graham of Inchbrakie
Niel Gow
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2. Mrs Jamieson’s Favourite
C. Grant
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3. The Flower of the Quern
J. Scott Skinner
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4. The Mist-Covered Mountains
Traditional
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5. The Love of the Isles
Willie Hunter
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6. The Pearl
Phil Cunningham
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7. Helen N. Robertson
A. Scott Robertson
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Dance tunesAvailable In
1. The Boys of Bluehill
Traditional
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2. Dr. Morrison’s Seven Thistles
J. Scott Skinner
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3. The Flowers of Edinburgh
Traditional
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4. The Heather Hills
Traditional
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5. Jessie Smith
Traditional
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6. Willafjord
Traditional
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7. The Lad with the Plaidie
Traditional
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8. The Shores of Loch Bee
Traditional
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9. The Pibroch of Domhnall Dubh
Traditional
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10. The Battle of Waterloo
Traditional
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Recently CompositionsAvailable In
1. Bob Hobkirk’s Polka
Bob Hobkirk
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2. Gibby Gray
Steven Spence
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3. Hamnataing
Chris Stout
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4. John Keith Laing
Addie Harper
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5. The Fiddler
Donald MacLeod
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6. Marni Swanson of the Grey Coast
Andy Thorburn
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7. The Hut on Staffin Island
Phil Cunningham
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8. Jim Anderson’s Delight
Ronnie Cooper
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