TRINITY Music Exam Syllabus

TRINITY Music Exam Syllabus

by | Jan 14, 2020 | Music Examinations, Trinity Exams

Trinity College London provides a flexible exam structure in the early years of learning. This encourages the students to try different skills and start recognizing the path that the musician inside them wants to take. Here below, we have for you links to the music exam syllabus of all the subjects offered by Trinity and a glimpse of the exam structure at various levels.

Piano (2018-2020)

Piano Syllabus (2018-2020)

Download Syllabus Here

Exams Available

  1. Piano Solo (Initial-Grade 8)
  2. Piano Accompanying (Grade 5-Grade 8)

Exam Format

Piano (Initial-Grade 5) 

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
    1. Scales & Arpeggios
    2. Exercises
  5. Supporting Tests-Any 2 (20 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
    2. Aural
    3. Improvisation
    4. Musical Knowledge

Piano (Grade 6-Grade 8)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
    1. Scales & Arpeggios
    2. Exercises
  5. Supporting Test 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
  6. Supporting Test 2-Any 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Aural
      1. Improvisation
      2. Aural

Piano (2021-2023)

Piano Syllabus (2021-2023)

Download Syllabus Here

Exams Available

  1. Piano Solo (Initial-Grade 8)
  2. Piano Accompanying (Grade 5-Grade 8)

Exam Format

Piano (Initial-Grade 5) 

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
    1. Scales & Arpeggios
    2. Exercises
  5. Supporting Tests-Any 2 (20 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
    2. Aural
    3. Improvisation
    4. Musical Knowledge

Piano (Grade 6-Grade 8)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
    1. Scales & Arpeggios
    2. Exercises
  5. Supporting Test 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
  6. Supporting Test 2-Any 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Aural
      1. Improvisation
      2. Aural

Singing (2018-2021)

Singing Syllabus (2018-2021)

Download Syllabus Here

Exam Format

Singing (Initial-Grade 5)

  1. Song 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Song 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Song 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work-Any 1 (14 Marks)
    1. Vocal Exercise
    2. Vaccai Exercise
    3. Unaccompanied Folk Song
  5. Supporting Tests-Any 2 (20 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
    2. Aural
    3. Improvisation
    4. Musical Knowledge

Singing (Grade 6-Grade 8)

  1. Song 1 (17 Marks)
  2. Song 2 (17 Marks)
  3. Song 3 (17 Marks
  4. Song 4 (17 Marks)
  5. Technical Work-Any 1 (14 Marks)
    1. Vocal Exercise
    2. Vaccai Exercise
    3. Unaccompanied Folk Song
  6. Supporting Test 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
  7. Supporting Test 2-Any 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Aural
    2. Improvisation

Strings (2020-2023)

String Syllabus (2020-2023)

Download Syllabus Here

Exams Available

  1. Bowed Strings (Initial-Grade 8)
    1. Violin
    2. Scottish Traditional Fiddle
    3. Viola
    4. Cello
    5. Double Bass
  2. Harp (Initial-Grade 8)
    1. Pedal Hrp
    2. Non-Pedal Harp

Exam Format

Bowed Strings (Initial-Grade 5)

  1. Piece 1/Set 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2/Set 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3/Set 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
    1. Bowing Exercise (not for Initial)
    2. Either Scales, Arpeggios & Technical Exercises
      or Studies
  5. Supporting Tests-Any 2 (20 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
    2. Aural
    3. Improvisation
    4. Musical Knowledge

Bowed Strings (Grade 6-Grade 8)

  1. Piece 1/Set 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2/Set 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3/Set 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
    1. Bowing Exercise
    2. Either Scales, Arpeggios & Technical Exercises
      or Orchestrational extracts
  5. Supporting Test 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
  6. Supporting Test 2-Any 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Aural
    2. Improvisation

Harp (Initial-Grade 5)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work-Any 1 (14 Marks)
    1. Scales, Arpeggios & Technical Exercises 
    2. Studies
  5. Supporting Tests (Any 2) 20 Marks
    1. Sight Reading
    2. Aural
    3. Improvisation
    4. Musical Knowledge

Harp (Grade 6-Grade 8)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work-Any 1 (14 Marks)
    1. Scales, Arpeggios & Technical Exercises 
    2. Studies
    3. Orchestrational extracts (Pedal Harp only)
  5. Supporting Test 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
  6. Supporting Test 2-Any 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Aural
    2. Improvisation

Classical Guitar (2020-2023)

Classical Guitar Syllabus (2020-2023)

Download Syllabus Here

Exam Format

Classical Guitar (Initial-Grade 5)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
    1. Technical Exercise
    2. Either Scales, Arpeggios & Technical Exercises
      or Studies
  5. Supporting Tests-Any 2 (20 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
    2. Aural
    3. Improvisation
    4. Musical Knowledge

Classical Guitar (Grade 6-Grade 8)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
    1. Technical Exercise
    2. Either Scales, Arpeggios & Technical Exercises
      or Studies (Grades 6-7)/Concerto Extracts (Grade 8)
  5. Supporting Test 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
  6. Supporting Test 2-Any 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Aural
    2. Improvisation

Acoustic & Plectrum Guitar (2020-2023)

Acoustic & Plectrum Guitar Syllabus (2020-2023)

Download Syllabus Here

Exam Format

Acoustic Guitar (Initial-Grade 5)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
    Scales, arpeggios, broken chords, exercises,
    chord sequences (depending on grade) 
  5. Supporting Tests-Any 2 (20 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
    2. Aural
    3. Improvisation
    4. Musical Knowledge

Acoustic Guitar (Grade 6-Grade 8)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
    Scales, arpeggios, cadences,
    chord progressions (depending on grade)
  5. Supporting Test 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
  6. Supporting Test 2-Any 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Aural
    2. Improvisation

Woodwind & Jazz Woodwind (2017-2021)

Woodwind and Jazz Woodwind Syllabus (2017-2021)

Download Syllabus Here

Exams Available

  1. Woodwind (Initial-Grade 8)
    1. Flute
    2. Clarinet
    3. Oboe
    4. Bassoon
    5. Saxophone
    6. Recorder
  2. Jazz Woodwind (Grade 1-Grade 8)
    1. Flute
    2. Clarinet
    3. Saxophone

Exam Format

Woodwind (Initial-Grade 5)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work-Any 1 (14 Marks)
    1. Scales & Arpeggios
    2. Exercises
  5. Supporting Tests-Any 2 (20 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
    2. Aural
    3. Improvisation
    4. Musical Knowledge

Woodwind (Grade 6-Grade 8)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work-Any 1 (14 Marks)
    1. Scales & Arpeggios
    2. Orchestrational extracts/Study
  5. Supporting Test 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
  6. Supporting Test 2-Any 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Aural
    2. Improvisation

Jazz Woodwind (Grade 1-Grade 5)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work-Any 1 (14 Marks)
    1. Scales & Arpeggios
    2. Exercises
  5. Supporting Tests-Any 2 (20 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
    2. Aural
    3. Improvisation
    4. Musical Knowledge

Jazz Woodwind (Grade 6-Grade 8)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work-Any 1 (14 Marks)
    1. Scales & Arpeggios
    2. Study
  5. Supporting Test 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
  6. Supporting Test 2-Any 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Aural
    2. Improvisation

Brass (2019-2022)

Brass Syllabus (2019-2022)

Download Syllabus Here

Exams Available

  1. French Horn Grade 1-Grade 8
  2. Eb Tenor Horn Grade 1-Grade 8
  3. Trumpet/Cornet/Flugelhorn Grade 5-Grade 8
  4. Eb Soprano Cornet Grade 6-Grade 8
  5. Euphonium/Baritone Initial-Grade 8
  6. Trombone Initial-Grade 8
  7. Bass Trombone Grade 6-Grade 8
  8. Tube/Eb Bass/Bb bass Grade 6-Grade 8

Exam Format

Brass (Initial)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
    Technical Exercise
  5. Supporting Tests-Any 2 (20 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
    2. Aural
    3. Improvisation
    4. Musical Knowledge

Brass (Grade 1-Grade 5)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
    1. Lip Flexibility Exercise
    2. Either Scales or Exercises
  5. Supporting Tests-Any 2 (20 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
    2. Aural
    3. Improvisation
    4. Musical Knowledge

Brass (Grade 6-Grade 8)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
    1. Lip Flexibility Exercise & Chromatic scale
    2. Either Scales & Arpeggios or Orchestra/Brass Band Extracts
  5. Supporting Test 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
  6. Supporting Test 2-Any 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Aural
    2. Improvisation

Drum Kit & Percussion (2019-2022)

Drum Kit & Percussion Syllabus (2020-2023)

Download Syllabus Here

Exams Available

  1. Drum Kit (Initial-Grade 8)
  2. Orchestral Percussion (Initial-Grade 8)
  3. Tuned Percussion (Initial-Grade 8)
  4. Snare Drum (Initial-Grade 8)
  5. Timpani (Initial-Grade 8)

Exam Format

Drum Kit & Percussion (Initial -Grade 5)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3/Study (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
  5. Supporting Tests-Any 2 (20 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
    2. Aural
    3. Improvisation
    4. Musical Knowledge

Drum Kit & Percussion (Grade 6-Grade 8)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3(22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
  5. Supporting Test 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
  6. Supporting Test 2-Any 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Aural
    2. Improvisation

Electronic Keyboard & Organ (2019-2022)

Electronic Keyboard & Organ Syllabus (2019-2022)

Download Syllabus Here

Exams Available

  1. Electronic Keyboard Initial-Grade 8
  2. Organ Grade 1-Grade 8

Exam Format

Electronic Keyboard (Initial -Grade 5)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
    1. Keyboard Exercise (not for Initial)
    2. Either Scales & Chord Knowledge or Exercises
  5. Supporting Tests-Any 2 (20 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
    2. Aural
    3. Improvisation
    4. Musical Knowledge

Electronic Keyboard (Grade 6-Grade 8)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
    1. Keyboard Exercise
    2. Either Scales & Chord Knowledge  or Exercises
  5. Supporting Test 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
  6. Supporting Test 2-Any 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Aural
    2. Improvisation

Organ (Grade 1 -Grade 5)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
    1. Scales (Grade 1)
    2. Scales & Arpeggios (Grade 2-Grade 5)
  5. Supporting Tests-Any 2 (20 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
    2. Aural
    3. Improvisation
    4. Musical Knowledge

Electronic Keyboard (Grade 6-Grade 8)

  1. Piece 1 (22 Marks)
  2. Piece 2 (22 Marks)
  3. Piece 3 (22 Marks)
  4. Technical Work (14 Marks)
    1. Scales & Arpeggios
    2. Pedal Study
  5. Supporting Test 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Sight Reading
  6. Supporting Test 2-Any 1 (10 Marks)
    1. Aural
    2. Improvisation

And these are all the music exams and the current syllabus by Trinity College London. If you read the syllabus manual in detail you will be able to find all there is to know about these exams, but we are happy to provide and quick glimpse of the format above.