AURAL TESTS
Aural Tests in Grades other than Preliminary will be played twice. In the case of tests specified in more than one grade, the difficulty
of the examples given to the candidates will be adjusted to the standards of the respective grades.
Interval Tests: Boys whose voices are at the ‘breaking’ stage may respond to the pitch tests by whistling instead of humming or singing. In tests where interval recognition is required, attention is drawn to the method of answering these questions. Grade 3 requires candidates to name the interval as being the second, third, fourth, or
fifth of the scale. In Grades 4, 5 and 6, candidates are required to name the intervals as major second, major third, perfect fourth, etc.
Grade 3
RHYTHM: The examiner will play twice a passage in duple or triple time. The candidate will then tap or clap the passage and state whether it is duple or triple time.
MELODY: To hum or sing a short phrase played twice by the examiner, combining melody and time.
PITCH: To hum or sing the higher or lower of any two notes within the limits of an octave from middle C played simultaneously by the examiner.
PITCH: The examiner, having sounded on the piano a note to be regarded as the keynote of the scale, the candidate will hum or
sing and afterwards name the interval of the second, third, fourth or fifth of the major scale as played by the examiner, in succession to the keynote.
Grade 4
RHYTHM: The examiner will play twice a passage in duple or triple time. The candidate will then tap or clap the passage and
state whether it is in duple or triple time.
PITCH: The examiner, having sounded on the piano a note, to be regarded as the keynote of the scale, the candidate will hum or sing and afterwards name any interval of the major scale as played by the examiner immediately after the keynote.
PITCH: To hum or sing from memory the higher or lower part of a two-part progression of two successive intervals within the compass of an octave from middle C as played by the examiner.
PITCH: The examiner, having sounded any major or minor triad either in root position or an inversion played within the limits of an octave, the candidate will hum or sing the middle note.
SIGHT READING TESTS
For candidates in practical examinations.
Preliminary (For Leisure syllabuses only), Grades 1 and 2: A test will be set consisting of a simple phrase of an elementary nature.
For Preliminary Piano for Leisure and Grade 1 Piano and Piano for Leisure – hands separately only.
Grades 3 to 8: A test will be set within the limits of the technical standard of the grade.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TESTS
Guidelines for Levels 1
For candidates in practical examinations.
Candidates can expect to be asked:
• At least one question about each List piece presented;
• Between 6 and 10 questions in total;
• In Level 1, examinations on solo instruments and voice, questions will be asked from the candidate’s part (not the accompaniment part)
General Knowledge questions will not be asked about Extra List pieces.
By referring to the score of each List piece, candidates can be asked to:
(i) Name and/or explain any notes, rests, signs, terms, its title and its key/tonality; and
(ii) Identify key changes (on the appropriate score) at obvious and clear-cut places only, preferably at the beginnings or ends of marked sections and not in transitory passages.
EXAMINATION STRUCTURE
Section I.
Technical work
All scales, chord progressions and arpeggios must be presented from memory for examination purposes. Candidates may read from the music only when presenting technical exercises for examination. The technical work component of the syllabus is outlined in each grade.
All technical work is set out in Piano Technical work Level 1 (Preliminary to Grade 4) (2018) and Piano Technical work Level 2 (Grade 5 to Grade
(2018).There is no specific Piano for Leisure technical work book.
Section II.
Preliminary to Grade 8
Candidates must prepare three works for presentation at examination.
Candidates may:
• Draw all three works from the contents of Series 1 Piano for Leisure, Series 2 Piano for Leisure, Series 3 Piano for Leisure, Series 4 Piano for Leisure and the Manual list or
• Draw two works from the contents of Series 1 Piano for Leisure, Series 2 Piano for Leisure, Series 3 Piano for Leisure, Series 4 Piano for Leisure and the Manual list in addition to one work of Own choice (see ‘Own choice’ below).
Section III.
Candidates in all grades and the Certificate of Performance are expected to answer General knowledge questions conforming to the parameters provided in ‘Test requirements for candidates in practical examinations – General knowledge tests’ in the front section of the Manual of syllabuses. Candidates in all grades (excluding the
Certificate of Performance) must choose to undertake either Aural tests or Sight reading in addition to the General knowledge test.
Listing of works
If a work has been arranged, candidates must prepare that arrangement and only that arrangement. A volume in which the arrangement can be found and the publisher of that volume are indicated at the end of the relevant syllabus entries.
In the case of works that have not been arranged, volume and publisher citations are often given at the end of each entry. In the case of core repertoire for the piano (e.g. Beethoven sonatas and Bach
keyboard music), the opus number or catalogue number is given, and candidates may choose to prepare the work from any reputable edition. Arrangements of such works must not be used.
Each Manual list entry lists a work that may be presented at examination. In some cases, two or more works must be presented as a single item at examination. These are listed in the format, for
example, of ‘x and y’ in the Manual listings.
Own choice works
Own choice works selected for presentation at examination must be of the same standard as the remaining works on the examination programme. Ensuring that the standard of Own choice works is equivalent to
the works on the rest of the examination programme is the responsibility of teachers and candidates. Prior approval of the AMEB for Own choice works should not be sought.
Own choice works may be drawn from any suitable source and may be the candidate’s own arrangement or composition. Copies of Own choice works must be provided for the use of examiners during examinations. The making of such copies must not infringe copyright law.
EXAMINATION CONDUCT
Additional requirements
In Piano for Leisure, no additional Theory of Music, Musicianship
or Music Craft examination is required to pass any grade or the
Certificate of Performance.
Backing tracks
Backing tracks may be used during examination. Candidates who
wish to use backing tracks must provide and operate the equipment for the playback of backing tracks.
Improvisation
Improvisation is appropriate in some of the works in this syllabus
and candidates may improvise if the style of the work warrants it.
Care must be taken to maintain the work’s musical integrity and
level of difficulty.
There is no provision for assessment of improvisation in this syllabus and no additional credit will be allocated for improvisation.
Instruments
Candidates are encouraged to use an acoustic piano in the Piano
for Leisure syllabus. Digital pianos may be used throughout this
syllabus but must meet the following specifications: keyboard size –
88 notes; action – weighted and touch sensitive; pedals – fixed and
functioning as for acoustic pianos.
The AMEB will not provide digital pianos for examination, but
teachers who offer their studios for examination may make use of
their own instruments for Piano for Leisure examinations.