Guitar Fundamentals Grade
Examination Procedure
1. Reception
Present the admission slip for examination at the reception desk.
2. Practical Section Examination
3. Paperwork Examination
Duration
Paperwork: 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Note:
- The candidate should pass the Performance Grade 5 or higher before he/she applies the Fundamentals Grade.
- In the examination room, candidates should follow the instructions of the examiners.
- Starting times for the practical section examination and the paperwork examination are on the admission slip. Candidates are required to confirm the starting time of each examination.
- After all examinations, candidates are required to leave the admission slip with an examiner, or administrator. If candidates finish the paperwork examination early, they may leave the room, but they may not re-enter.
- Candidates who take the paperwork examination must bring their own pencils.
- In the examination rooms, candidates must switch off their mobile phones.
Subject Details
I. Practical Section
I-I. Melody Singing at Sight
Contents & Level
A melody of about 8 bars is given.
It may include simple accidentals.
Procedure
Candidates can sing in solfege (either fixed "Do" or movable "Do"), with vowels, la-la-la or others.
Candidates can either stand or sit at the piano when singing.
There will be about 15 seconds for preview after which candidates wait for the examiner's cue to start.
Candidates may play either the tonic chord or the first note of the melody on the piano or the guitar for confirmation before reading the given score or before singing (one time only).
Points of Evaluation
The ability to sing at the specified tempo, with correct pitch and rhythm
The ability to sing with the articulation described in the score
I-II. Melody Singing with Accompaniment
Contents & Level
A melody 12-16 bars with chord names is given.
Chords may include: major, minor, dominant 7th (including secondary dominant).
Procedure
Candidates can sing in solfege (either fixed "Do" or movable "Do"), with vowels, la-la-la or others.
Candidates are to sing the given melody while playing a suitable guitar or piano accompaniment, following the given chords.
There will be about 15 seconds for preview after which candidates wait for the examiner's cue to start.
Candidates may play either the tonic chord or the first note of the melody on the piano or the guitar for confirmation before reading the given score or before singing (one time only).
In case the first one or two bars have rests, play either an introduction or an accompaniment rhythm before singing.
Points of Evaluation
The ability to sing at the specified tempo, with correct pitch and rhythm
The ability to play with appropriate bass progression, range, and accompaniment style according to the specified chord names
The ability to sing with the articulation described in the score, and pay attention to the balance between the song and the accompaniment
II. Paperwork
II-I. Theory of Music
This subject is to test the candidate's general knowledge of music such as scale, key, rhythm, interval, and other musical terms and signs.
II-II. Chord Progression
Fill in the chord names to the given melody.
Fill in the bass line to the given melody.
II-III. Arrangement
Arrange the given score on the same level as the examples into a guitar ensemble.
Candidates can change the key considering the characteristics of the instrument.
