Contemporary Piano Grade 6

CONTEMPORARY PIANO GRADE 6

What’s Involved?

Up To 75 Marks For
You are required to play THREE pieces (each one attracts 25 marks)

You can elect to play:

  • all three pieces from those listed within our syllabus
  • OR you can opt for three pieces of your own choice (*please find guidance in ‘Own Choice’ Zone)
  • OR you can mix repertoire featuring in our syllabus list combined with pieces of your own choice (*again please visit ‘Own Choice’ Zone for guidance)
Up To 15 Marks For
KEYBOARD HARMONY OR PLAYING A PIECE FROM MEMORY (either of these elements qualifies for 15 marks)

KEYBOARD HARMONY

  1. Play the following suspended chords, right hand only: Csus/Csus4, Gsus/Gsus4, Dsus/Dsus4, Fsus/ Fsus4
  2. Play three diminished chords from the notes B, C and C♯, right hand only
  3. Play the following augmented chords. Caug, Faug and Gaug, root position only, three notes in the right hand, root in the left

OR instead

PLAYING A PIECE FROM MEMORY
You can play one of your chosen listed or own choice piece from memory

Up To 10 Marks For
MUSICAL UNDERSTANDING

  1. Explain the terms primary and secondary minor chords (major key only)
  2. Name by chord symbol i.e. G, AM, B etc the primary and secondary major and minor chords that are found in any two major keys
  3. Explain why are chords II, III and VII rarely used in a minor key and chord VII in a major key ?
Playing Skills Guide For This Grade
RIGHT HAND
Four note chords / ornaments / arpeggios / melody played in block chords / four constant crotchet chords per bar

LEFT HAND
Variations of Bossa Nova bass line walking bass / syncopation

IN ADDITION
Change of key signature within a piece (Rubato) / use of sustain pedal with all pieces

CORE SYLLABUS PIECES FOR CONTEMPORARY PIANO GRADE 6
 PIECE(S)
 BOOK
 ISBN NUMBER
(THEY LONG TO BE)  CLOSE TO YOU
WALK ON BY
GOLD CLASSICS
BACHARACH & DAVID
SEVENTEEN SOLID GOLD STANDARDS
0-7119-1775-2
AUTUMN LEAVES THE JAZZ PIANO MASTER 0-571-51791-9
CAFÉ DE PARIS 1 AFTER HOURS FOR SOLO PIANO 0-571-52110-X
LAURA
THE PINK PANTHER THEME
1 AFTER HOURS FOR PIANO SOLO JAZZ 0-571 -52908-9
Click here for ‘OWN CHOICE’ ZONE

© Nationwide Music Examinations 2014