RockSchool grades

[FrogPrincess]

Dd has just started learning bass guitar this term and her teacher said he'd like her to take her grade 2 soon.
She has taken several ABRSM grades before with voice and cello so is fine with these, I just wonder how different the rockschool exams are? Bass guitar is very alien to me (pianist)....

thanks in advance lovely MNers

[BrigitBigKnickers]

My DD has taken Rockschool grades for electric guitar (up to grade 4)

As a classically trained musician and music teacher (ABRSM Grades 8/6 in clarinet and piano and a degree in music!) I was rather sniffy when I first heard about Rock school thinking they couldn't possibly have any merit, but although the techniques/ skills for rock guitar are different to those on classical guitar they are still very rigourous exams. In fact some of the skills needed I think are harder than those for ABRSM- especially some of the aural tests.

The higher grades come with points that can be added to A level scores for university entrance in the same way as grade 6 ABRSM and above can be.

The exams themselves are similar in format. They have three pieces to play (with a CD backing track) some of which has to be improvised (grade 2 and above I think)then scales and sight reading- as would be in ABRSM grades.


Where they differ is with some of the other technical areas of the exam. The melodic recall and rhythmic tests are played on the instrument (rather than clapped and sung) and they also have chords and a riff to perform. They also have a small theory part to the exam where questions on the instrument and notation are asked. I think they can opt to do improvisation instead of sight reading.

The bass guitar will differ but perhaps if you go on the Rock School website, perhaps some of your queries may be answered in more detail.

HTH!

[FrogPrincess]

Thank you for all this Brigit, it is helpful! We have just got the rockschool grade 2 book and it does explain things a bit more (I keep picturing Jack Black as her examiner.....)