Music Factsheet 3: Playing for graded examinations and presentation classes – a beginner’s guide

The Royal Academy of Dance offers two syllabi at Graded level. The examination syllabus is known as Graded Examinations in Dance and the non-assessed syllabus is known as Presentation Classes and is based on the Graded Examination syllabus. Here are some helpful points to remember:

1. There are nine grades of Examination numbered progressively in order of complexity, from Primary to Grade 8 Award. For Presentation Classes there are ten grades progressing from Pre-Primary to Grade 8 Award. Here the teacher is present, and guides the students through the work. The examiner in this case acts only as an observer.
2. Alternative Music for Grades 1-5 has been in circulation since January 2005, and this may be used instead of the 1991 syllabus music or mixed with it depending on the teacher's preference. Be sure to ask and double check which music the teacher wants to use.
3. Pianists should have adequate and appropriate rehearsal with the candidates prior to the examination, so that they are sufficiently familiar with the order, content and musical characteristics of the accompaniment. Examiners do not intervene on musical matters during an examination, so you have to be absolutely sure of what you're doing.
4. A sound awareness of a good workable tempo for each exercise is important, since candidates may perform in groups where individual preferences cannot be taken into account.
5. Candidates can be entered in groups of up to four for Examinations. In Presentation Classes this can be up to a maximum of eight students from Pre-Primary to Grade 7 but only four for Grade 8 Award. The examiner may ask to see syllabus settings in a variety of groupings. The syllabus books usually give adequate warning of this, but pay special attention to the way that the examiner asks for the exercise to be seen, so that you play the right amount of music for the people dancing.
6. Running times for examinations vary from 15 minutes for one Primary candidate, up to 1 hour for four Grade 8 candidates. A full day of exams will include a morning coffee break, a lunch break and an afternoon tea break.
7. Try to arrive at least ten minutes before the start of the day so you can introduce yourself to the examiner, make sure the piano or keyboard is in a suitable position so that you have a good view of the whole room, and that your seating arrangements are comfortable.