Rockschool Exams, Anyone entered? Options

[Bachlover]

I have several teenage pupils who would really like to play some modern music instead of classical. Has anyone entered any of their pupils for the Rockschool exams? I would be very interested to hear about your experiences.

[julia@piano]

I have several teenage pupils who would really like to play some modern music instead of classical.  Has anyone entered any of their pupils for the Rockschool exams?  I would be very interested to hear about your experiences.

I have just started one pupil off on their Grade 3 Syllabus with Rockschool. you have to spend about £15 to buy the sheet music and Cd. They have to learn 5 pieces (or add one of their own compositions). My student seems quite keen on the actual music, which is of course great news at it motivates her to practise (small miracle!). They also have to improvise - to a metronome! It is definitely worth exploring, but I can't advise on the administration of these exams as we haven't entered yet. I will be interested to see how you get on - keep us posted.

[Bachlover]

I have several teenage pupils who would really like to play some modern music instead of classical.  Has anyone entered any of their pupils for the Rockschool exams?  I would be very interested to hear about your experiences.

I have just started one pupil off on their Grade 3 Syllabus with Rockschool. you have to spend about £15 to buy the sheet music and Cd. They have to learn 5 pieces (or add one of their own compositions). My student seems quite keen on the actual music, which is of course great news at it motivates her to practise (small miracle!). They also have to improvise - to a metronome! It is definitely worth exploring, but I can't advise on the administration of these exams as we haven't entered yet. I will be interested to see how you get on - keep us posted.

Thanks for your reply Julia. Like you, I have one pupil (a 14 year old boy) who has just started on Grade 3 Rockschool and he seems very keen on the pieces describing them as cool! He's already passed Grade 2 Jazz so is used to improvisation but is finding the pieces a bit challenging so I won't be entering him for a while but will keep you posted.

Regards
J

[musicbox]

Rockschool exams? Wow they sound fun!

[jpiano]

Hi, I've used Rockschool both as an exam and also used the pieces for adults simply as pieces without entering for the exam. Yes, the books are pricier, but then again they get a CD, plus aural, sight reading examples and a breakdown of the scales, so I don't think it works out more expensive. So far I've had pupils pass grades 1, grade 6 and two grade 5s. I've found the admin to be very good, and on the last two occasions have received both the result and certificates within the week-fantastic! The improvisation requirements are much easier than the AB jazz piano grades, and not compulsory until grade 6, and for that reason I'd describe them more as popular piano than true jazz piano. My pupils have enjoyed playing the pieces and I'm just in the process of starting another grade 5 student on the pieces who was not inspired by the classical syllabus-she was doing much better with Wedgwood style pieces, which is why I suggested it. There's no scales book as such, which has caused a few minor queries, as there have been a few inconsistencies such as scales listed in the syllabus but not the scales list in the book-I've been told by Rockschool to go by the list in the book itself. They have to learn modal scales, and cover pentatonic and blues scales at various grades, which they have all tackled with no problems at all. I don't know how many exam centres there are yet-not as many as ABRSM, and we did have a less than brilliant local centre a few years ago, but that's now been changed. Overall a real life saver in helping keep students motivated who want to do exams but not classical pieces.

[Bachlover]

Thanks for all the Rockschool info, jpiano. I shall have no qualms now about entering my pupil when he is ready, especially as there is a Centre in my area.