Drum Kit
About Drum Kit exams
We offer Performance Grade exams for Drum Kit at Initial Grade for beginners up to Grade 8 for advanced musicians.
You can download the qualification specification/syllabus on this page.
Exams will be available from June 2024.
Performance Grades for Drum Kit are available at nine levels: Initial Grade then Grades 1 to Grade 8
The exam music includes a wide range of styles, spanning rock, pop, jazz, Afrobeat, fusion, drum and bass and more. You’ll find:
- Arrangements by artists such as Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The White Stripes, Oasis and Elton John and Dua Lipa.
- Inspirational new pieces from renowned drummers including Jason Bowld, Vicky O’Neon, Kaz Rodriguez, Ralph Salmins and Steve White.
Each grade has its own book of Drum Kit Exam Pieces containing nine pieces with access to online audio recordings and backing tracks. Visit our shop to find out more.
You can also buy interactive sheet music for a selection of Drum Kit pieces from Tomplay. Find out more about interactive sheet music here.
Performance Grades are digital exams assessed from a video recording. They have a strong focus on performance, including communication, interpretation and delivery. In your exam video you perform a programme of four pieces – three pieces from the Drum Kit repertoire lists for your grade and one own-choice piece.
For Performance Grades there are no booking periods or exam sessions so you can choose when and where to book, record and submit your exam.
Exams are open to candidates of any age, but if you are taking a Performance Grade 6, 7 or 8 you must pass Grade 5 (or above) in Music Theory, Practical Musicianship or a Jazz Practical Grade before you book your exam.
For general information about Performance Grades, including guidance on recording and submitting exam videos, follow the link below.
Downloads
The qualification specification includes the syllabus, repertoire lists, marking criteria and exam requirements.
