Music Medals

Making music together is a distinctive and essential part of Music Medals. Leading the ensemble, counting in, giving appropriate cues, listening, balancing and blending are all vital skills that the Ensemble component of the Medal helps to develop. 

• The candidate plays an individual line in an ensemble piece for two, three or four players. 
• Each line must be performed by a single player.
• Only the Medal candidate is assessed and not the other ensemble members.  

Candidates choose their piece from one of our Music Medals Ensemble books or from the repertoire list for their instrument, available to download below.  

Performing as a soloist develops musical independence and individuality, allowing young musicians to focus on their own sound as well as their personal expression. 

• The candidate plays one piece from the solo repertoire list for their instrument, available to download below or, at Bronze upwards, from a corresponding Practical or Performance Grade repertoire list as shown here:
  • Bronze – Initial Grade (Piano and Bowed Strings only) or Grade 1
  • Silver – Grade 1 or 2
  • Gold – Grade 2 or 3
  • Platinum – Grade 3 or 4

This test is taken by ear. 

All instruments apart from Electronic Keyboard

• Candidates provide a musical response on their instrument to each of two separate short phrases of unfamiliar music played by the teacher-assessor. 
• For each phrase, the teacher-assessor states the key and starting note and then counts in two bars before playing the phrase. 
• The musical interaction should be continuous, in time and without a break. 

Electronic Keyboard

• Candidates provide a musical response on their instrument to each of two separate short phrases of unfamiliar music played over a rhythmic groove by the teacher-assessor. 
• For each phrase, the teacher-assessor states the key and starting note and then plays the rhythmic groove for two bars before playing the phrase. 
• The musical interaction should be continuous, in time and without a break. 

Copper and Bronze – all instruments apart from Electronic Keyboard  

• The candidate makes up a tune on their instrument using a given rhythm at a set speed. 
• At Copper and Bronze levels, candidates can choose to take the test by ear or at sight from notation.  
  • If taken by ear – the teacher-assessor provides a two-bar count and then claps the rhythm. They do this three times. The candidate then has half a minute to prepare before playing their tune. 
  • If taken at sight – the teacher-assessor gives the candidate the notated rhythm and two bars of the pulse. The candidate then has half a minute to prepare before the teacher-assessor provides a two-bar count in and the candidate plays their tune. 
• At Copper level there are two versions of the test to choose from, one with crotchets and quavers and one with minims and crotchets. 
• Candidates must use at least three pitches to pass. 

Silver, Gold and Platinum – all instruments apart from Electronic Keyboard 

• The candidate makes up a tune on their instrument using a given rhythm and in a specified key. 
• From Silver level, candidates are given the rhythm in notation only.  
• The teacher-assessor provides two bars of the pulse. The candidate then has half a minute of preparation time before the teacher-assessor counts them in for two bars. 
• Candidates must use at least five pitches to pass. 

Copper and Bronze – Electronic Keyboard  

• The candidate makes up a tune on their instrument over a given rhythmic groove and in a specified key. 
• The candidate first plays the groove for four bars as written, then repeats it, adding their tune. 
• At Copper level, Keyboard candidates must use at least three pitches to pass. 
• At Bronze level, Keyboard candidates must use at least five pitches to pass. 

Silver, Gold and Platinum – Electronic  Keyboard 

• The candidate makes up a tune on their instrument in a specified key and in a given style with auto-accompaniment activated. 
• The candidate first plays a given chord sequence, then repeats it, adding their tune. 
• Candidates must use at least five pitches to pass. 

Copper – all instruments apart from Electronic  Keyboard 

• The candidate plays two separate one-bar rhythms in 4/4 on their instrument, in time and as an echo. 
• For each rhythm, the teacher-assessor counts in two bars before clapping the rhythm or playing it on one note. 
• The candidate then plays their answer on a single note or on a series of notes, although there is no additional credit for using more than one note. 
• There is no preparation time.  

Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum – all instruments apart from Electronic Keyboard 

• From Bronze level, the candidate plays at sight a two-bar passage of unfamiliar music and improvises a two-bar answering phrase. 
• After giving two bars of the pulse, the teacher-assessor allows the candidate half a minute of preparation time and then gives a two-bar count-in. 

Copper, Bronze and Silver – Electronic Keyboard  

• The candidate harmonises a given melody in a specified key and with specified chords. 
• The teacher-assessor plays the melody while the candidate provides the rhythmic groove, having first played the same groove as a two-bar introduction. 
• The teacher-assessor then repeats the melody and the candidate activates the auto-accompaniment and adds suitable chords. 

Gold and Platinum – Electronic Keyboard 

• The candidate harmonises a given melody in a specified key and with specified chords. 
• Candidates have half a minute of preparation time. 
• They then play the melody and choose suitable chords in the left hand, which should be fully fingered. 

• The candidate plays a piece of unfamiliar music following half a minute of preparation. 
• There are no tempo indications to encourage candidates to establish an appropriate tempo for themselves. This should take into account the speed at which they can play the music while maintaining a steady pulse and, at higher levels, the character of the music. 
• All instruments apart from Electronic Keyboard – candidates play four bars of unfamiliar music following half a minute of preparation. Candidates can try out any part or parts of the test for half a minute before playing the whole test. 
• Electronic Keyboard – at Copper, Bronze and Silver levels, the piece will be four bars long. At Gold and Platinum levels, the piece will be eight bars long and will include chords.