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Welcome to the Rockschool Repertoire Sample Booklet for piano Contents 3 the rockschool books This interactive booklet is designed to give a flavour of the pieces of music 4 Repertoire and audio contained within the graded music exam syllabus and information on the musical skills and understanding that have been benchmarked at each grade. 5 EXAMS AND Assessment Criteria This sits alongside the Syllabus Guide which provides full details of the graded 7 Debut Musical Skills and Features examinations run by Rockschool for Piano. 8 Debut Repertoire Sample 11 Grade 1 Musical Skills and Features 12 Grade 1 Repertoire Sample 15 Grade 2 Musical Skills and Features Purchase your digital copies of the full Rockschool syllabus books including access 16 Grade 2 Repertoire Sample to Replay, the interactive sheet music tool, on the RSL Awards shop here… 19 Grade 3 Musical Skills and Features 20 Grade 3 Repertoire Sample * 23 Grade 4 Musical Skills and Features save 10% 24 Grade 4 Repertoire Sample 27 Grade 5 Musical Skills and Features You can buy the whole range of hard copy Rockschool syllabus books on: 28 Grade 5 Repertoire Sample Musicroom.com 31 Grade 6 Musical Skills and Features Use the code RSLSAMPLE to save 10%* on all Rockschool products. 32 Grade 6 Repertoire Sample 35 Grade 7 Musical Skills and Features *Available while stocks last on Rockschool syllabus books and methods only. This offer may be withdrawn at any time. 36 Grade 7 Repertoire Sample If you are using Adobe Acrobat to view this document, you will be able to hear the 39 Grade 8 Musical Skills and Features sample audio alongside the sample repertoire pages. Alternatively, please visit the RSL Awards website to hear the audio previews. 40 Grade 8 Repertoire Sample

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The rockschool books are divided into three key sections:

Performance Pieces: Technical Exercises: Supporting Tests and Each graded exam book contains all There are either three or four General Musicianship the material you need to learn at each groups of technical exercise, grade and has been benchmarked depending on the grade: Questions: according to a set of criteria which are contained in this booklet. Group A – scales The candidate is required to undertake three kinds of The songs are also supported by Group B – arpeggios/broken chords unprepared, supporting test: Performance Notes. These sections cover the song from the performers’ Group C – chord voicings 1. Sight Reading or an Improvisation & perspective, focusing on the technical Interpretation (Debut to Grade 5). issues the learner will encounter as they Group D – a choice of stylistic studies navigate each track. Please note: these are replaced Please note: Group D only exists by mandatory Quick Study Pieces Each book also contains both a full mix at Grades 6–8. (QSPs) at Grades 6–8 in all graded and backing track to provide the learner exams except for Piano and Keys. with the ideal level of performance they Rockschool’s Technical Exercises are need to aim for. Both versions have designed to introduce a gradual 2. Ear Tests: featuring Melodic Recall spoken count-ins at the beginning much increase of expressive techniques and Chord Recognition (Debut to like you would expect in a professional and ideas, that collectively enable Grade 3) and Melodic Recall and recording environment. each player to attain a true sense of Harmonic Recall (Grades 4–8). musicality. Whether that’s achieved in Please note: any solos played on tone modification, ornamentation, or 3. General Musicianship Questions the full mix versions are indicative only. articulation; each technique can be (GMQs), which will be asked by freely applied to any specific style a the examiner at the end of each player chooses to identify with. exam. Each book features examples of the types of unprepared tests likely to appear in the exam. The examiner will give a different version in the exam.

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Repertoire: Audio: The pieces of music in the graded exam book have Audio is provided in the form of backing tracks (excluding been carefully selected to cater for a wide range of the assessed part) and examples (including the assessed musical tastes so please refer to the syllabus guide part) for the pieces and the supporting tests where and our website for more details. applicable. Audio files are supplied in MP3 format to enable playback on a wide range of compatible devices. Digital Learners also have the opportunity to use Free versions of the book include audio files in the download. Choice Pieces alongside this specified repertoire Physical versions of the book include a code to download and the benchmarking criteria in this booklet should the audio at rslawards.com/downloads. be used to identify whether the piece they want to use meets the required standard for the grade chosen. Additional Information: This is also available on our website. The books also contain information on exam procedures, There are six hit tune arrangements which fall into including online examination entry, marking schemes, three categories: information on Free Choice Pieces and any improvisation, notation and tone requirements for each grade.

1. Melody and Accompaniment: These arrangements are performed to full band backing tracks, with the piano performing both melody and accompaniment.

2. Solo Piano Arrangement: These are full solo piano arrangements, performed without backing tracks.

3. Vocal Accompaniment: These arrangements are reflective of the skills required of a pianist working in ensemble environments and the backing tracks feature a vocal melody line.

All the pupils I teach want to learn everything about contemporary music, which Rockschool perfectly caters to. it’s an ideal resource for what my students want to achieve.

Ed Black, Teacher of rockschool

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Graded Examinations reference all three learning Exams outcomes, whereas Performance Certificates only require the first outcome to be met. When they are ready, candidates can enter for the following types of exam:

Graded Music Exam WHAT ARE ASSESSMENT CRITERIA? candidates perform Three Pieces; a selection of Assessment Criteria are how we assess the learning Technical Exercises; and a series of Unseen Tests. outcomes.

Performance Certificate They are applied to evidence musical outcomes at candidates perform Five Pieces only. This exam progressing grades. can also be taken via video submission. Each criterion is equally weighted. Learners can take their exam at one of our Public Exam Venues or, should your venue meet certain criteria, we can convene a private exam day at your venue for Each is considered / marked separately. your students. The combination gives the total mark for each piece/ supporting test.

Assessment Criteria: Assessment: 1. Command of Instrument The quality of the sound produced from the instrument, Candidates are assessed against specific Learning including the consistency of sound/tone, control of Outcomes and Assessment Criteria which are detailed sound/tone commensurate with grade. in full in the Syllabus Guide and on our website. 2. Sync or Pulse We have also included a summary of the Assessment Alignment of the performance to backing track, Criteria in this booklet. metronome or applied to a solo performance, observing notation markings. For unaccompanied pieces candidates should maintain a secure internal pulse and adjust the LEARNING OUTCOMES: pulse where instructed within the music. There are three learning outcomes in Rockschool 3. Accuracy and Understanding graded music exams: Representing the written notation accurately, except by instruction through performance notes, or interpreting 1. Be able to perform music in popular musical styles. the written part with equivalent skills demonstrated. Secure understanding of musical structure evidenced 2. Be able to demonstrate technical ability on an through transitions of phrases, bars and sections. instrument/voice through responding to set technical demands. 4. Style and Expression An expressive and commanding performance of the 3. Be able to demonstrate musical understanding notated material dictated by the demands of the through a range of set tests. performance piece.

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piano debut Musical Skills and Features FREE CHOICE PIECE GUIDELINES | Debut

Duration 40 secs–1 min 20 secs

Key C major / A minor

Tempo 60-130 bpm

Time Signatures 4/4, 3/4

Rhythmic Values 8th notes and rests, occasional dotted quarter notes

Dynamics None, or very simple/sparse

Articulation & None, or very simple/sparse Phrasing

Melodic Features Mainly stepwise movement or small intervallic transitions

Harmonic Occasional two-note chords in one hand (three-note chords will be between both hands) Features

Rhythmic Features Non-complex rhythmic groupings

Keyboard Single patch settings with basic variety of sounds [e.g. electric piano, organ, pad] Features (Keys Basic layering of sounds (e.g. piano/pad) Syllabus only)

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RSL Piano & Keys 2019 FREE CHOICE PIECE GUIDELINES | Debut ‘Imagine’ John Lennon

Imagine

SONG TITLE: ‘IMAGINE’ ALBUM: IMAGINE RELEASED: 1971 =76 Pop/Rock LABEL: APPLE A q F GENRE: SOFT ROCK/POP C 1 WRITTEN BY: JOHN LENNON/YOKO ONO PRODUCED BY: JOHN LENNON/YOKO ONO/ 4 j œ œ œ Œ Ó PHIL SPECTRE ‰ œ œ UK CHART PEAK: 1 & 4 œ œ 2 4 1 5 ˙. œ w ˙. ? 4 w

F C Written by John Lennon in 1971, ‘Imagine’ was The song itself has sold over 1.6 million copies a worldwide hit which conveyed themes of politics, in the UK alone, making it by far Lennon’s biggest religion and love. Lennon wrote the song at his success as a solo artist. He is of course widely known œ Œ Ó home in Berkshire and was heavily influenced by the as ‰one part of thej multimillion selling quartet, The œ œ œ poetry works of his wife Yoko Ono, specifically her & Beatles. During their time œtogether, Theœ Beatles took book Grapefruit, so much so that she was later given the world by storm,œ shaping the music industry as a writing credit. His song speaks of a world where we know it today an immeasurable amount. To date, œ all humans are one, with no countries or religion The Beatles are the best-selling band of all time, with . to separate them. Lennon was often criticised by estimated sales of over 800 million records worldwide. ˙. religious groups, claiming that the song was an atheist w anthem. However, Lennon is quoted as stating that ? Following his huge success with The Beatles, [3] w the song was not about a world with no religion at all Lennon went on to influence countless musicians but rather a world of one religion without competition and was highly regarded in the industry. His song’ as to whose God is the most powerful. An intriguing ‘Imagine’ was actually inducted into the Rock and sentiment which was well received by the ever-liberal Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and movement of the 1970s. Roll and earned him a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. Since it’s original release ‘Imagine’ has been covered F ‘Imagine’ was released in the US in late 1971 by dozensC of successful artists, including: Madonna, and peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Joan Baez and Diana Ross. chart. Although the single wasn’t officially released It is a fitting tribute to the incredible songwriter that Œ Ó in the UK at that time, the LP on which it featured was John Lennon, jthat so many music icons would œ œ œ (of the same name) managed to top the UK album want‰ to cover this unquestionablyœ remarkable song. œ charts in the November of that year. It was later & œ œ released as a single in the UK in 1975 to promote a compilation LP and peaked at a respectable number . œ 6. Re-released for one last time following the Singers ˙. tragic death in 1980, ‘Imagine’ finally achieved the w position it deserved and claimed number 1 in the ? UK Singles Charts. [5] w Piano Debut 11 F C LEARN MORE www.rslawards.com [email protected] Ó j œ œ œ Œ & ‰ œ œ œ œ ˙. œ ? w [7] w

Dm/C E Dm 1 Am/ œ j Ó j œ œ œ œ œ œ ‰ & ‰ œ œ

2 ? ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ [9] Imagine

John Lennon

=76 Pop/Rock A q C F 1 4 j Œ Ó & 4 ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ 1 2 5 4 ? w ˙. œ 4 w ˙

C F j Œ Ó & ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

? w ˙. œ [3] w

C F j & ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ Ó

? w ˙. œ [5] w

C F j & ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ Ó

? w ˙. œ [7] w

1 Am/E Dm Dm/C j œ œ j & ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ‰ Ó 2 SAMPLE ? ˙ ˙ [9] ˙ ˙ Piano Debut Words & Music by John Lennon © Copyright 1971 Lenono Music. 12 Downtown Music UK Limited All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured.

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Piano Grade 1 Musical Skills and Features FREE CHOICE PIECE GUIDELINES | Grade 1

Duration 50 secs – 1 min 30 secs

Key One sharp or one flat, or no sharps or flats but accidentals may occur within the piece

Tempo 60-140 bpm

Time Signatures 4/4, 3/4, 6/8

8th notes and rests, dotted 8th notes and syncopations, occasional 16th notes, occasional non- Rhythmic values complex triplet groupings

Dynamics Simple dynamics [P, F]

Articulation & Simple changes in articulation and phrasing, occasional slurs and simple occasional use of Phrasing staccato and accented articulation may occur.

Mainly stepwise movement or small intervallic transitions – overall tessitura generally not Melodic features greater than an octave

Two-note chords in one hand, occasional three-note chords, four-note chords will generally be Harmonic features spread across both hands

Rhythmic features Rhythms will be simple; simultaneously differing patterns will be limited

Keyboard Single patch settings with basic variety of sounds [e.g. electric piano, organ, pad] Features (Keys Basic layering of sounds (e.g. piano/pad) Syllabus only)

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RSL Piano & Keys 2019 FREE CHOICE PIECE GUIDELINES | Grade 1 ‘Wildest Dreams’ Taylor Swift

Wildest Dreams

SONG TITLE: ‘WILDEST DREAMS’ ALBUM: 1989 RELEASED: 2014

140 LABEL: BIG MACHINE/REPUBLIC = Pop D q Em GENRE: DREAM POP C WRITTEN BY: TAYLOR SWIFT/ ∑ MAX MARTIN/SHELLBACK # 4 ∑ ∑ ∑ PRODUCED BY: MAX MARTIN/SHELLBACK & 4 UK CHART PEAK: 40 p w w w w ? # 4 w D Em C j # ∑ ∑ Ó ‰ œ œ ‘Wildest Dreams’ was a chart hit for American singer and honed the sounds∑ of her then home singer songwriter Taylor Swift and was the 5th single & Nashville. Swift quickly found success and was signed to be released from her popular album 1989. The by Big Machine Records, making her the youngest song was written by Taylor Swift, Max Martin and person ever to have been signed by the Sony/ATV w Johan Schuster (professionally known as Shellback), Music publishing house. In 2006 she released her self-w w w a common collaborative for Swift, with hits including? #titled debut album, which peaked at number 5 on thew w three tracks on her earlier album Red. Together the US albumw chart and included the track ‘Our Song’ – trio created what has been described as a “dream [5] for this particular song she became the youngest ever pop power ballad” and although the song did well artist to solely write and perform a number one hit for commercially it did receive some mixed reviews. the Hot Country Songs chart. D A Em Many felt that the sound was simply too comparable C to that of Lana Del Rey, claiming that it was so similar In 2008 the crossover from country to pop began j that they couldn’t tell whether the song was intended for Swift with her second album, Fearless. The album ‰ as a homage or a parody. received rave reviews and became the highest selling j ‰ j œ œ Œ œ œ # j 4 œ 5 œ 5 2 2 1 œ US album of 2009.‰ The albumœ also won Swiftœ a cool œ œ ‰ œ œ œ œ œ Nevertheless, the track went on to achieve success & four Grammyœ awards, œamongst whichœ was the Album œ œ œ in the US charts where it peaked at a very respectable of the Year award for which she become the youngest number 5. This gave Swift her 5th consecutive top ten ever winner. single from her chart topping 3rd album, 1989. The w single was by no means her most successful in the Taylor Swift’s repertoire has now reached an w w w UK, peaking at only number 40 on the UK Singles ?impressive# w six studio albums, a feat only achieved w Chart. However, the album itself had great success [9] due to wlaunching her career at such a young age. in the UK and topped the chart on it’s first week of During her career she has received an impressive D release, thus becoming her second number one album number of awards, including an outstanding total of Em C in the UK. 10 Grammy’s (31 nominations). ‘Wildest Dreams’ became Swift’s 13th top ten hit in the US, a clear Taylor Swift was born and raised in Pennsylvania representation of her success in the industry. j Œ ‰ j œ œ œ œ œ œ but moved to Nashville at the young age of 14 in # œ ‰ Œ œ œ œ Œ œ search of a music career. She originated as a country & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Piano Grade 1 Grade Piano 19 w w ? # w w w LEARN MORE [13] w www.rslawards.com [email protected]

j œ œ œ œ œ œ # œ ‰ j œ Œ ‰ œ œ œ œ & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ w w w ? # w w w [17] w

j j j j Ó # œ Œ œ ‰ œ œ ‰ œ 5 œ4 œ.3 œ 2 œ 1. & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ w w w ? # w w w [21] w Wildest Dreams

Taylor Swi

= 140 Pop q C Em D # & 4 ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ p ? # w 4 w w w w

C Em D # j & ∑ ∑ ∑ Ó ‰ œ œ

? # w w w w [5] w w w

A C Em D # j j j 4 5 5 ‰ œ ‰ œ œ 2 2 1 ‰ j œ œ œ Œ ‰ & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

? # w w w w [9] w w w

C Em D # j œ ‰ Œ œ œ œ Œ Œ ‰ j œ & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

? # w w w w [13] w w w

# œ ‰ j œ Œ ‰ j œ œ & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ w ? # w w w w [17] w w w

# j j j œ Œ œ ‰ ‰ œ5 4 3 j2 Ó œ œ . 1 & œ œ œ œ SAMPLEœ œ œ œ œ œ œ. w ? # w w w w [21] w w w Piano Grade 1 Grade Piano Words & Music by Taylor Swi , Shellback & Max Martin © Copyright 2014 Taylor Swi Music/Sony/ATV Tree Publishing /MXM Music AB. 20 Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Limited/Kobalt Music Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured.

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piano Grade 2 Musical Skills and Features FREE CHOICE PIECE GUIDELINES | Grade 2

Recommended Maximum 1 min 10 secs–1 min 45 secs Duration Key Two sharps or flats (or fewer, but accidentals may occur within the piece)

Tempo 60-140 bpm

Time Signatures 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8

16th notes and rests, dotted 8th notes and syncopations, occasional 16th note syncopation, Rhythmic values non-complex triplet groupings. Simpler rhythms appear in conjunction with other elements (e.g. more detailed harmonic work)

Dynamics Simple dynamics [P, F, MP, MF], crescendo (<) and diminuendo (>)

Articulation & Frequent changes in articulation and phrasing, slurs and simple use of staccato/accented Phrasing articulation may occur.

Melodic features Greater intervallic transitions and more frequent accidentals may occur

Two-note chords in one hand, occasional three-note chords, four-note chords will generally be Harmonic features spread across both hands

Rhythmic features Rhythmic groupings may differ more frequently between hands

Keyboard Single patch settings with basic variety of sounds [e.g. electric piano, organ, pad] Features (Keys Basic layering of sounds (e.g. piano/pad) Syllabus only)

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RSL Piano & Keys 2019 FREE CHOICE PIECE GUIDELINES | Grade 2 Rockschool Grade Pieces ‘Thinking Out Loud’ Ed Sheeran

Thinking Out Loud

SONG TITLE: THINKING OUT LOUD ALBUM: X LABEL: ASYLUM / ATLANTIC 79 = Pop 7 GENRE: BLUE EYED SOUL / POP A q G A D D/F# WRITTEN BY: ED SHEERAN, AMY WADGE AND JULIAN WILLIAMS # PRODUCED BY: JAKE GOSLING 4 œ œ & # 4 Œ ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙. UK CHART PEAK: 1 P œ. j œ œ. œ ˙ œ ? ## 4 œ. J œ D D/F# # Œ ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ‘Thinking Out Loud’ was released as a single in #His 2017Œ album ‘÷‰’ had, at oneœ time,œ a recordœ 10 September 2014 and reached the no.2 spot on the & singles in the UK Singles Chartœ œ œ œ w Billboard Hot 100 subsequently spending a year in the Top Forty. It reached no.1 in many countries Sheeran was born in West Yorkshire in 1991 and . œ ˙ across the world and by 2015 it had reached half a raised in Suffolk. He dropped out of school aged 16 œ œ. œ ˙ billion streams on Spotify and over 2 billion views to pursueœ a .career in music andœ moved˙ to London. œ. j œ J on YouTube. The song won two Grammy Awards, ? His# independentœ. releases caught the attention of . œ œ for Best Pop Solo Performance and Song Of The [3] Elton# John and Jamie Foxx, andJ he signed to Asylum œ 7 Year respectively. records in 2011. He is one of today’s most popular and G A commercially successful artists. 7 D D/F ‘Thinking Out Loud’ was written in partnership G A # with long-time collaborator Amy Wadge, who Sheeran is an outspoken artist, not afraid of making œ œ Sheeran has worked with since 2007. They also his political and social views known, and he remains ‰ collaborated on the 2017 single ‘Shape Of You’, a an# accessible and down to earth character. He is an Œ ‰ œ œ œ massive worldwide success. ‘Thinking Out Loud’ is actor,# and had cameos in Game of Thrones, Home and œ œ œ œ ˙. a romantic ballad and its lyrics reflect the feeling of &Away andœ The Simpsonsœ . œ ˙. getting older and how love and fidelity are impacted œ by it. Sheeran has defined the song as a ‘walking down With only three albums to his name to date, j the aisle song’. The song’s similarities with Marvin Ed Sheeran has already had an immensely œ. œ ˙ œ. œ ˙ Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’ brought claims of plagiarism successful œcareer.. j œ œ. œ ˙ that were later withdrawn. ‘Thinking Out Loud’ has ? # J sold in excess of 10 million copies worldwide. [6] # œ œ 7 D D/F G A # Ed Sheeran’s meteoric rise to fame has been the D D/F result of a highly productive work ethic. He performs # relentlessly to this day, as a solo acoustic artist, to œ œ . thousands of fans worldwide. œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ ‰ Ó # œ. j œ œ J & # œ œ Piano Grade 2 Grade Piano œ ˙ 7 œ. œ ˙ œ. œ ˙ . œ ˙ œ. œ ˙ œ. œ ˙ ? # œ. œ ˙ J J LEARN MORE [9] # J 7 www.rslawards.com [email protected] G A 7 D D/F G A # œ œ œ. j œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ # œ œ œ œ œ œ J & # Ó Œ œ ˙ œ œ œ. œ ˙ œ. œ ˙ œ. œ œ œ. œ ˙ œ. J ? # œ. J Œ œ. J [12] # 7 G A D D/F# œ œ œ œ œ Œ # w œ & # œ œ ˙ œ. œ œ œ. œ ˙ œ. J Œ ? # œ. œ ˙ [15] # J inking Out Loud

Ed Sheeran

= 79 Pop A q 7 D D/F# G A # 4 & # 4 Œ ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙. P ? # 4 œ. œ ˙ œ. j œ # 4 œ. J œ œ

D D/F# # # Œ ‰ œ œ œ Œ ‰ œ œ œ & œ œ œ œ w œ œ œ œ œ. œ ˙ œ. œ ˙ ? ## œ. œ ˙ œ. j œ œ. œ ˙ [3] J œ. œ œ J

7 7 G A D D/F# G A ## œ œ & Œ ‰ œ œ œ œ ‰ œ œ œ œ ˙. œ œ œ ˙. œ. œ ˙ j ? # œ. j œ œ. œ ˙ œ. œ ˙ [6] # œ œ J œ ˙

7 D D/F# G A D D/F# # œ. j œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. & # œ œ J ‰ Ó . œ ˙ œ. œ ˙ . œ ˙ ? # œ. œ ˙ œ. œ ˙ œ. œ ˙ [9] # J J J

7 7 G A D D/F# G A # œ œ œ œ. j œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ & # Ó Œ œ œ J

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7 D D/F# G A # œ œ œ œ & # w œ œ Œ œ. SAMPLEœ ˙ œ. œ œ . œ. œ œ ? # œ. œ ˙ œ. Œ [15] # J J Piano Grade 2 Grade Piano Words & Music by Ed Sheeran & Amy Wadge © Copyright 2014 Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Limited/BDi Music Limited. 8 All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured.

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piano Grade 3 Musical Skills and Features FREE CHOICE PIECE GUIDELINES | Grade 3

Duration 1 min 30 secs –2 mins

Key Three sharps or flats (or fewer, but accidentals may occur within the piece)

Tempo 60-150 bpm

Time Signatures 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8

16th notes and rests in more complex groupings, 16th note syncopation, more frequent triplet Rhythmic values groupings. Simpler rhythms appear in conjunction with other elements (e.g. more detailed harmonic work)

Dynamics [P, F, MP, MF], crescendo (<) and diminuendo (>)

Articulation & Articulation and phrasing will have variety and may differ between hands at simultaneous points Phrasing Greater intervallic transitions may appear spanning over an octave, and more frequent Melodic Features accidentals may occur Harmonic Four note chords may appear in either hand Features

Rhythmic Features Rhythmic groupings may differ more frequently between hands or occur simultaneously

Melody and accompaniment voicings may appear in one hand; musical passages may spread Other Features between both hands

Keyboard Single patch settings with basic variety of sounds [e.g. electric piano, organ, pad] Features (Keys Basic layering of sounds (e.g. piano/pad) Syllabus only)

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RSL Piano & Keys 2019 FREE CHOICE PIECE GUIDELINES | Grade 3 ‘Don’t Know Why’ Norah Jones

Don’t Know Why

SONG TITLE: DON’T KNOW WHY ALBUM: COME AWAY WITH ME / 2002 LABEL: FAVORED NATIONS = 90 Jazz/Country/Pop 7 9 4 7 7 C F sus GENRE: POP/JAZZ q 7 D Gm B maj7 B E WRITTEN BY: JESSE HARRIS b b b GUITAR: JASON ROBERTS j j j j AND NORAH JONES b j œ œ œ PRODUCER: NORAH JONES, 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ & b 4 œ bœ œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ n œ œ nœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. ARIF MARDIN AND œ œ œ œ œ œ œ JAY NEWLAND P Œ ‰ j nœ œ. j j œ œ œ 4 w bœ œ. œ œ. œ œ. œ œ œ ? bb 4 w J œ œ. œ œ

7 9sus4 B A m7 C F 7 E Daug G b j7 B ‘Don’t Know Why’ was featured in Norah Jones’ JonesBbm hasa released sixb studio albums to date. She b 2002 Platinum release, Come Away With Me. e is a versatile and curious artist and has taken part track was well received in the US where it peaked in a variety of other projects. Thesej include singing ‰ j j at number 30 in the Billboard chart, and the album inbb Herbie‰ Hancock’sœ version of ‘Court and Spark’j by œ œ œ œ œ is her most successful to date having spent four & Joni Mitchell, co-writingœ œ withœ Ryan œAdams, playing œ œ œ œ œ œ consecutive weeks at the top of the UK album chart. piano and singing in ‘Victoria Moon’ by the Fooœ œ . œ œ œ Fighters, and being in the alternative country band The single won Grammy awards for Record of The For the Good Times. For her fifth studio album, Little bœ œ. œ Year, Song of The Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Broken Hearts, Jones teamedbœ upœ with DJ andœ producer œ. #œ œ œ œ. nœ œ œ œ Performance. ‘Don’t Know Why’ was written by Jesse ? Danger Mouse. Jones also recorded a Christmas duet œ. œ œ . œ œ. Harris and has been covered by numerous artists as a withb Cyndi. Lauper. She hasœ touredœ extensively to œ J n J [5] b œ J result of Norah Jones’ recording success. promote each of her records.J Norah Jones was born in 1979 in Brooklyn, New York. She is the daughter of Indian sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar and Sue Jones, an American concert 4 7 7 F9sus B producer. She started singing at junior school and Gm C b 7 7 E Daug by high school had won Down Beat Student Music B maj B b award for Best Vocalist and Best Composition. She b b attended The University of North Texas (UNT) where ‰ j j she majored in piano. During this time she met Jesse b ‰ j j œ œ Harris, with whom she started a band in 1999 after b œ œ œ œ ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ moving to New York City. Jones was signed to Blue & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Note Records after presenting a three track demo, œ including two standards and a song by Harris. bœ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ œ œ. #œ œ œ nœ œ œ œ œ ? b œ. œ œ J œ. J nœ œ [9] b J Piano Grade 3 Grade Piano 17 7 9 4 B Gm7 C F sus 7 E Daug b aj7 B LEARN MORE %Bbm b b www.rslawards.com [email protected] b j j œ b ‰ œ œ œ œ ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ œ œ œ œ. bœ œ œ œ. #œ œ œ. nœ œ œ œ œ ? b œ. œ œ J nœ #œ œ. J nœ œ [13] b J To Coda 7 F9sus4 B Gm7 C 7 7 E Daug b B maj Bb b b ‰ b j j j j j j b ‰ œ œ œ œ ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ œ. bœ œ œ œ. #œ œ œ. nœ œ œ œ œ ? b œ. œ œ J nœ #œ œ. J œ [17] b J œ Don’t Know Why

Norah Jones

= 90 Jazz/Country/Pop q 7 7 7 7 7 9 4 Bbmaj Bb Eb D Gm C F sus b 4 j j & b 4 œ œ bœ œ œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ nœ œ œ j j j œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ nœ œ œ bœ œ œ œ œ. P Œ ‰ j bœ œ. nœ œ. j j ? b 4 w œ. œ œ. œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ b 4 w J œ œ. œ œ

A 7 7 7 7 9 4 Bbmaj Bb Eb Daug Gm C F sus Bb b b ‰ œ j j ‰ j j & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ . œ œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ ? b œ. #œ œ œ œ. nœ œ bœ œ. œ [5] b œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ J J œ. J nœ œ. J

7 7 7 7 9 4 Bbmaj Bb Eb Daug Gm C F sus Bb b b ‰ œ ‰ j j ‰ j j & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ ? b œ œ. #œ œ œ nœ œ bœ œ œ œ œ [9] b œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ J J œ. J nœ œ œ

7 7 7 7 9 4 %Bbmaj Bb Eb Daug Gm C F sus Bb b b ‰ œ ‰ j j & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ ? b œ. œ. #œ œ œ. nœ œ bœ œ œ œ œ œ [13] b œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ J J nœ #œ œ. J nœ œ

To Coda 7 7 7 7 9 4 Bbmaj Bb Eb Daug Gm C F sus Bb b b ‰ œ ‰ j j j j j ‰ j & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ SAMPLEœ œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ ? b œ. œ. #œ œ œ. nœ œ œ bœ œ œ [17] b œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ J J nœ #œ œ. J œ œ Piano Grade 3 Grade Piano œ Words & Music by Jesse Harris © Copyright 2002 Beanly Songs/Sony/ATV Songs LLC. 18 Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Limited. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured.

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piano Grade 4 Musical Skills and Features FREE CHOICE PIECE GUIDELINES | Grade 4

Duration 1 min 45 secs–2 min 15 secs

Four sharps or flats (or fewer, but accidentals may occur within the piece) Key There may be very occasional, simple key changes

Tempo 60-150 bpm

Time Signatures 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8. There may be very infrequent, simple time signature changes

16th notes and rests in more complex groupings, occasional 32nd notes, 16th note syncopation. Rhythmic values Simpler rhythms appear in conjunction with other elements (e.g. more detailed harmonic work)

Dynamics [P, F, MP, MF], crescendo (<) and diminuendo (>)

Articulation & Articulation and phrasing will have variety and may differ between hands at simultaneous points Phrasing

Melodic Features Intervallic transitions may span over an octave and frequent accidentals may occur

Harmonic Five note chords may appear in either hand, and partial chords may be combined with melodic Features elements

Rhythmic Features Rhythmic groupings may differ more frequently between hands or occur simultaneously

Other Features Variety in voicings and accompaniment styles within sections

Keyboard Patch settings will include layers and splits Features (Keys Sound manipulation may include applying effects [e.g. vibrato/rotary effect] Syllabus Only)

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RSL Piano & Keys 2019 FREE CHOICE PIECE GUIDELINES | Grade 4 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

SONG TITLE: ‘GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD’ ALBUM: GOODBYE YELLOW s BRICK ROAD = 122 Rock/Pop q RELEASED: 1973 F C/E LABEL: MCA/DJM GENRE: SOFT ROCK/GLAM ROCK WRITTEN BY: ELTON JOHN/ & b C ˙ ˙ BERNIE TAUPIN ˙ ˙ PRODUCED BY: GUS DUDGEON UK CHART PEAK: 6 F ˙ ˙ ? b C

‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ was the second single where it stayed for eight weeks. In 2003 the album to be released from Elton John’s seventh studio album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and was of the same name. The single hit the charts in 1973 ranked number 91 on Rolling Stone magazine’s ‘The and quickly surpassed the success of his previous 500 Greatest Albums of all Time’ list. With sales of single ‘Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting’, making over 8 million copies in the US, the iconic album is it to the top ten in both the UK and US singles charts. now certified 8xPlatinum. By January 1974 the song had reached gold status in the US, only to be re-certified as platinum in 1995. Elton John and Bernie Taupin are one of the most successful writing teams of the 20th Century, With Elton John writing the music and Bernie their work includes smash hits ‘Candle in the Taupin the lyrics, the song was sure to be a Wind’, ‘Bennie and the Jets’ and ‘Crocodile Rock’ commercial hit. Taupin’s lyrics are inspired by the to name just a few. Their working partnership is classic story of ‘The Wizard of Oz’. The 1939 adaption highly regarded in the music industry, with many was the first film Taupin ever saw and so its plot fans thriving to know more about the pair. Taupin remained somewhat nostalgic to the writer. John has published several books about his time working sings of wanting to return to his roots and to a simpler with Elton, including ‘Bernie Taupin: The One Who time, similar to the character of Dorothy who follows Writes the Words for Elton John’ which is actually a the yellow brick road in her quest to get back home. collection of all of his work for the album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. The duo received excellent reviews for their latest hit, with many claiming that it was John’s best release yet. Allmusic described the track as a “vocal triumph” and a “pinnacle of its style”, with other music critics praising it for its delicacy and beauty. The album on which the song features, also named Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, was also met by critical acclaim and is regarded as John’s most successful and recognisable work. On its release in 1993 it entered the US album chart at number 17, before climbing to the top spot Piano Grade 4 Grade Piano 23

LEARN MORE www.rslawards.com [email protected] Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Elton John

s = 122 Rock/Pop q 7 7 F C/E Dm Dm /C Bb F/C C/E F b C ˙ j & ˙ ˙ ˙˙ ˙˙ œ. j œ œ. œ. j œ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ œ. œ œ. œ. œ œ F œ œ ˙ j ? C ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ œ ˙ ˙ b ˙ œ. w

A 7 7 7 Gm Gm /Bb C C/E F F/A & b j j œÓ j j œ œ œ œœ˙. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ J œ ˙œ œ œ œ. œ P J J ? ˙ [5] b ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙

7 Bb Bb/F Eb Eb/Bb C C /E j b ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ. j œ & œ j œ œ bœ œ œ œ nœ œ. œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ ◊ ? ˙ [8] b ˙ ˙ b˙ ˙ n˙

7 7 F Gm Gm /Bb œ j & b œ œ ‰ j œ œ j œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ (◊) SAMPLEJ J ? ˙. œ ˙ ˙ [11] b w w ˙ ˙ Piano Grade 4 Grade Piano Words by Bernie Taupin Music by Elton John 24 © Copyright 1973 Universal/Dick James Music Limited. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured.

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piano Grade 5 Musical Skills and Features FREE CHOICE PIECE GUIDELINES | Grade 5

Duration 2 mins–2 mins 45 secs

Five sharps or flats (or fewer, but accidentals may occur within the piece) Key There may be occasional key centre changes

Tempo 60-160 bpm

Time Signatures 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8. There may be occasional time signature changes

16th notes and rests in more complex groupings, occasional 32nd notes, 16th note Rhythmic values syncopation. Simpler rhythms appear in conjunction with other elements (e.g. more detailed harmonic work)

Dynamics [P, F, MP, MF], crescendo (<) and diminuendo (>)

Articulation & Articulation and phrasing will have variety and may differ between hands at simultaneous Phrasing points. More subtlety of control between legato and staccato will likely be required

Melodic Features Intervallic transitions over an octave may be regular, and frequent accidentals may occur

Harmonic Five note chords may appear in either hand, and partial chords may be combined with melodic Features elements. Chordal cluster voicings may be more advanced or more frequent

Rhythmic groupings may differ frequently between hands and occur simultaneously; faster Rhythmic Features note values may be more repetitive/continuous

Other Features Variety in voicings and accompaniment styles within sections

Keyboard Patch settings will include layers and/or splits Features (Keys Sound manipulation may include applying effects [e.g. vibrato/rotary effect] Syllabus only)

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RSL Piano & Keys 2019 FREE CHOICE PIECE GUIDELINES | Grade 5 Life On Mars?

SONG TITLE: LIFE ON MARS ALBUM: HUNKY DORY RELEASED: 1973 = 60 Pop/Rock LABEL: RCA q F F/E GENRE: ROCK VOCALS: DAVID BOWIE PIANO: RICK WAKEMAN 4 œ GUITARS: MICK RONSON b 4 œ. œ œ œ. BASS: TREVOR BOLDER & œ œ DRUMS: MICK WOODMANSEY MELLOTRON F & STRING ? 4 ARRANGEMENT: MICK RONSON b 4 WRITTEN BY: DAVID BOWIE ˙ ˙ Gm/F PRODUCED BY: KEN SCOTT UK CHART PEAK: 3 œ œ œ œ œ œ The song was released in 1973 as a single from the David Bowie has often been described as one of 1971 album Hunky Dory (Bowie’s fourth album) and the most influential British rock stars due to his stayed in the UK charts for thirteen weeks, peaking innovative ideas. He had an interest in embodying at No.3. The Daily Telegraphed ranked the hit at the different personae (such as Ziggy Stardust) and top of their ‘Greatest Hits of All Time’ list and in 2016 the idea of telling cinematic stories. The selection online music magazine Pitchfork titled it the best song of artists he gathered to play on this album and of the 1970s. The track featured progressive rock band the producter, Ken Scott would all become part Yes’ Rick Wakeman on guest piano. of the Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars phase. Bowie felt Hunky Dory was one of the most The song was allegedly written as a parody of Frank important albums in his career, stating: “It was like: Sinatra’s ‘My Way’, with the liner notes of Bowie’s song I’m finding my feet. I’m starting to communicate reading: ‘inspired by Frankie’. Bowie has referred to what I want to do”. the song as “my kind of modern take on ‘My Way’”; although he often provides different explanations as David Bowie sadly passed away on the 10th January to the song’s meaning. He has been known to describe 2016. A leading figure in the music industry, Bowie it as relationship: “you fall in love, you write a love was regarded as one of the most influential musicians song. This is a love song”. Although he had previously of the 20th century. His successes include an said that is was about a young girl struggling with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, eleven reality: “she’s being told there’s a far greater life number 1 UK albums, five UK number 1 singles, somewhere and she’s bitterly disappointed she doesn’t five Grammy awards and four Ivor Novello awards. have access to it”. These accomplishments only scratch the surface of his career, but the list is simply too long to cover in full. Bowie himself said that he composed the song at the piano and “had the whole lyric and melody finished by late afternoon”. Rick Wakeman embellished Bowie’s original piano parts and Mick Ronson created a string arrangement that layered over this. Piano Grade 5 Grade Piano 33

LEARN MORE www.rslawards.com [email protected] Life On Mars?

David Bowie

= 60 Pop/Rock q 7 F F/E F/Eb D b 4 œ. œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ & 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ F ? b 4 ˙ ˙ b˙ Gm Gm/F C7 ˙ œ œ. œ œ œ œ. œ & b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ? ˙ ˙ [3] b ˙ ˙ 7 4 7 F F/E F /Eb Dsus D b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ & œ. œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ œ œ œ#œ œ. œ ? [5] b ˙ ˙ b˙ ˙ G˙m Gm/F C7

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ & b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ nœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ? œ œ œ œ [7] b œ ˙ ˙ 4 Ab/Eb Caug/E Fm Ab/Gb Absus /Gb

b œ. œ œ bœ nœ. œ œ œ bœ. œ œ œ œ œ b œ œ & bœ. œ œ œ œ n œ. œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œbœ bœ œ œ

? bœ Œ nœ Œ œ Œ bœ Œ [9] b bœ nœ œ bœ Db Faug/A Bbm Bbm/Cb poco rall. 3 b b bœ bœ œ œ œ b & œ œ bœ œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ SAMPLEœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ? bœ œ bœ œ b [11] b ˙ œ œ b˙ b

Piano Grade 5 Grade Piano bœ œ b˙ ˙ Words & Music by David Bowieœ œ © Copyright 1971 (Renewed 1999) Tintoretto Music 34 RZO Music Limited/EMI Music Publishing Limited/Chrysalis Music Limited, a BMG Company. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured.

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piano Grade 6 Musical Skills and Features FREE CHOICE PIECE GUIDELINES | Grade 6

Duration 2 min 15 secs–3 mins

Six sharps or flats (or fewer, but accidentals may occur within the piece) Key There may be key centre changes

Tempo 50-200 bpm

4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8. There may be more regular time signature changes, or occasional Time Signatures irregular time signatures

16th notes and rests in more complex groupings, 16th note triplets, 32nd notes and frequent Rhythmic values syncopation may occur. Simpler rhythms will appear in conjunction with other elements (e.g. more detailed harmonic work)

Dynamics [PP, F, MP, MF, FF], crescendo (<) and diminuendo (>)

Articulation & Articulation and phrasing will have variety and may differ between hands at simultaneous Phrasing points.

Melodic Features Notated solos may feature. Intervallic passages and transitions may exceed an octave

Harmonic Five note chords may appear in either hand, and partial chords may be combined with melodic Features elements. Chordal cluster voicings may be more advanced, denser and/or more frequent

Rhythmic groupings may differ frequently between hands and occur simultaneously; faster Rhythmic Features note values may be more repetitive/continuous

Other Features Variety in voicings and accompaniment styles within sections

Keyboard Patch settings will include multiple layers and splits, and switching to alternative settings in Features (Keys performance Syllabus Only) Sound manipulation may include applying effects, pitch wheel, modulation

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RSL Piano & Keys 2019 FREE CHOICE PIECE GUIDELINES | Grade 6 ‘Africa’ Toto

Africa

SONG TITLE: ‘AFRICA’ ALBUM: TOTO IV RELEASED: 1982 93 LABEL: COLUMBIA = Rock 7 7 q Gm C m GENRE: SOFT ROCK/JAZZ FUSION A # WRITTEN BY: DAVID PAICH/ JEFF PORCARO # ## 4 . œ œ PRODUCED BY: TOTO & # # 4 . œœ œœ œ œ UK CHART PEAK: 3 œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ nœ. œ œ œ œ œ P ? # # 4 . œ œ œ œ # ## 4 . w œ œ œ œ nœ. œ œ 7 Gm7 C m A # œ . # ## . œ œ œ ‘Africa’ was the third single to be released from & synthesiser# # and playing the same rhythm but layered œ œœ œœ. œ Toto’s fourth studio album, Toto IV, and is their most to create a largerœ sound.. On œrecording Paichœ and the œ œ œ œœ œ œ . œ œ. successful hit to date. Written by founding members, rest of the bandnœ worked. hardœ to create a realisticœ feel, œ œ œ David Paich and Jeff Porcaro, the single topped the including a longœ percussion. sessionœ which resulted . US Billboard chart and peaked at number 3 in the in a# two bar loop being chosen as the final beat. œ œ œ œ UK, making it their first US number 1 and their first ? #Knowing# that a drum computer could have created UK top 5. The song also topped the charts in Canada [3] the# sound# within five minutes, they took the longer and made it to the top ten in Australia, Austria, option feeling that a live loop would be more effective. œ w Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and . œ œ œ œ œ 7 B/F A nœ 7 G m # Switzerland; making it a worldwide success. In 2018 AmericanB rock band Weezer covered Toto’sD m # hit and sent ‘Africa’ back in to the charts. The cover # Paich was inspired to write the song after having gave Weezer their first Hot 100 hit since 2009 and 6 seen a late-night documentary about the poverty increased popularity in Toto’s original once again. Originally# certified gold in 1991, the song’s fame grew . œ 4 and suffering in many parts of Africa. He admits that ## # . j œ œ œ œ . œ œ œ. œ œ having never been to the continent his portrayal was over the #years. having‰ featuredœ on severalœ TV œseriesœ as œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. nœ purely based on the media, but that he was so shocked& well as with Weezer’sœ adaption and wasœ. re-certified œ4 x œ œ œ œ by what he had seen that he wanted to write a song Platinum in 2018. œ œ about the subject. The writing duo describe the hit as ‘a man’s love of a continent’, detailing that the main œ Œ œ œ 6 story follows a character flying in to Africa to meet a # œ œ 4 missionary. Having attending a Catholic school, Paich ? # # . œ œ œ met several missionaries throughout his education [5] # # Play 3 times and was inspired by their generosity and selflessness. C m7 G m7 A # The song’s well recognised opening is played on A/E E/F # a Yamaha synthesiser, with Paich using a marimba # sound to create an authentic sound. The recording 4 . also features six Kalimba tracks (a traditional # # 4 œ African instrument) all created on the same Yamaha # # 6 œ & # 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ nœ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ 6 Grade Piano œ œ œ œ. nœ œ. œ œ. œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ . œ œ. 13 œ œ 4 . ? # # 6 œ Œ œ 4 LEARN MORE # # Œ œ œ www.rslawards.com [email protected] [7] # 4 . œ œ œ œ œ G m7 nœ B/F D m7 œ # B # # j œ. œ œ œ œ œ # # œ œ œ œ œ œ œ # # ‰ j œ œ œ œ œ. & # œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ œ œ ? # ## œ œ œ œ [9] # 7 # G m7 C m A # # # # nn # # ## œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ ww & # # nœ. œ œ Œ œ œ œœ ww # # nœ. œ œ œ œ œ œ w œ œ œ œ nn # ? # ## œ. œ œ œ œ œ [11] # # Œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Africa

Toto

= 93 Rock q 7 7 A Gm C#m # ## & # # 4 . œ. œ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œ œ œ nœ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ P ? # ## 4 . # # 4 . œ œ œ œ nœ. œ œ œ œ œ w 7 7 œ A Gm C#m #### . & # œ œ . œ. œ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ. œ œ nœ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ . œ œ. ? #### œ œ œ œ . [3] # œ w A nœ. œ œ œ œ 7 œ 7 B D#m G#m B/F# # # # ## . ‰ j œ œ . 6 & œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ. œ œ 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. nœ œ œ œ ? #### . œ œ Œ œ 6 [5] # œ œ 4 Play 3 times 7 7 A/E E/F# G#m A C#m # ## 6 4 & # # 4 œ 4 . œ. œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ. nœ œ. œ œ. œ œ œ œ nœ. œ œ œ œ œ œ # ? ## # 6 Œ œ Œ œ 4 . [7] # 4 œ 4 . œ m7 œ m7 nœ œ œ œ œ œ B D# G# B/F# j # # œ œ œ œ. # ## ‰ j œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ & œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ ? #### œ œ Œ œ œ [9] # 7 7 œ œ A G#m C#m # # ## # œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ w n ## & # nœ. œ œ Œ œœ w n œ. œ œ œ œ œ œœ ww ? # # nœ. SAMPLEœ œ œ œ œ œ w # # # œ n [11] # # œ œ œ œ n # Œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

Piano Grade 6 Grade Piano Words & Music by Je Porcaro & David Paich © Copyright 1982 Hudmar Publishing Company Incorporated/Rising Storm Music. 14 Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Limited/Kobalt Music Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured.

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pianoFREE CHOICE Grade PIECE7 Musical GUIDELINES Skills | andGrade Features 7

Duration 2 mins 30 secs–3 mins 30 secs

Seven sharps or flats (or fewer, but accidentals may occur within the piece) Key There may be more frequent key centre changes

Tempo 50-200 bpm

Time Signatures Any, with changes

Any, up to 32nd notes. Complex combinations beyond 16th note triplets will not be frequent, but variations may occur regularly. Rhythmic values Simpler rhythms will appear in conjunction with other elements (e.g. more detailed harmonic work, faster tempos or more complex time signatures)

Dynamics Any, with changes, and including strong contrasts

Articulation & Articulation and phrasing will have variety and may differ between hands at simultaneous Phrasing points. Subtlety of control between legato and staccato will be required Developing notated solos may feature. Intervallic passages and transitions may frequently Melodic Features exceed an octave. Harmonic Five note chords may appear in either hand, and partial chords may be combined with melodic Features elements. Chordal cluster voicings may be more advanced, denser and/or more frequent

Rhythmic groupings may differ frequently between hands and occur simultaneously; faster Rhythmic Features note values will be more repetitive/continuous and combine in both hands

Other Features Voicings and accompaniment styles within sections will show depth and variety of technique

LEARN MORE www.rslawards.com [email protected]

RSL Piano & Keys 2019 FREE CHOICE PIECE GUIDELINES | Grade 7 I Got The News

SONG TITLE: ‘I GOT THE NEWS’ ALBUM: AJA RELEASED: 1977 LABEL: ABC 118 Rock/Jazz q = GENRE: JAZZ ROCK C7b9 WRITTEN BY: DONALD FAGEN/ WALTER BECKER 4 Ó PRODUCED BY: GARY KATZ & 4 UK CHART PEAK: N/A F ? 4 . 4 r ‰ œ ‰ œ œ

Steely Dan’s song ‘I Got the News’ features on their ‘I Got the News’ features piano by Victor Feldman, sixth studio album Aja, released in 1977 on ABC a British Jazz musician known for his work with Records. Although the song was never released as the Ronnie Scott’s orchestra and quintet before a single it was met with high regard along with the emigrating to the US to further his career. By rest of the album, which received excellent reviews 1957 Feldman had settled in Los Angeles and was among the jazz rock community. Peaking at number specialising in rewarding session work for the US film 3 in the US and number 5 in the UK album charts, and recording industry. Some of his most notable the release was the band’s most successful to date session work includes appearances on albums for and gave them their first platinum album, going on Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa, Joe Walsh and of course to sell over 5 million copies. Aja produced hit singles Steely Dan. His vibraphone skills feature heavily on such as ‘Peg’, ‘Deacon Blues’ and ‘Josie’ and in 1977 the Grammy Award winning The Music from Peter it was nominated for Best Engineered Non-Classical Gunn, the 1959 album by legendary jazz musician and Recording at the Grammy Awards ceremony. composer Henry Mancini.

Steely Dan were praised for the recording In 2001 Steely Dan had their first Grammy success and production of this album, pushing their winning three awards, taking Album for the Year for experimentation into jazz rock even further with Two Against Nature, Best Pop Vocal Album for the over 40 musicians being credited in the recording. same release and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Music critic Andy Gill described the album as true Group With Vocal for their single ‘Cousin Dupree’. blend of jazz and pop/rock music, stating “it wasn’t Guitarist, vocalist and co-writer Walter Becker sadly rock or pop music with ideas above its station, and it died on September 3, 2017, but Donald Fagen made a wasn’t jazzer’s slumming…it was a very well-forged promise to “keep the music we created together alive alloy of the two – you couldn’t separate the pop music as long as I can with the Steely Dan band”. from the jazz in their music”. In 2003 the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and was ranked number 145 on the Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of ‘The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time’. Piano Grade 7 Grade Piano 43

LEARN MORE www.rslawards.com [email protected] I Got The News

Steely Dan

118 Rock/Jazz q = C7b9 j œ œ. ˙ œ. 4 bœ. ˙ œ. œ œ bœ & 4 Ó ‰ b œ. ˙ œ. œ œ nœ F ? 4 4 r ‰. ‰ œ Ó r ‰. ‰ œ Ó œ œ œ œ

C13 œ bœ œ œ. œ œ œ w & œ. bœ œ œ Ó Œ ≈ œ w nœ. bœ œ œ

? ∑ & Œ ‰. bœœ œœ œœ. ≈ bw [3] œ œ œ . ww R J.

3 3 3 3 3 3 œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ & œ œœbœ œ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ œ. w ‰ 3 . 3 p 3 3 3 3 3 & œœ œ œ œ œ œ. w [6] œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ . ww

A 7 7 6 7 7 9 7 G /C Fmaj /C G /C Cmaj Bbmaj /C Cm Cmaj œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ j œ œ & œ œ œ œ ‰ œ œ œ œ œ. Œ F r r & œ œ. . Œ Œ ‰ ‰ œ ≈ ≈ ‰ [9] œ œ. œ ˙ œ œ. œœ œœ œœ œ bœœ nœœ œ œ. œ ˙ œ œ. œœ œœ œ bœœ n œ

7 7 7 6 Bbmaj /C G /C Fmaj /C G /C œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ j & ∑ œ œ œ œ ‰ œ

& r ‰. Œ SAMPLEÓ Œ œ œ. . [12] œ œ œ. œ ˙ œ œ. œœ œœ bœœ nœ œ. œ ˙ œ œ. œœ œœ Piano Grade 7 Grade Piano Words & Music by Donald Fagen & Walter Becker © Copyright 1977 Music Corporation Of America Inc. 44 Universal/MCA Music Limited. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured.

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piano Grade 8 Musical Skills and Features FREE CHOICE PIECE GUIDELINES | Grade 8

Duration 2 mins 30 secs – 3 mins 45 secs

Key Any, with changes

Tempo 50-200 bpm

Time Signatures Any, with changes

Any. Complex combinations beyond 16th note triplets may be frequent and variations may occur regularly. Rhythmic values Simpler rhythms will appear in conjunction with other elements (e.g. more detailed harmonic work, faster tempos or more complex time signatures)

Dynamics Any, with changes, and including strong contrasts

Articulation and phrasing will have wide variety and may differ between hands at Articulation & simultaneous points throughout. Subtlety of control between legato and staccato will be Phrasing required Advanced notated solos may feature. Intervallic passages and transitions may frequently Melodic Features exceed an octave. Five note chords may appear in either hand, and partial chords may be combined with melodic Harmonic elements. Chordal voicings may be more advanced, denser and/or more frequent, and differ Features regularly Rhythmic groupings may differ frequently between hands and occur simultaneously; faster Rhythmic Features note values will be more repetitive/continuous and combine in both hands

Voicings and accompaniment styles within sections will show advanced depth and variety of Other Features technique

LEARN MORE www.rslawards.com [email protected]

RSL Piano & Keys 2019 FREE CHOICE PIECE GUIDELINES | Grade 8 RSL Piano - Grade 8

‘End Credits’ From ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ (1982)

End Credits

SONG TITLE: ‘END CREDITS’ ALBUM: E.T. THE EXTRA- TERRESTRIAL: 140 Soundtrack MUSIC FROM THE A q = œ nœ ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ RELEASED: 1982 œ œ nœ œ œ œ œ œ œ 3 3 LABEL: MCA b b 4 œ œ 3 3 b 3 3 GENRE: CLASSICAL & b b 4 3 3 WRITTEN BY: JOHN WILLIAMS expressively PRODUCED BY: JOHN WILLIAMS/ P œ BRUCE BOTNICK œ œ œ œ œ œ UK CHART PEAK: N/A œ œ œ ? b b 4 œ œ œ b 4 œ cont. sim. b b œ œ °

This mesmerizing piece was written by award Not only a composer but also a conductor and winning film composer, John Williams, for the 1980s classical pianist, Williams began his musical career as blockbuster E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Another of a jazz pianist at a New York Jazz club whilst studying nœ nœ William’s beautiful scores, the soundtrack was extremely at Julliard. On finishing his education, he moved nœ nœ œ œ nœ œ well received and has been released in several different to Los Angelesœ where he began work as a session œ œ nœ œ formats. Firstly, in June 1982 a short eight track musician, most notably for Henrynœ Mancini. It was œ œ nœ œ œ soundtrack was released. In 1996 a longer soundtrack with Mancini that nWilliamsœ had his first œintroduction œ 3 b b œ nœ 3 3 3 3 was released, featuring a larger sample of the music tob musicb for film, featuring as a session musician on 3 from the film adaption, including the well known ‘End & one of bMancini’s scores.3 3 Credits’. For the 20th anniversary of the film’s release a slightly longer adaption of the soundtrack was released Williams went on to become one of the most well- nœ in 2002, and lastly in 2017 for the 35th anniversary of known names in film composition, with a career of nœ œ œ its release a full length (2 disc) soundtrack was released over six decades he has contributed an undeniable œ œ nœ featuring the full film score. amount to the sound of cinema today. He currentlynœ œ ? holdsb bthe record for most Oscar nominationsœ for a nœ [3] nœ John Williams is arguably one of the most livingb b personb (51) and nis œthe second most nominated successful film composers of all time. His scores person in history.nœ His long list of accolades includes for ‘Star Wars’, ‘Jaws’ and ‘E.T.’ are three of only five Oscars, three Emmy Awards, four Golden Globes, six films in history to win the Academy Award, seven BAFTAs and an incredible twenty-three Golden Globe and BAFTA for BEST Original Score Grammys. His score for E.T. remains one of his most in the same year. Widely known for his work with recognisable and has won him no less than four of the director Steven Spielberg, Williams has scored all above coveted awards. but three of Spielberg’s films and has seen some of his biggest success working with the director. Some of the duo’s best-known work includes Jurassic Park, #œ #œ #œ #œ #œ œ Indiana Jones, Schindler’s list and of course the #œ œ nœ œ œ aforementioned E.T. and Jaws. nœ #œ œ #œ #œ #œ #œ 3 3 b #œ œ œ œ 3 3 b b nœ #œ 3 & b b 3

3 3 8 Grade Piano 19 #œ #œ œ nœ œ œ #œ nœ œ #œ œ LEARN MORE ? b b œ nœ www.rslawards.com [email protected] [5] b nœ b b #œ #œ

#œ #œ #œ œ œ #œ œ nœ œ #œ œ œ nœ #œ œ nœ #œ œ # nœ #œ œ œ 3 b b nœ #œ 3 3 3 3 b 3 & b b 3 3 nœ nœ nœ nœ nœ œ nœ œ nœ ? b b nœ #œ nœ [7] b b b #œ nœ RSL Piano - Grade 8

End Credits

John Williams From ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ (1982)

A 140 Soundtrack q = œ nœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ b b 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ nœ œ œ œ b b 3 3 3 & b 4 3 3 3 3 3 expressively P œ œ ? b 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ b bbb 4 œ œ œ œ œ œcont. sim. °

nœ nœ œ nœ œ nœ œ nœ œ œ nœ œ bb b nœ œ œ nœ œ œ œ nœ œ nœ œ œ & b b 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

nœ œ nœ œ ? b b nœ œ nœ œ [3] b œ œ b b nœ nœ nœ nœ

#œ #œ #œ #œ nœ #œ œ #œ œ nœ #œ œ œ #œ œ bb b #œ nœ œ œ œ #œ #œ #œ & b b #œ 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

nœ #œ œ nœ #œ œ ? b b #œ œ #œ œ [5] b b nœ œ nœ œ b #œ #œ

#œ #œ nœ #œ œ #œ œ #œ nœ œ #œ œ b b #œ nœ œ #œ œ œ nœ #œ œ #œ œ nœ b b 3 3 & b 3 3 3 3 3 3 nœ nœ SAMPLEnœ nœ ? b b nœ nœ œ nœ nœ œ [7] b b b #œ nœ #œ nœ Piano Grade 8 Grade Piano Music by John Williams © Copyright 1982 USI B Music Publishing. 20 Universal/MCA Music Limited. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured.

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The interactive sheet music tool that works on any device. Available for Rockschool Guitar, Drums, Acoustic, Piano, Keys & Ukulele.

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