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Music Theory Syllabuses
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Debut
A syllabus for the contemporary musician
MASTER THEORY WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
At Popular Music Theory Debut, you'll begin learning all the music theory you need for your music career, whether you're a musician, a composer or a teacher. From sight reading to in-depth knowledge of scales and instrumental techniques, we've got you covered.
Key Features at Debut:
- Basic music notation, time signatures and note values
- Basic elements of popular music harmony
- Instrumental components and notation
- Ability to identify music notation, harmony and instrumental characteristics within a multi-instrumental score
About the exam
1
A syllabus for the contemporary musician
MASTER THEORY WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
Popular Music Theory Grade 1 will develop your music notation skills, help you identify intervals, familiarise you with other instruments and take a look at time signatures, then you'll put your knowledge to the test in your grade exam.
Key Features at Grade 1:
- Basic music notation, time signatures and note values
- Basic elements of popular music harmony
- Instrumental components and notation
- Ability to identify music notation, harmony and instrumental characteristics within a multi-instrumental score
About the exam
2
A syllabus for the contemporary musician
MASTER THEORY WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
At Popular Music Theory Grade 2, you'll improve your music notation while learning to identify scales and arpeggios. You'll also learn the pitch ranges, and how to write music for the different instruments in modern rock and pop band line-ups.
Key Features at Grade 2:
- Basic music notation, time signatures and note values
- Basic elements of popular music harmony
- Instrumental components and notation
- Ability to identify music notation, harmony and instrumental characteristics within a multi-instrumental score
About the exam
3
A syllabus for the contemporary musician
MASTER THEORY WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
The Popular Music Theory Grade 3 exam will test your increasingly sophisticated understanding of music notation and theory with a thorough look at time signatures, scale intervals, and working with different tempos.
Key Features at Grade 3:
- Sophisticated music notation, time signatures and note values
- Sophisticated elements of popular music harmony
- Instrumental components and notation
- Music notation modification, harmony, stylistic traits and instrumental characteristics
- Score interpretation to make appropriate harmony choices for improvised music and interpret improvisational directions
About the exam
4
A syllabus for the contemporary musician
MASTER THEORY WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
At Popular Music Theory Grade 4, you'll learn how to notate different rhythmic values, time signatures and how to indicate dynamics and articulation in a piece. You'll also work on scores with up to four instruments.
Key Features at Grade 4:
- Intricate music notation, time signatures and note values
- Intricate elements of popular music harmony
- Instrumental components and notation
- How to analyse, identify and modify music notation, harmony, stylistic traits and instrumental characteristics within a multi-instrumental score
- How to interpret a score to make appropriate harmony choices for improvised music and interpret improvisational directions
About the exam
5
A syllabus for the contemporary musician
MASTER THEORY WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
For Popular Music Theory Grade 5, you'll learn the unique instrumental techniques and technology exclusive to various popular music genres, and continue to make headway with harmony, notation and theory.
Key Features at Grade 5:
- Intricate music notation, time signatures and note values
- Intricate elements of popular music harmony
- Instrumental components and notation
- How to analyse, identify and modify music notation, harmony, stylistic traits and instrumental characteristics within a multi-instrumental score
- How to interpret a score to make appropriate harmony choices for improvised music and interpret improvisational directions
About the exam
6
A syllabus for the contemporary musician
MASTER THEORY WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
At Popular Music Theory Grade 6 you'll tackle complex pitch intervals, including enharmonic transposition and double accidentals, whilst building on instrument-specific techniques across scores with up to eight different instruments.
Key Features at Grade 6:
- Complex music notation, time signatures and note values
- Complex elements of popular music harmony
- Instrumental components and notation, techniques and stylistic traits
- How to analyse, identify and modify music notation, harmony, stylistic traits and instrumental characteristics within a multi-instrumental score
- How to interpret a score to make a range of appropriate harmony choices for improvised music and interpret improvisational directions while demonstrating stylistic awareness
About the exam
7
A syllabus for the contemporary musician
MASTER THEORY WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
Popular Music Theory Grade 7 will teach you how to handle tricky notation challenges such as transposition and less-common time signatures. You'll also identify the differences between modes and complex chords, and rewrite scores for transposing instruments.
Key Features at Grade 7:
- Complex music notation, time signatures and note values
- Complex elements of popular music harmony
- Instrumental components and notation, techniques and stylistic traits
- How to analyse, identify and modify music notation, harmony, stylistic traits and instrumental characteristics within a multi-instrumental score
- How to interpret a score to make a range of appropriate harmony choices for improvised music and interpret improvisational directions while demonstrating stylistic awareness
About the exam
8
A syllabus for the contemporary musician
MASTER THEORY WITH AMEB
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades all the way up to university-level degrees - we ensure your hard work is rewarded by a valuable qualification regardless of your age or musical ability.
what to expect
Take Popular Music Theory Grade 8 for a professional test of your notation skills, theoretical understanding, and band analysis within multi-instrumental scores. Master this and you'll have the music-theory grounding to take on any job in the world of rock and pop.
Key Features at Grade 8:
- Complex music notation, time signatures and note values
- Complex elements of popular music harmony
- Instrumental components and notation, techniques and stylistic traits
- How to analyse, identify and modify music notation, harmony, stylistic traits and instrumental characteristics within a multi-instrumental score
- How to interpret a score to make a range of appropriate harmony choices for improvised music and interpret improvisational directions while demonstrating stylistic awareness
About the exam
Level 4 Diploma
A syllabus for creative industry professionals in music and performing arts.
SUPPORTING CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS
Whether you're an aspiring teacher, musician or performing artist, we recognise your ambition to succeed. You live to create, perform or teach - and the Rockschool Professional Diploma will help get you there!
what to expect
The Professional Diplomas recognise expertise in people who are already working in the creative arts industries. They provide acknowledgement for high level achievement in either performance, teaching, or creative enterprise. Level 4 is generally for new professionals looking for recognition in their practice as they enter the creative industries.
This qualification can be completed at your own pace and no specific form of training is required. However, it is recommended that you contact a suitable trainer or mentor who will be able to provide you with opportunities for learning and the practical application of skills.
Designed to allow opportunities for flexible progression routes through the choice of optional units, the pathways can be tailored to meet your own specific needs. Whether that's working within the creative industries or for progression to further training or education.
About the exam
Level 4 Professional Diploma
Contemporary
A Level 4 Professional Diploma for creative professionals in music and performing arts.
View exam Level 6 Diploma
A syllabus for creative industry professionals in music and performing arts.
SUPPORTING CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS
Whether you're an aspiring teacher, musician or performing artist, we recognise your ambition to succeed. You live to create, perform or teach - and the Rockschool Professional Diploma will help get you there!
what to expect
The Professional Diplomas recognise expertise in people who are already working in the creative arts industries. They provide acknowledgement for high level achievement in either performance, teaching, or creative enterprise. Level 6 is typically for experienced professionals looking to enhance their career through the recognition of their current professional practice.
This qualification can be completed at your own pace and no specific form of training is required. However, it is recommended that you contact a suitable trainer or mentor who will be able to provide you with opportunities for learning and the practical application of skills.
Designed to allow opportunities for flexible progression routes through the choice of optional units, the pathways can be tailored to meet your own specific needs. Whether that's working within the creative industries or for progression to further training or education.
About the exam
Level 6 Professional Diploma
Contemporary
A Level 6 Professional Diploma for creative professionals in music and performing arts.
View examMore >
Hear from AMEB students
“When you're free to choose your way of learning or improving your skills it can be pretty overwhelming. With Rockschool, it’s easy.”
— Dane Thompson
“The communication skills I developed through Speech and Drama exams have given me confidence in every aspect of life.”
— Laura Fiebig
Select a grade
< Back
1
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER THEORY WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
2
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER THEORY WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
3
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER THEORY WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
4
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER THEORY WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
5
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER THEORY WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
6
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER THEORY WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
AMusA
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER THEORY WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
Theory Of Music AMusA
Theory of Music
An AMusA Theory Of Music exam. Choose between the Musicology, Harmony and Counterpoint or Orchestration and Arrangement streams.
View exam LMusA
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER THEORY WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
Theory Of Music LMusA
Theory of Music
An LMusA Theory of Music exam. Choose between the Musicology, Harmony and Counterpoint or Orchestration and Arrangement streams.
View examMore >
Hear from AMEB students
“When you're free to choose your way of learning or improving your skills it can be pretty overwhelming. With Rockschool, it’s easy.”
— Dane Thompson
“The communication skills I developed through Speech and Drama exams have given me confidence in every aspect of life.”
— Laura Fiebig
Select a grade
< Back
1
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER MUSICIANSHIP WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
2
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER MUSICIANSHIP WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
3
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER MUSICIANSHIP WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
4
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER MUSICIANSHIP WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
5
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER MUSICIANSHIP WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
6
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER MUSICIANSHIP WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
AMusA
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER MUSICIANSHIP WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
LMusA
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER MUSICIANSHIP WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
More >
Hear from AMEB students
“When you're free to choose your way of learning or improving your skills it can be pretty overwhelming. With Rockschool, it’s easy.”
— Dane Thompson
“The communication skills I developed through Speech and Drama exams have given me confidence in every aspect of life.”
— Laura Fiebig
Select a grade
< Back
Preliminary
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER MUSIC CRAFT WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
1
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER MUSIC CRAFT WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
2
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER MUSIC CRAFT WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
3
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER MUSIC CRAFT WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
4
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER MUSIC CRAFT WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
5
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER MUSIC CRAFT WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
6
A syllabus for aspiring classical musicians
MASTER MUSIC CRAFT WITH AMEB
what to expect
More information coming soon.About the exam
More >
Hear from AMEB students
“When you're free to choose your way of learning or improving your skills it can be pretty overwhelming. With Rockschool, it’s easy.”
— Dane Thompson
“The communication skills I developed through Speech and Drama exams have given me confidence in every aspect of life.”
— Laura Fiebig