Examinations
The Suffolk County Music Service Graded Instrumental Examination Scheme is currently provided free of charge to pupils who access the Music Service's tuition through school or the individual / small group lessons.
Examinations are offered for brass, woodwind, string, guitar, and percussion instruments from Grade 1 to Grade 5. Please note that for the Spring 2021 session we are only able to offer exams up to and including Grade 3.
Enter for an examination
Our Spring 2021 exam session will be running but exams will be done online.
To enter please complete the online exam entry form.
Visit our News section for the latest updates from Suffolk County Music Service.
Entry deadlines and exam dates
Entry deadline Monday 18 January 2021
Exam dates: Monday 15 - Saturday 20 March 2021
Northgate Arts Centre, Ipswich
Please click here for a PDF version of a Northgate Arts Centre map
East Point Academy, Lowestoft
Please click here for a PDF version of a map for East Point Academy
County Upper School, Bury St Edmunds
Please click here for a PDF version of a County Upper School map
Candidate Card
Please ensure that you complete and bring with you a candidate card confirming the pieces you will be playing. If not, you will be required to complete this on the day of your exam at the exam centre.
Resources
Drum Kit exam files
If you are taking a Drum Kit exam you can download the exam files here.
National exam boards
There are many organisations and exam boards that offer music exams for instruments, singing, music theory, music production, jazz, rock and pop.
You can start your search from the list of organisations below.
All national and independent exam boards will have their own deadlines for exam entries. Please check their websites for this information.
Hints and tips
Before the exam
Remember that you don’t have to do/perform anything in a particular order. With your teacher, choose which part of the exam or which piece you should start with to make you feel most confident.
Don’t leave any of your practise to the last minute!
If you have an accompanist, discuss with your teacher where to stand or sit so they can see you clearly. You must play towards the ‘audience’ (in this case it is your examiner). If there is a problem on the day, the examiner will help you find a suitable place.
Musicianship
You can practise for the Musicianship tests in many ways between lessons:
- Listen to lots of music from recordings, the radio, or go to a concert
- Join a choir, band, orchestra or chamber group
- Before you learn a new piece, clap the rhythm from part of the music
- Sing back to yourself parts of a tune which you have just heard (for the first time!) on the radio or the TV
- Sing through parts of music which you haven't heard before to get familiar with intervals and patterns in the music. You can do this anytime - pick up a random piece of music from your music bag and choose a few bars to try
Pieces
- With the help of your teacher, choose pieces that you really like. Practise them slowly at first. Careful preparation at this stage will make the final performance so much better.
- Once you have got to know the music better, practise your pieces all the way through without stopping. Get in the habit of going on immediately if you do make a slip.
- Be brave and play them through to family or friends to help build up your confidence.
- Practise page-turns (where they occur) and try to memorise the first few bars of the next page to help your confidence. However, don't worry, difficulties with page-turning won't affect the mark. In most cases you can photocopy a page of your piece where it will help to solve this problem. Practise putting the photocopy in the right position on the music stand.
- If you are a string, wind or singing candidate, make sure you're familiar with the accompaniment (particularly the introduction, if there is one!). Before the exam, try to find time to rehearse this with your accompanist.
Scales and arpeggios
Practise scales and arpeggios daily. It should be as routine as cleaning your teeth!
They help:
- build up a reliable technique
- develop co-ordination skills
- wind players with breathing
- string players with bowing control
Sight reading
Remember that keeping going is the key to a Pass.
Keep a basic pulse, rather than stopping to correct any slips on the way.
Try out any part of the piece in the 30 seconds allowed before the real test begins.
Six tips to beat exam stress
Going for an exam can be a stressful time, however they can be made easier...
1. Know the syllabus Your teacher will be able to find this for you, or you can download it from your exam board online.
2. Practise Practise does make perfect!
3. Keep it up Know what you need to work on most and what you can improve.
4. Don't be afraid of the musicianship tests!
5. Be calm Relax and try not to think about it.
6. Turn up early and warm up Run through pieces and scales before your exam.