PianoDebut2015 Edition13May2016 Rock School

Piano Debut
RSL-961238705557 / 1 / nazareno ciofo / nazzareno.ciofo@libero.it
Performance pieces, technical exercises, supporting tests and in-depth

guidance for Rockschool examinations
All accompanying and supporting audio can be downloaded from: www.rslawards.com/downloads

Input the following code when prompted: EWJFWE9BTJ
For more information, turn to page 5
www.rslawards.com
Acknowledgements
Published by Rockschool Ltd. 2015
Catalogue Number RSK200001
ISBN: 978-1-908920-80-5
SYLLABUS
Syllabus written and devised by Nik Preston

Syllabus consultants: Hannah Vasanth, Julia Martin, Stuart Slater, Jono Harrison, Simon Troup and Jennie Troup
Hit tune arrangements by Jono Harrison and Nik Preston
Supporting tests written by Jono Harrison, Nik Preston, Ash Preston and Hannah Vasanth
Piano arrangements of Rockschool compositions by Brian Henry
Syllabus advisors: Mary Keene, Patrick Healy, Emily Nash, Dan Phelps and Mike Stylianou
PUBLISHING
Fact Files written by Julia Martin, Joe Bennett, Charlie Griffiths, Stephen Lawson, Simon Pitt, Stuart Ryan and James Uings
Music engraving and book layout by Simon Troup and Jennie Troup of Digital Music Art
Proof reading and copy editing by Simon Troup, Jennie Troup, Jonathan Preiss, Mary Keene, Stuart Slater and Nik Preston
Cover design by Philip Millard
Cover photograph Kevin Winter/Getty Images
MUSICIANS
Jono Harrison, Hannah Vasanth, Brian Henry, Nik Preston, James Arben, Jason Bowld, Stuart Clayton, Andy Crompton,
Neel Dhorajiwala, Fergus Gerrand, Felipe Karam, Kishon Khan, Noam Lederman, DJ Harry Love, Dave Marks,
Jon Musgrave, Jake Painter, Richard Pardy, Ross Stanley, Carl Sterling, Henry Thomas, Camilo Tirado, Steve Walker,
Chris Webster, Norton York, Nir Z
DISTRIBUTION
Exclusive Distributors: Music Sales Ltd

CONTACTING ROCKSCHOOL
Piano Debut
www.rslawards.com
Telephone: +44 (0)845 460 4747
Email: info@rslawards.com
AUDIO
Produced by Ash Preston, Jono Harrison, Brian Henry and Music Sales
Engineered by Ash Preston, Jono Harrison, Brian Henry and Music Sales
Mixed and mastered by Ash Preston
Edited by Ash Preston
Supporting Tests recorded by Ash Preston, Jono Harrison and Hannah Vasanth
Mastered by Ash Preston
Executive producers: John Simpson and Norton York
Table of Contents
Introductions & Information

1 Title Page
2 Acknowledgements
3 Table of Contents
4 Welcome to Rockschool Piano Debut
6 Piano Notation Explained
Rockschool Grade Pieces

7 Clocks
11 Fallin
15 Lean On Me
18 Beat The Mersey
20 Cashville
22 Helicopter
Technical Exercises
Supporting Tests

26
27
28
29
Sight Reading
Improvisation & Interpretation
Ear Tests
General Musicianship Questions
Additional Information

30
31
31
32
Marking Schemes
Entering Rockschool Exams
Copyright Information
Introducing Rockschool Popular Music Theory
24 Scales, Arpeggios/Broken Chords & Chord Voicings
Piano Debut
Welcome to Rockschool Piano Debut

Welcome to Rockschools 2015 Piano syllabus. This syllabus has been designed to equip all aspiring pianists with both a
diverse range of stylistically appropriate, industry relevant skills and a thoroughly engaging learning experience.
Utilising an array of well known repertoire, Rockschools own compositions and a truly innovative range of supporting
tests, the continued progression of any candidate is assured from Debut through to Grade 8. Additionally, the Rockschool
compositions, which are the 4th, 5th and 6th pieces featured in each book, have been arranged for Bass, Drums, Piano and
Guitar at Grades 3, 5 and 8, in order to help pianists perform repertoire in an ensemble environment where available.
The syllabus has been authored to ensure that pianists can develop as accompanists, soloists, sight readers and improvisers
whilst enabling both teacher and candidate to choose the areas that they wish to specialise in.
Rockschools long standing commitment to raising academic standards, assessing industry-relevant skills and ensuring
student engagement is world renowned. The 2015 Piano syllabus has been conceived in order to build upon this success and
continue the evolution of the contemporary music worlds first awarding body.
When combined with Rockschools Popular Music Theory syllabus, the 2015 syllabus is guaranteed to furnish every
candidate with both the practical skills and theoretical understanding necessary to perform at the highest level, across a
whole range of contemporary music.
Nik Preston Head of Product Development and Publishing
Piano Exams
Grade Exam
A Grade Exam is a mixture of music performances, technical work and tests. You are required to prepare three pieces
(two of which may be Free Choice Pieces) and the contents of the Technical Exercise section. This accounts for 75% of
the exam marks. The other 25% consists of: either a Sight Reading or an Improvisation & Interpretation test (10%), two
Ear Tests (10%), and finally you will be asked five General Musicianship Questions (5%). The pass mark is 60%.
Performance Certificate
A Performance Certificate is equivalent to a Grade Exam, but in a Performance Certificate you are required to perform
five pieces. A maximum of three of these can be Free Choice Pieces. Each song is marked out of 20 and the pass mark
is 60%.
Book Contents
The book is divided into a number of sections:
Piano Debut
Exam Pieces
In this book you will find six pieces of Debut standard. Each song is preceded by a Fact File detailing information
about the original recording, the composer and the artist/s who performed it. Every exam piece is notated for piano,
but a selection also have the vocal melody notated. This is included as reference material and is not intended to be
performed in the exam itself. In your exam you must perform to the backing tracks provided. If certain 3 or 4 note
voicings notated in the pieces are unachievable, you may either reduce the amount of notes in the voicing, or play as a
spread chord if stylistically appropriate. Please note, this is only applicable at Debut and Grade 1.
Technical Exercises
There are either three or four types of technical exercise, depending on the grade:
Group A scales
Group B arpeggios/broken chords
Group C chord voicings
Group D a choice of stylistic studies. Please note, Group D only exists at Grades 68.
At each grade you have the option of taking one of two different types of examination:
Supporting Tests
You are required to undertake three kinds of unprepared, supporting test:
1. Sight Reading or an Improvisation & Interpretation test at Debut to Grade 5.

Please note, these are replaced by mandatory Quick Study Pieces (QSPs) at Grades 68.
2. Ear Tests: Debut to Grade 3 feature Melodic Recall and Chord Recognition.
Grades 48 feature Melodic Recall and Harmonic Recall.
3. General Musicianship Questions (GMQs), which you will be asked by the examiner at the end of each exam.
Each book features examples of the types of unprepared tests likely to appear in the exam.
The examiner will give you a different version in the exam.
General Information
You will find information on exam procedures, including online examination entry, marking schemes, information
on Free Choice Pieces and improvisation requirements for each grade.
Audio
In addition to the Grade book, we have also provided audio in the form of backing tracks (minus piano) and examples
(including piano) for both the pieces and the supporting tests where applicable. This can be downloaded from RSL directly
at www.rslawards.com/downloads
You can find further details about Rockschools Piano syllabus by downloading the syllabus guide from our website:
www.rslawards.com
All candidates should download and read the accompanying syllabus guide when using this grade book.
Piano Debut
The audio files are supplied in MP3 format. Once downloaded you will be able to play them on any compatible device.
You will need to input this code when prompted: EWJFWE9BTJ
Piano Notation Explained
?4
4
Pedal Marking: Depress and then release the

sustain pedal. Multiple pedal operations in a
short space of time may be simplified as shown
in the last two beats of the bar below.
Grace Note: Play the grace note on

or before the beat depending on the
style of music, then move quickly to
the note it leads onto.
3
&4
4
&4
..
Glissando: Play the notes between the notated

pitches by sliding over the keyboard with the
fingers or fingernails.
Spread Chord: Play the chord from the bottom note up

(top down only if there is a downward arrow head).
The final note should sound by the appropriate
notated bar position.
# 4 g
& 4 ggg n
ggg
g
& h
Tremolando: Oscillate at speed

between marked notes.
&
>
^
Piano Debut
(accent)
(accent)
(staccato)
(accent)
bw
&
1
Accentuate note with more arm weight.
D.%. al Coda
Go back to the sign (%), then play until
D.C. al Fine
Go back to the beginning of the song and
Una Corda
Use soft pedal
fi
..
play until the bar marked Fine (end).
..
..
1.
fi
the bar marked To Coda then skip to

the section marked Coda.
Accentuate note with great intensity.
Shorten time value of note.
gliss.
Finger Markings: These numbers represent

your fingers. 1 is the thumb, 2 the index
finger and so on.
Accentuate note (play it louder).
..
Repeat the bars between the repeat signs.
2.
When a repeated section has different
endings, play the first ending only the first

time and the second ending only the
second time.
THE MUSICAL STAVE shows pitches and

rhythms and is divided by lines into bars.
Pitches are named after the first seven letters
of the alphabet.
4
&4

C D E F G A B C
D E F G A B C

Coldplay | Clocks

SONG TITLE: CLOCKS
q = 130
44
&
ALBUM:
A RUSH OF BLOOD TO
THE HEAD
RELEASED: 2002
LABEL: PARLOPHONE
GENRE: ALTERNATIVE ROCK
44
&
VOCAL AND PIANO: CHRIS MARTIN
GUITAR: JONNY BUCKLAND
BASS: GUY BERRYMAN
DRUMS: WILL CHAMPION
? 44

PRODUCED BY:
KEN NELSON AND COLDPLAY
WRITTEN BY:
CHRIS MARTIN, JONNY
BUCKLAND, GUY BERRYMAN,
Dm
only
Piano intro (4 bars) included as a cue
UK CHART PEAK: 9
Clocks was the third single to be released from the

album A Rush of Blood to the Head. The album was
Coldplays second after their debut, Parachutes in 2000.
This track nearly didnt make it on to the album.
The band recorded it as a demo but thought it was
too late for it to be included, so left it on a demo
with some other tracks, which they intended to look
at again for their third album. However, when the
second album release was delayed, they returned to
the demos. A friend of Chris Martins urged him to
include this song on the album. As a result, Martin
said it was the newest song on the record. We
recorded that very, very fast. He also mentioned
it was inspired by the band Muse.
The track received acclaim from music critics
worldwide and also won Record of the Year at the
2004 Grammy Awards and Best Single at the Q
Awards. It was also sampled and licensed for use
in the BBC Freeview commercials, and TV shows
including: ER, The Sopranos and Family Guy. It was
also used in the movie trailer for Peter Pan.
Chris Martin originally composed Clocks at the
piano. He mentions that he played the piano hook
to guitarist, Jonny Buckland and: he wrote these

cool chords underneath it. The rest of the band then
began to add their ideas to the original piano hook
and the final arrangement then added synthesisers
and strings.
Vocalist Chris Martin and guitarist Jonny

Dm
G met at University College London (UCL).
Buckland
j
Their
debut album Parachutes won the Mercury
Music Prize. They have released six albums in total
and have won a total of eight BRIT awards, seven
Grammy awards, an Ivor Novello award and a host
cant
of others ts
in their
date. and I
gocareer toout
&
1. The ligh
&
? w
be

J
w
save
[5]
Piano Debut
WILL CHAMPION.
Clocks
Coldplay
q = 130
4
&4
? 44
&
jG
1. The lights
&
go
out

and
? w
Have brought me
down
&
Piano Debut
&
? w
[9]
Dm
cant be

J
w
[5]
jG
Dm
Am
Piano intro (4 bars) included as a cue only
Dm
up - on
my

J
w
saved,
tides
.
J J
that
tried
to
.
J J
knees,
.
J
oh,
.
w
beg,
.
J
swim
J
I
Words & Music by Guy Berryman, Jonathan Buckland, William Champion & Christopher Martin
Copyright 2003 Universal Music Publishing MGB Limited.
All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured.
A m7
gainst.
A m7
beg and
plead.
Sing - ing;
4
&4
&
come
out
with
?w
&
&
trou - ble
?w
&
& ww
?w
[21]
said.
that
.
J
Shoot
an
ap
.
J
ple
Dm
cant be
[17]
things un
[13]
Dm
Dm
named.
ti
gers
wait
ww
ww
A m7
my
A m7
ing
to
be
Am
ww
w
head.
tamed.
And
Sing - ing
&
Piano Debut
10
Piano Debut
Alicia Keys | Fallin

SONG TITLE:
FALLIN
ALBUM:
SONGS IN A MINOR
RELEASED:
2001
LABEL:
J RECORDS
GENRE:
R&B
VOX/BV:
ALICIA KEYS
PIANO:
ALICIA KEYS
VIOLIN:
MIRI BEN-ARI
GUITAR:
SPACEMAN PATTERSON
DRUM PROGRAMMING:
KERRY KRUCIAL
BROTHERS

ADDITIONAL BV:
CINDY MAZELLE, TAMMY
SAUNDERS, ANDRICKA HALL
E m7
&
&
Some - times
feel
? .
[8]
Am
good,
& ARRANGED BY:

ALICIA KEYS
UK CHART PEAK:
3
This was the debut single from Alicia Keys first

album: Songs in A Minor. It reached No. 3 in the UK
charts and No. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.
The song samples James Browns Its a Mans Mans
Mans World and in 2002, won three Grammy awards.
Keys writes and produces all her songs. She states
that her piano writing is influenced by Chopin, who
is one of her favourite composers. Musically, she is
also heavily influenced by Hip Hop. She first started
playing the piano when friends of her mother gave
the family an old piano. It was on this that she started
experimenting with songwriting, taking fragments
of songs and rearranging the chords: Id learn the
chords then play them backwards.
Keys graduated from the Professional Performing
Arts School in New York when she was 16. She was
immediately signed by Columbia Records, but they
wanted to take her in a musical direction that didnt
suit her and stalled the release of her music. She was
then introduced to music mogul, Clive Davis (who
has guided the careers of Whitney Houston, Christina
Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson to name a few). Davis
appreciated her blend of Classical, R&B and Jazz
music, and immediately signed Keys to his label, J

Records. The album reached number one that
same year.
Keys isnt her real name (she was born Alicia
Augello-Cook), she chose the name because of her
love of the piano. The albums name: Songs in A Minor
comes from her love of playing in a minor key. She
says this song resembles the piano part of Beethovens
Moonlight Sonata, which she learnt to play at her
childhood piano lessons.
Piano Debut
WRITTEN, PRODUCED
11
Fallin
Alicia Keys
6
& 8 .
E m7
6
& 8 .
Am
love
? 68
E m7
&
&
? .
&
Am
love
Some - times
Piano Debut
&
12
? .
[8]
with
j

I
feel
Am
good,
you.
E m7
some - times
you,
Some - times
[4]
E m7
Am
you
make
me
blue.
.
.
E m7
j .
j

Am
at
times
Words & Music by Alicia Keys

Copyright 2001 EMI April Music Inc. and Lellow Productions.
All Rights Controlled and Administered by EMI April Music Inc.
feel
Am
used.
j
j

q.= 64
& .

Lov - in
you
darl
ing,
? .
E m7
&
Am
on
fall
&
[16]
&
j
&
you.
[20]
keep
.
E m7
Am
nev
& .
Im
[23]
in
& .
.
Am
j
j

[12]
E m7
lov
in
E m7
in
and
er
con - fused.
j
j

j
.
j
.
E m7
Am
out
so
of
loved
some
E m7
love
you.
Oh,
one
oh!
Am
with
N.C.
makes me
Am
the
way
that
& .
Am
uh.
Piano Debut
E m7
13
14
Piano Debut
Bill Withers | Lean On Me

ure not
ALBUM:
STILL BILL
strong,

RELEASED:
1972
LABEL:
SUSSEX
GENRE:
SOUL
and
Ill
be
your
friend,
VOCALS:
BILL WITHERS
PIANO:
BILL WITHERS
BASS:
MELVIN DUNLAP
DRUMS:
JAMES GADSON
ARRANGER:
RAYMOND JACKSON
WRITTEN BY:
BILL WITHERS
PRODUCED BY:
BILL WITHERS
UK CHART PEAK:
18
Withers states that he could afford to buy a little

Wurlitzer electric piano with the proceeds from his
first album and it was on this that he composed Lean
on Me. As he was playing the piano, the songs title
popped into his head and the lyrics developed from
there. Withers says that he is a man of few words
when writing songs: snob, lyrically. That means, how
clear can you make it and in how few words?
Ill help you
car
D m/F
ry
on;
performed publicly in concert for over 25 years.

He is often asked if Lean on Me can be used for
TV shows and films but he refuses to have the song
synchronised with any violent scenes: we dont
want people to associate Lean on Me with violence.
Anyone wishing to use one of his songs has to contact
him personally.
Withers didnt record his first song until he was

This song is often popular with young pianists as
32, having previously worked in the US Navy. When
the verse can be played without removing your hand
C
G
he left the Navy, he started informally writingC songs,
from the piano and using the first four fingers on your
F
recording demos and unsuccessfully trying to gain
right hand.
interest from record companies. Eventually, he was
introduced to Booker T. Jones (of Booker T. and the
MGs, the Stax Records house band) who offered to
on.
to lean
some -bod - y
d
nee
na
produce
his
first
album:
Just
As
I
Am,
which
gave
him
gon
Im
till
long
his way into the record industry. However, he refused
to quit his job immediately as he felt the music
industry was fickle.

wont be
Em
.
Although the song reached No. 18 in the UK
charts, it reached No. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 in

1972. He has won two Grammy awards, one of which
was for this song. It has also featured at the end of an
episode of The Simpsons.
Interestingly, Bill Withers walked away from the

music industry saying that these days I wouldnt
know a pop chart from a Pop-Tart. He has not
SONG TITLE:
LEAN ON ME
Piano Debut
15
Lean On Me
Bill Withers
4
&4
4
&4
&
[5]
&
Some
Piano Debut
&
16
?
[9]
times in our lives
D m/G
we
all
have
sor
Words & Music by Bill Withers

Copyright 1972 Interior Music Corporation, USA.
Universal/MCA Music Limited.
we all have pain,
E m/G
? 44
&
Em
D m/F

row;
q = 72
&
but,
&
if
we are
wise,
&
[13]
whenyoure not
strong,
&
&
for
[21]
it wont be
Ill
be
al - ways to - mor
your
friend,
need
till Im gon - na
long
and
[17]
we know that theres
&
.
.
row.
Ill help you
Em
car
J
to
Lean on
me
some -bod - y
lean
D m/F
ry
on;
on.
Piano Debut
17
Rockschool | Beat The Mersey

SONG TITLE: BEAT THE MERSEY
GENRE: 1960S POP
44
&
ww
? 44
A
&
Am
ww
TEMPO: 125 BPM
OVERVIEW
COMPOSER: JOE BENNETT
ww
&
ww
?
Piano Debut
[9]
18
&
?
ww
PERSONNEL: STUART RYAN (GTR)
JOE BENNETT (GTR & VOX)

HENRY THOMAS (BASS)
NOAM LEDERMAN (DRUMS)
CHRIS BLANDON (HARMONICA)
ww
[5]
Pop of the early 1960s was influenced by

trailblazing rocknroll artists like Buddy Holly And
The Crickets, Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry. The
songs written and played by those bands were often
built on simple chords or a catchy guitar riff. Various
1960s pop songs traditionally followed the now
familiar pop song structure of verse, chorus, verse,
chorus, middle 8 and chorus.
Am
Em
Beat The Mersey is an uptempo pop song in the

style of 1960s Merseybeat bands such as The Big
Three, Gerry And The Pacemakers, The Searchers
and, of course, The Beatles. This song features
acoustic guitar and harmonica in the backing track.
STYLE FOCUS
KEY: C MAJOR
ww
ww
Pacemakers, who scored three consecutive number

one hits in 1963 with How Do You Do It? (written
by Mitch Murray and Adam Faith and rejected by
The Beatles), I Like it and the Liverpool FC anthem
Youll Never Walk Alone taken from the 1945
musical Carousel. The song which they are most
associated with is Ferry Cross The Mersey, which
reached number eight in the charts the following year.
The Searchers can boast the same with Sweets For
My Sweet, Needles And Pins andCDont Throw Your
Love Away in the same period.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING
ww
The Beatles have too many essential listening

tracks to list here, but standouts from their early
material include the hits Love Me Do, Please
Please Me and From Me To You (all featuring
harmonica). The first double CD, Anthology 1,
is a fascinating record of a band developing from
BIGGER PICTURE
a young four-piece to the dizzying heights of
Beatlemania. In addition, Cilla Blacks two 1964
D
The Beatles are the most significant band to have E m number one hits Anyone Who Had A Heart and
Am
come from this golden era of pop music, but in the
Youre My World are worth a listen.
beginning they were one of a number of up and
coming acts from Liverpool who made the scene so
vibrant. In the early days of Merseybeat The Beatles
success was matched for a while by Gerry And The
ww
ww
# ww
q = 125
Beat The Mersey

Joe Bennett
A
q = 125
& 44
C
ww
? 44
&
Am
w
? w
ww
ww
Em
Am
ww
ww
ww
w
ww
[5]
ww
?
ww
ww
ww
&
C
[9]
&
?
Am
ww
Em
# ww
ww
ww
[13]
&
C
w
? w
Am
ww
ww
Am
ww
[17]
&
ww
?
Am
# ww
ww
[21]
Copyright 2015 Rock School Ltd.
ww
ww
ww
Piano Debut
19
Rockschool | Cashville
SONG TITLE: CASHVILLE
GENRE: COUNTRY
# 4
& 4
? # 44
&
#
D
ww
OVERVIEW
?#
STYLE FOCUS
&
?#
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Piano Debut
[7]
20
Country musics roots go back to Americas early

Em
immigrant communities. The influence of British
B
folk music is most apparent in Countrys predecessor,
Hillbilly or old time music. Hank Williams was
Countrys first major star, a guitarist and songwriter
whose hits are still covered by artists today. Johnny
Cash will be a more familiar name to those who are
#
&
?#
ww
HENRY THOMAS (BASS)
ww
D music owes much of its distinct sound to

Country
the guitar. Most Country tracks meld both acoustic
and electric parts, with the rhythm parts often being
covered on acoustic guitar. Pedal steel guitars are
also common, and you can hear them on this songs
backing track. While piano isnt the iconic sound of
Country music, its far from uncommon to hear a
piano in Country music, particularly in a larger band.
ww
STUART RYAN (GTR)
PERSONNEL: KIT MORGAN (GTR)
Em
Cashville is a piece in the style of musicians such

as Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and Merle Haggard
some of the best-known Country artists of the
past 60 years.
[3]
COMPOSER: KIT MORGAN
KEY: D MAJOR
ww
new to the genre; his hell raiser reputation is almost

as great as his musical legacy. Cashs instrument of
choice was an acoustic guitar; the electric guitar licks
of his early years were performed by Luther Perkins.
Merle Haggard helped to create a new sub-genre in
the 1960s called the Bakersfield sound, which was
characterised by a raw production style a reaction
against the sumptuous production favoured
C in
Nashville
at
the
time.
m
ww
ww
Johnny Cash had many hits, with Ring Of Fire

and Walk The Line among the best known. Hank
Williams hits Hey Good Lookin, Lovesick Blues
and Your Cheatin Heart have become Country
standards. Merle Haggards hits include The Bottle
Let Me Down and Life In Prison.
ww
Em
ww
q = 105
TEMPO: 105 BPM
Cashville
Kit Morgan
q = 105
# 4 D
& 4
? # 44
# D
&
A
?#
ww
Em
ww
ww
ww
[3]
?#
ww
[7]
Em
#
&
B
?#
ww
ww
w
ww
Em
ww
ww
Am
[11]
#
&
D
?#
ww
Em
ww
ww
ww
[15]
#
&
C
?#
[19]
.
.
Em
Piano Debut
&
21
Rockschool | Helicopter
SONG TITLE: HELICOPTER
GENRE: INDIE
TEMPO: 95 BPM
#4
& 4
A
? # 44
&
Piano Debut
[5]
22
COMPOSER: JAMES UINGS
ww
PERSONNEL: STUART RYAN (GTR)

DUNCAN JORDAN (GTR)
HENRY THOMAS (BASS)
Slide Away and Live Forever from Definitely

Maybe exemplify Oasis early material D
and feature
Noel Gallaghers famous guitar strumming style, as
does Wonderwall from (Whats The Story) Morning
Glory? Blurs Parklife featured their biggest hits, Girls
And Boys and Parklife. The Kaiser Chiefs led the
way for the second wave of Britpop a decade after its
commercial peak. Heavily influenced by Oasis and
particularly Blur, they burst on to the scene in 2004
with the singles I Predict A Riot and Oh My God
from their debut album Employment (2005).
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Em
ww
Britpops golden age was the mid 1990s when

Oasis burst on the scene with the debut album
Definitely Maybe (1994). Noel Gallaghers impeccable
songwriting combined perfectly with brother Liams
raspy vocals to produce the perfect blend of melody
and attitude. Gallaghers regular use of the brighter
sounding major pentatonic and major scales is a key
part of the bands long-term appeal.
Oasis biggest rival Blur released their debut album

Leisure in 1991. Their best-selling album Parklife was
released in 1994, around the same time as Definitely
Maybe. A war of words erupted between the bands.
This culminated in the battle of Britpop Blurs
Country House single pipped Roll With It to
number one. Oasis took their album revenge in 1995
when (Whats The Story) Morning Glory? beat Blurs
The Great Escape to the top of the albums chart.
Em
Helicopter is a slice of Britpop indie in the style of

bands like Oasis, Blur and the Kaiser Chiefs.
#
&
B
Am
OVERVIEW
?#
KEY: E MINOR
C
Am
ww
q = 137
Helicopter
James Uings
? # 44
&
?#
Em
ww
ww
Am
ww
Am
ww
[5]
#
&
B
?#
Em
ww
ww
Am
ww
[9]
#
&
C
?#
Am
[13]
Am
w
ww
Piano Debut
q = 137
#
& 44
A
23
Technical Exercises
In this section, you will be asked to play a selection of exercises drawn from each of the groups below. The examiner will be
looking for the speed of your response and will also give credit for the level of your musicality.

All exercises need to be played hands separately, in straight feel, ascending and descending, in the keys, octaves and tempos
shown. You may use your book for Group A and Group B. All Group C exercises must be played from memory.
Note that Groups A and B need to be played to a click and any fingerings shown are suggestions only.
Group A: Scales
The tempo for this group is q=52 bpm.
&
1
2. C major scale | left hand
?
5
1. C major scale | right hand
3. A minor scale | right hand
&
4. A minor scale | left hand
Group B: Arpeggios/Broken Chords

The tempo for this group is q=92 bpm.
Piano Debut
1. C major broken chord | right hand
24
& 43
1
.
3
2. C major broken chord | left hand
? 43
5
4. A minor broken chord | right hand
? 43
Group C: Chord Voicings
In the exam you will be asked to play, from memory, your choice of one chord voicing from each of the following exercises,
without the aid of a backing track or metronome. However, for practice purposes a demonstration of the chords played to a
metronome click is available in the downloadable audio.
1. C major
& 44 www
?
ww
w
w
ww
2. C minor
& 44 b www
?
b www
ww
bw
Piano Debut
& 43
3. A minor broken chord | right hand
25
Sight Reading
In this section you have a choice between either a sight reading test or an improvisation and interpretation test (see facing page).
The examiner will ask you which one you wish to choose before commencing. Once you have decided you cannot change
your mind.
In the sight reading test, the examiner will give you a 46 bar melody in the key of C major. You will first be given 90
seconds to practise, after which the examiner will play the backing track twice. The first time is for you to practise and the
second time is for you to perform the final version for the exam. For each playthrough, the backing track will begin with a
one bar count-in. The tempo is q=60.
During the practice time, you will be given the choice of a metronome click throughout or a one bar count in at
the beginning.
The backing track is continuous, so once the first playthrough has finished, the count in of the second playing will
start immediately.
Please note:
There will be a requirement to play hands separately.
Single notes only will be required with both left and right hands.
? 44
Piano Debut
Please note: The test shown is an example. The examiner will give you a different version in the exam.
26
& 44

In the improvisation and interpretation test, the examiner will give you a 46 bar chord progression in the key of C major.
You will first be given 90 seconds to practise, after which the examiner will play the backing track twice. The first time is for
you to practise and the second time is for you to perform the final version for the exam. For each playthrough, the backing
track will begin with a one bar count-in. The tempo is q=60.
During the practice time, you will be given the choice of a metronome click throughout or a one bar count-in at
the beginning.
The backing track is continuous, so once the first playthrough has finished, the count-in of the second playing will
start immediately.
You are only required to improvise single note melodies, with either right or left hand. It is permissible to play chord
voicings, but please note you will only be marked on melodic content.
& 44
C
Am
Piano Debut
27
Ear Tests
In this section, there are two ear tests:
Melodic Recall
Chord Recognition
You will find one example of each type of test printed below and you will need to perform both of them in the exam.
Test 1 | Melodic Recall
The examiner will play you two consecutive notes. You will need to identify whether the last note is higher or lower than the
first. You will hear the test twice, each time with a one bar count-in. The tempo is q=95 bpm.
For this exercise, please use the word higher or lower in your answer.
& 44
The examiner will play you a sequence of chords, each with a C root note. You will hear the chord sequence twice, each time
with a one bar count-in. You will then be asked to identify which chord played was major and which chord was minor. The
tempo is q=95 bpm.
& 44 b www
? 44
n www
w
Piano Debut
28
Test 2 | Chord Recognition

The final part of your exam is the General Musicianship Questions section, which features 5 questions relating to one of
your choice of the performance pieces.
1. You will be asked a question relating to the harmony from a section of one of your pieces.
2. You will be asked a question relating to the melody in a section of one of your pieces.
3. You will be asked a question relating to the rhythms used in a section of one of your pieces.
4. You will be asked a question relating to the technical requirements of one of your pieces.
Piano Debut
5. You will be asked a question relating to the genre of one of your pieces.
29
Marking Schemes
Grade Exams | Debut to Grade 5 *
ELEMENT
PASS
MERIT
DISTINCTION
Performance Piece 1
1214 out of 20
1517 out of 20
18+ out of 20
Performance Piece 2
1214 out of 20
1517 out of 20
18+ out of 20
Performance Piece 3
1214 out of 20
1517 out of 20
18+ out of 20
Technical Exercises
910 out of 15
1112 out of 15
13+ out of 15
Sight Reading
or
6 out of 10
78 out of 10
9+ out of 10
Ear Tests
6 out of 10
78 out of 10
9+ out of 10
3 out of 5
4 out of 5
5 out of 5
TOTAL MARKS
60%+
74%+
90%+
ELEMENT
PASS
MERIT
DISTINCTION
Performance Piece 1
1214 out of 20
1517 out of 20
18+ out of 20
Performance Piece 2
1214 out of 20
1517 out of 20
18+ out of 20
Performance Piece 3
1214 out of 20
1517 out of 20
18+ out of 20
Technical Exercises
910 out of 15
1112 out of 15
13+ out of 15
Quick Study Piece
6 out of 10
78 out of 10
9+ out of 10
Ear Tests
6 out of 10
78 out of 10
9+ out of 10
3 out of 5
4 out of 5
5 out of 5
TOTAL MARKS
60%+
74%+
90%+
Piano Debut
Performance Certificates | Debut to Grade 8 *
30
ELEMENT
PASS
MERIT
DISTINCTION
Performance Piece 1
1214 out of 20
1517 out of 20
18+ out of 20
Performance Piece 2
1214 out of 20
1517 out of 20
18+ out of 20
Performance Piece 3
1214 out of 20
1517 out of 20
18+ out of 20
Performance Piece 4
1214 out of 20
1517 out of 20
18+ out of 20
Performance Piece 5
1214 out of 20
1517 out of 20
18+ out of 20
TOTAL MARKS
60%+
75%+
90%+
* Note that there are no Debut Vocal exams.
Grade Exams | Grades 68
Entering Rockschool Exams

Entering a Rockschool exam is easy, just go online and follow our simple six step process. All details for entering online,
dates, fees, regulations and Free Choice pieces can be found at www.rslawards.com
All candidates should ensure they bring their own Grade syllabus book to the exam or have their KR app ready and the
full book downloaded.
All Grade 68 candidates must ensure that they bring valid photo ID to their exam.
Candidates will receive their exam results (and certificates if applicable) a maximum of 3 weeks after their exam.
If nothing has been received after this time then please call +44 (0)845 460 4747 or email to info@rslawards.com
Fallin
(Keys)
EMI Music Publishing Limited.
Lean On Me
(Withers)
Universal/MCA Music Limited.
Piano Debut
Clocks
(Berryman/Buckland/Champion/Martin)
Universal Music Publishing MGB Limited.
Copyright Information
31
Introducing
Rockschoo
new theorls
y
exams!
GRADES DEBUT8
OUT NOW!
Discover more at
www.rslawards.com/theory
Enter online at
www.rslawards.com/enter-online
POPULAR
MUSIC THEORY

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Piano Debut

RSL-961238705557 / 1 / nazareno ciofo / nazzareno.ciofo@libero.it

Performance pieces, technical exercises, supporting tests and in-depth

All accompanying and supporting audio can be downloaded from: www.rslawards.com/downloads

Syllabus written and devised by Nik Preston

Exclusive Distributors: Music Sales Ltd

RSL-961238705557 / 1 / nazareno ciofo / nazzareno.ciofo@libero.it

Rockschool Grade Pieces

RSL-961238705557 / 1 / nazareno ciofo / nazzareno.ciofo@libero.it

24 Scales, Arpeggios/Broken Chords & Chord Voicings

Welcome to Rockschool Piano Debut

The book is divided into a number of sections:

RSL-961238705557 / 1 / nazareno ciofo / nazzareno.ciofo@libero.it

RSL-961238705557 / 1 / nazareno ciofo / nazzareno.ciofo@libero.it

You will need to input this code when prompted: EWJFWE9BTJ

Piano Notation Explained

Pedal Marking: Depress and then release the

Grace Note: Play the grace note on

Glissando: Play the notes between the notated

Spread Chord: Play the chord from the bottom note up

Tremolando: Oscillate at speed

Accentuate note with more arm weight.

Go back to the sign (%), then play until

Go back to the beginning of the song and

Use soft pedal

play until the bar marked Fine (end).

the bar marked To Coda then skip to

Accentuate note with great intensity.

Shorten time value of note.

Finger Markings: These numbers represent

Accentuate note (play it louder).

Repeat the bars between the repeat signs.

When a repeated section has different

endings, play the first ending only the first

RSL-961238705557 / 1 / nazareno ciofo / nazzareno.ciofo@libero.it

THE MUSICAL STAVE shows pitches and

SONG TITLE: CLOCKS

GENRE: ALTERNATIVE ROCK

VOCAL AND PIANO: CHRIS MARTIN

GUITAR: JONNY BUCKLAND

BASS: GUY BERRYMAN

DRUMS: WILL CHAMPION

Clocks was the third single to be released from the

to guitarist, Jonny Buckland and: he wrote these

Vocalist Chris Martin and guitarist Jonny

RSL-961238705557 / 1 / nazareno ciofo / nazzareno.ciofo@libero.it

Piano intro (4 bars) included as a cue only

RSL-961238705557 / 1 / nazareno ciofo / nazzareno.ciofo@libero.it

RSL-961238705557 / 1 / nazareno ciofo / nazzareno.ciofo@libero.it

RSL-961238705557 / 1 / nazareno ciofo / nazzareno.ciofo@libero.it

Alicia Keys | Fallin

& ARRANGED BY: 

This was the debut single from Alicia Keys first

music, and immediately signed Keys to his label, J

RSL-961238705557 / 1 / nazareno ciofo / nazzareno.ciofo@libero.it

Words & Music by Alicia Keys

RSL-961238705557 / 1 / nazareno ciofo / nazzareno.ciofo@libero.it

RSL-961238705557 / 1 / nazareno ciofo / nazzareno.ciofo@libero.it

RSL-961238705557 / 1 / nazareno ciofo / nazzareno.ciofo@libero.it

Bill Withers | Lean On Me

Withers states that he could afford to buy a little

Ill help you

performed publicly in concert for over 25 years.

Withers didnt record his first song until he was

& ARRANGED BY: