GuitarSyllabusLevel 1
GuitarSyllabusLevel 1
GuitarSyllabusLevel 1
ONE STUDY 12
* Two bonus marks will be awarded to a candidate who performs at least one of the required
pieces with CD accompaniment, either commercially prepared or an original creation by the
student.
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© Conservatory Canada 2008
Contemporary Idioms Guitar Syllabus - Level ONE
LIST PIECES
Candidates must be prepared to play four pieces from the following three categories:
Jazz/Blues, Rock and Other Genres. Choices should contrast in style, key, and tempo. Your
choices must include two different composers or arrangers.
ROCK
MEL BAY'S GUITAR
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS FOR JOURNALS-BLUES (MEL BAY)
GUITAR BOOK 1 (HAL LEONARD) The Pull-Off pg.30
Every Breath You Take p.74
Dust in the Wind p.75 OTHER
EASY POP MELODIES (HAL LEONARD) BLUEGRASS GUITAR
Walk Don't Run pg. 30 CLASSICS (HAL LEONARD)
Man of Constant Sorrow Pg.22
MEL BAY'S GUITAR Under the Double Eagle Pg.36
JOURNALS – ROCK (MEL BAY)
Bending The Blues pg. 47
STUDIES
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS FOR GUITAR
BOOK 1 (HAL LEONARD)
JAZZ/BLUES 123. Power Chord Shuffle Pg 77
SUPPLEMENTARY PIECE
Candidates must be prepared to play one supplementary piece. This piece need not be from
the Syllabus lists, and may be chosen entirely at the discretion of the teacher and student. It
may represent a period or style of piece not already included in the examination program, but
which holds special interest for the candidate. The choice must be within the following
guidelines:
(a) The equivalent level of difficulty of the piece may be at a higher level, providing it
is within the technical and musical grasp of the candidate.
(b) Candidates with exceptional talent for improvisation may wish to improvise upon
a theme of their choice.
In this case, items (a) and (b) (above) will apply. Marks will be given for originality, musical
inventiveness, and compositional/structural unity.
Special approval is not required for the supplementary piece. However, poor suitability of the
choice may be reflected in the mark.
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© Conservatory Canada 2006
Contemporary Idioms Guitar Syllabus - Level ONE
TECHNICAL TESTS
All technical tests must be played from memory, evenly, with good tone, and logical left hand
fingering including right hand finger alternation or down and up picking. Metronome markings
should be regarded as minimum speeds.
Minor Am None
SCALES
Any logical fingering is acceptable. They may be played alternating down and up with a pick or
performed by alternating the right hand index and middle fingers.
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© Conservatory Canada 2006
Contemporary Idioms Guitar Syllabus - Level ONE
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© Conservatory Canada 2006
Contemporary Idioms Guitar Syllabus - Level ONE
ARPEGGIOS
To be played ascending and descending in the keys stated.
CHORDS
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© Conservatory Canada 2006
Contemporary Idioms Guitar Syllabus - Level ONE
SIGHT READING
Rhythmic Exercise
Tap, clap, or play on one note (at the candidate’s choice) a simple rhythm.
Length 4 bars
Example: a) Rhythm
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© Conservatory Canada 2006
Contemporary Idioms Guitar Syllabus - Level ONE
Melodic Passage
Chord Charts
The candidate is free to interpret the rhythm and chord voicings freely
while maintaining stylistic integrity.
Major Keys C
Length 8 – 24 bars
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© Conservatory Canada 2006
Contemporary Idioms Guitar Syllabus - Level ONE
AURAL TESTS
The candidate will be required:
(a) to identify major or minor chords played once by the examiner in broken form and
in root position:
(b) the examiner will play the four note tonic chord of any key in root position slowly
ascending and descending. The examiner will then randomly play one note from
the chord asking the student to identify the note by interval:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Candidates must be prepared to answer questions on the three pieces selected for the
examination. The questions will include the following elements:
RESOURCE MATERIAL
Further examples and supplementary exercises may be found on the E-Sharp Club at:
www.conservatorycanada.ca
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© Conservatory Canada 2006