I'm only myself when I have a guitar in my hands.
George Harrison
If you are the type of person who always has a guitar in your hands, you would already be familiar with the concept of guitar grades. Guitar grades in South Africa are offered by a few governing bodies. Each guitar grade offers a structured syllabus containing of progressive skill levels that range from inductory levels to the grade 8 guitar grade which deals with sight-reading and a wide variety of technical exercises. The grade sets the necessary framework for musicians and helps musicians to develop guitar skills with such recognised qualifications.
In South Africa, the best places to consider musical examinations are the RSL Rockschool South Africa, Trinity College London South Africa, and UNISA Directorate Music. We will look at everything there is to know about guitar grades in South Africa while also exploring how to use grade books and deliver wonderful performance pieces. If you are interested in finding out more about guitar grades, place your fingers on your guitar strings and continue reading.
How Many Grades are There for Advancing in Guitar?
The grades start at a beginner level and advances to a master's level.
In terms of mastering the classical guitar, guitar enthusiasts must follow a more structured approach. While many South Africans are eager to learn how to play the guitar, playing the guitar goes well beyond just getting started and learning to play the strings. For those aspiring guitarists in South Africa who wish to follow the proper method, consider the exam-based system that teaches guitarists the necessary expressive and technical skills. In terms of the classic guitar grades, there are 8 guitar grades. Moving from beginner level (Grade 1) to a more advanced level (Grade 8) ensures that the musical students move from learning how to read music to musical technique whilst securing a musical foundation that is of utmost importance for the musical student.
Do you want to learn to play guitar at a beginners level? If so, read our guide on learning to play guitar for every stage of your musical journey starting from the beginner's level.
Understanding Classical Guitar Grades in South Africa
With classical guitar grades, a student's performance can be measured by a globally recognised system meant to track a student's progress in terms of playing the classical guitar. Examination boards including Trinity College London South Africa, ABRSM, and UNISA tends to offer guitar levels that range from Grade 1 to Grade 8 where Grade 1 is seen as the very beginner level and Grade 8 signifies a more advanced level of playing skills.
When students take a guitar grade exam, they get evaluated on a variety of aspects including:
- Performance piece (tends to be about 4 selected pieces from a syllabus)
- Sight reading
- Technical exercises
- Aural tests
- Musical knowledge
All of these components are included within classical guitar grades and entails a fair amount of interpreting music notation, and creating a well-learnt musical performance. In order to gain exam entry, you ought to have a fair amount of knowledge in terms of playing the set musical pieces with your guitar. From having a fair amount of musical theory knowledge to being able to read sheet music, you need to be able to do it all before you take your musical exams. We would highly recommend that you gain the right music education from the right Superprof guitar tutor in South Africa. Choosing a musical tutor can be as simple as clicking away on the Superprof website.
Getting Ready for a Guitar Performance in South Africa
All guitar enthusiasts know that preparation for a classical guitar exam entails learning a repertoire that all string players have to learn. The exam boards publish the classical guitar syllabus as well as the various approved pieces for each grade. All performance pieces have been selected based on the technical requirements at each level.
Fernando Sor Study in minor keys is best in terms of the technical requirements for Grade 3 to Grade 6.
Decide on Where You Will Be Taking the Examination
At Trinity College London South Africa, certificate examinations are offered as an alternative to graded guitar examinations. For these certificate examinations, acoustic guitar and classical guitar certification courses are offered. For the certified classical guitar examination, the listed repertoire must be played on a nylon-strung classical six string guitar. The certificate level is equivalent to the grade level with:
- Foundation certificate level being equivalent to Grade 3.
- Intermediate certificate level being equivalent to Grade 5.
- Advanced certificate level being equivalent to Grade 8.
At the UNISA Directorate Music, a network of over 1,500 teachers work on enhancing the musical development of learners at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. For students, a practical music examination takes place as well as theory of music examinations that are written at one of the 140 examination centres throughout the country.
RSL Rockschool South Africa is the right place for those who wish to gain an international-style musical examination option. At RSL Rockschool, you can tailor your perfect examination day and RSL Rockschool utilises a system of progressive mastery to motivate and prompt musicians of all ages to perform at their very best. Examination dates occur throughout the year and run up until mid December.
The first step when preparing for a RSL Rockschool South Africa classical music examination or any other local music exam is to first apply for the examination. If RSL Rockschool is not the examination board of your choosing, you need to first settle on an examination board that you would like to take your examination with.
Once you've selected your examination board, you need to take note of your exam date for your strings practical exam as well as an exam date for your music theory exams. You, thereafter, need to go ahead and select the right grade book.
If you need help choosing an instrument, read our article on how to choose a guitar.
Selecting the Correct Grade Book
Guitar tutors and students should ensure that they have the right grade book. The right grade book is usually published by the university you are taking the examination with. A classical guitar exam tends to contain:
- The necessary performance pieces
- A variety of technical exercises
- Sight reading samples
- Guides for the Aural test
- TAB and notation (specifically for lower grades)
The right guide book can assist you to prepare well for the upcoming examination. It is important to start with the Grade 1 book and then play your strings all the way to the next grade. You will utilize the grade book based on your respective grade experience.
Understanding Where TAB Fits In?
TAB (tablature) can surely be highly beneficial for beginners who are taking guitar exams that requires the students to read standard music notation.
In preparation for the upcoming examination, music students can:
- Attempt reading one sight piece daily
- Devote time to using the grade book and reading sheet music
- Practising regularly with a music tutor
With constant revision and practice all students can play the guitar like the classical guitarist and composer, Laura Snowden.
How to Ensure That You Play with The Right Tempo?
Various performance pieces are at the core of every performance. All exam candidates must be well prepared and they should be ready to be graded according to the technical components of their performance.
A performance that is well done can increase your exam score. The secret; however, is that all performers should enjoy what they are playing as when they enjoy their performances, musicality naturally improves. Confidence also shows up in a remarkable performance. With being confident, confidence in technical and aural skills also become important as well.
To ensure that you are ready to nail your practical performance, you must perform well in terms of a whole host of technical skills including:
- Scales
- Arpeggios
- Barre exercises
- Position shifts and control
- Carcassi etude that helps with technical and musical skills
Carcassi etude refers to 25 technical studies composed by the Italian guitarist and composer Matteo Carcassi, and these pieces are progressive studies for classical guitar.
Where to Take Guitar Lessons Near Me in South Africa?
A guitar is like an old friend that is there with me.
B.B King
For students who are already taking guitar lessons, concepts like scales and barre exercises may already be second nature. For those who wish to take guitar lessons near them and learn more about scales and barre exercises, a Superprof guitar tutor can surely help. Offering online and face-to-face lessons, you can reap the most benefit with a guitar instructor of your choice from the Superprof site.
From assisting with oral tests to the whole gamut of requirements that goes along with preparing for classical guitar grades, a tutor can be most helpful. Although the syllabus for the examination can be downloaded from the examination board’s website, your tutor can assist you to download the respective syllabus and ensure that the syllabus downloaded is right for your guitar grade level.
While you can prepare for your guitar exam on your own, it helps to prepare with a well-rounded musician who has experience under his or her belt. Having the right musician by your side will assist with all of your sight reading tasks and will help you to perform a Fernando Sor grade 6 study. The right guitar tutor will further assist you by clearing up any misconceptions that you have regarding the grade levels in music.
Now that all misconceptions regarding grade levels in music are cleared up, pick up your guitar, grab your book graded for your level, and begin your performance piece with the help of your Superprof guitar tutor. Soon, you will be referring to your guitar as your old friend and you will be advancing through all the various guitar grade levels as well.
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