If candidates are out-of-tune with their recorded accompaniment and do not adjust, this will be reflected in the marking. Tuning may vary between recordings and it’s helpful to identify and plan for these differences in advance. It is important that the candidate can hear the accompaniment while they are performing and that the examiner can hear both parts in appropriate balance.Ĭandidates should check their tuning against all the recorded accompaniments they are going to use. Test the balance of sound between the candidate and the accompaniment before recording. This is allowed and may be particularly helpful for changing tracks/CDs. It may help if another person, such as the responsible adult, operates the audio-playback equipment. Think about the overall delivery of the performance. However, if suitable for the music, a recorded accompaniment can be synthesised or scored differently – such as an orchestral accompaniment for a concerto movement. Live accompaniment must be played on a piano or specific duet instrument. Candidates are expected to act within the law of their country with regard to copyright and we may withhold an exam result if we have evidence that this is not the case However, candidates do not have to use ABRSM recorded accompaniments and they may not always be suitable for an exam.Ĭommercially-available recordings are likely to be in copyright and copying or editing a recording to make it suitable for an exam may be an infringement. We provide recorded accompaniments for some instruments and pieces, including through our Practice Partner apps. Before choosing to use them make sure they match our syllabus requirements for the piece and are suitable for the exam. However, we do not review or check these accompaniments. Many publications listed in our syllabus come with recorded accompaniments. This may make some commercially-available recordings unsuitable. must match any syllabus requirements, such as those relating to repeats or cuts.must not change the difficulty of the piece – such as by including the candidate line within the accompaniment where it is not included in the published edition.The recording should be of good quality and: These are both assessed as part of the ‘performance as a whole’ and are the candidate’s responsibility.Įxaminers cannot make any allowances for problems that arise from using recorded accompaniment. Think about the way a recorded accompaniment might affect the delivery of the overall performance, including the balance of sound. While the choice of accompaniment does not affect the way the exam is assessed, it may affect the candidate’s performance and therefore the marks they receive. Where there are tempo changes in pieces, careful and regular practice with a recording can help candidates to become familiar with them, but sometimes live accompaniment is a better option.Įxaminers assess all Performance Grade exams in exactly the same way using the same marking criteria. Music in a groove or with a constant pulse may be easier to perform with a recorded accompaniment than a piece with tempo changes or rubato. Recorded accompaniments can suit some musical styles better than others. Think about which form of accompaniment to use for each piece, considering the marking criteria for the ‘pieces’ and how the accompaniment affects the ‘performance as a whole’. The decision will be influenced by a number of things, such as the instrument, level of exam and style of music. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, try our Performance Grade FAQs.Ĭhoosing between live and recorded accompanimentĬhoose the accompaniment option that works best for the candidate’s circumstances and choice of repertoire and that will help them to achieve the best musical outcome in their performance. Additional guidanceĬhoose a link below for detailed guidance on using recorded accompaniment in Performance Grades. We advise against live-streamed accompaniment because of possible sound delay and connection problems. Commercial recordings /backing tracks – these often come as part of a package with sheet music.Specially-created recordings made for the candidate by a pianist or duet partner – this is the option we recommend as these recordings can be made to match the candidate’s musical choices – such as tempo, dynamics and breathing – and may be more likely to lead to a successful performance than commercial recordings.Read our news story to find out why we have introduced this option. Recorded accompaniment is now a permanent option for Performance Grades. Candidates must have accompaniment for all pieces or songs that are published with an accompaniment or duet part, unless the syllabus listing says otherwise.įor Performance Grades candidates can choose from:
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