Trinity Rock & Pop exams in bass, drums, guitar, keyboards and vocals have been shortlisted for ‘Innovation of the year’ in the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) inaugural awards.
Rock & Pop was first launched in 2012, providing an innovative approach to music qualifications with performance at the core, reflecting the way rock and pop musicians learn today.
The graded song lists span a range of well-known and contemporary artists, from the Rolling Stones and David Bowie through to Kings of Leon, Jessie J and Taylor Swift. Whether they are self-taught or taking lessons, learning for fun or heading for a career in the music industry, these exams help musicians develop valuable playing skills and achieve their musical ambitions.
Since 2012, Rock & Pop has grown into a significant music product, from the northern-most reaches of the UK to the southern-most areas of New Zealand and between, gaining kudos and sales to support teachers, students, musicians, and self-learners.
Francesca Christmas, Head of Academic Governance – Music at Trinity College London, said: ‘The innovative structure and authentic content of the Rock & Pop exams is what makes them so special – everything a learner is assessed on is done so in the context of how rock and pop music exists in real life. The exams slot into ongoing learning, whether formal or informal, and provide a valuable framework for progression.’
Jill Lanning, Former CEO of FAB and judge of the FAB awards said: ‘The contribution that awarding bodies make to the FE sector and to the UK economy is too often ignored, so I am pleased to be involved with FAB Awards which will give us the opportunity to celebrate this contribution and good practice in the industry.’
The full list of qualifications and awarding bodies shortlisted for the FAB awards can be found on the FAB website. The winners will be announced on 22 October 2015.
Rock & Pop
Trinity Rock & Pop exams are available internationally, from Initial to Grade 8 for guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and vocals. Students perform a set of three songs in their exam and complete one Session Skills assessment – either improvising or playback. Songs have been specially selected to demonstrate specific musical skills and each exam is supported by a song book, including a CD with demo and backing tracks, performance notes and guidance on technical skills and session skills. For more information, visit the Rock & Pop website.
Federation of Awarding Bodies
The Federation of Awarding Bodies is a membership body that represents organisations that award vocational qualifications in the United Kingdom. Their activities are focused on achieving a vocational qualification system that meets the differing needs of candidates, employers, education and training providers and awarding bodies as well as offering good value to funding bodies and taxpayers.
FAB members range from organisations that are well known for offering vocational qualifications for a particular industry, to larger generic awarding bodies offering vocational qualifications across a wide range of sectors.
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