Candidates may use recorded accompaniments/backing tracks in place of a live accompanist or duet partner for all digital graded music exams at Initial – Grade 8. The Trinity recorded accompaniments set out below can be used for all digital grades exams.
Drum Kit Group A performances and Acoustic Guitar pieces (where tracks are required) must always be accompanied by the Trinity backing tracks.
Candidates may have help operating the equipment so that it does not disrupt their performance. Performing levels should be checked before the recording starts to ensure that there is correct balance and the candidate’s instrument can be heard properly.
Candidates may use recorded accompaniments/backing tracks as follows:
Candidates will need to provide the playback equipment unless other arrangements have been made with the exam centre. Equipment must produce good sound quality at an adequate volume – a phone or tablet speaker is not acceptable. Contact should be made with the centre well in advance to confirm the arrangements (power supply, equipment insurance, etc), which must be agreed with the Trinity local representative. All electrical devices must comply with health and safety requirements in the country where the exam is taking place. Examiners will not operate playback equipment – this should be fulfilled by the candidate, teacher or another person not related to the candidate, who must leave the room as soon as their playback duties are complete.
For digital music diplomas, we strongly advise candidates to perform with live accompaniment. However, we will accept recorded accompaniments in digital diploma exams.
Recorded parts should be on piano for digital diploma exams (except for Drum Kit). If recorded parts on other instruments are required for any other reason, eg harpsichord for baroque works, approval must be obtained in advance.
Recorded accompaniment is not permitted – the accompaniment must be performed live in the exam (except Drum Kit).
Rock & Pop performances must always be accompanied by the Trinity backing tracks, for all songs chosen from the Trinity songbooks or eStore. The only circumstances in which a non-Trinity backing track can be used is for Song 2, if performing an own-choice song or one composed by the candidate.
The examiner will have all the backing tracks for songs in the Trinity songbooks, as well as official additional tracks published by Trinity for purchase from the eStore. Examiners will operate the backing tracks to provide a sound check using the opening bars of the first song.
The Trinity backing tracks must be used for any songs chosen from the Trinity songbooks or eStore. If Song 2 is an own-choice song, the backing track should be given to the examiner on a USB stick (in MP3 format) or CD (if appropriate).
SOUNDWISE
SoundWise allows files to be downloaded as MP3 from website or streamed using an iOS/Android app using a code printed on inside cover of the book. See our audio downloads page.
TRINITY AUDIO PLATFORM
This hosts audio downloads for the Piano Exam Pieces Plus Exercises from 2023 Extended Edition books. See our audio downloads page.
STREAMING PLATFORMS
Please note that Trinity no longer publishes its music on streaming platforms. However, older publications can be found on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music and YouTube Music. Search for ‘trinity’ followed by the name of the instrument, eg ‘trinity flute’. Streaming services may remove any of the tracks or albums from their service at any time without notice.
These can be produced by the teacher, candidate or any other musician, or included with publications, or obtained from third-party websites (NB Drum Kit and Rock & Pop candidates must use the Trinity backing tracks).
It is important that the candidate’s performance can be heard clearly throughout, and so any recorded accompaniment should match the published piano accompaniment and not provide any additional assistance to the candidate part.
All Trinity publications can be purchased from shop.trinitycollege.com or from sheet music retailers. A growing number of publications can be purchased as an ebook through our digital music store at store.trinitycollege.com
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Piano Exam Pieces from 2023 (for duets at Initial–Grade 3)
Performance with recording of the Secondo part (the candidate must always play the Primo part). The recording is available on the Trinity Audio Platform (access code included with Extended Edition books).
Performance of duets without accompaniment is not permitted
Piano Exam Pieces from 2021 (for duets at Initial–Grade 3)
Performance with recording of the Secondo part (the candidate must always play the Primo part). The recording is available on Soundwise (access code included with extended edition), or CD available to purchase.
Performance without accompaniment is not permitted.
Piano Dreams: Duet Books 1 and 2 (for duets at Initial–Grade 3)
Performance with own-sourced recording of the Secondo part (the candidate must always play the Primo part).
Performance without accompaniment is not permitted.
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Singing Exam Pieces from 2023 Initial – Grade 8
Recorded accompaniment on Soundwise (access code included with the book/purchase).
Singing Exam Pieces 2018–2021 Initial – Grade 8
Recorded accompaniment on CDs included with book
Tido app (subscription)
Sing Musical Theatre
Recorded accompaniment on CD included with book
Vocal exercises Initial – Grade 8
Recorded accompaniment on CD included with book
Soundwise (included with ebook)
Non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Violin Exam Pieces 2020–2023 Initial – Grade 8
Recorded accompaniment, on streaming platforms, or CDs available to purchase
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Raise the Bar
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Take Your Bow
Trinity backing track, via Soundwise (code included with book)
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
All publications
Accompaniment on another instrument (eg guitar)
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Solo performance without accompaniment (permitted, irrespective of special arrangements)
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Take Your Bow
Trinity backing track, via Soundwise (code included with book)
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Take Your Bow
Trinity backing track, via Soundwise (code included with book)
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Take Your Bow
Trinity backing track, via Soundwise (code included with book)
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
All publications
No pieces require accompaniment
Book
Options for accompaniment
Acoustic Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020 Initial – Grade 8
Recorded accompaniment on streaming platforms and Soundwise (included with book)
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Classical Guitar Exam Pieces from 2020 (for duets at Initial–Grade 5)
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Non-Trinity publications (duets)
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Flute Exam Pieces from 2023 Initial – Grade 8
Recorded accompaniment on Soundwise (access code included with the book/purchase)
Flute Exam Pieces 2017–2020 Initial – Grade 8
Recorded accompaniment on streaming platforms, or CDs available to purchase
Musical Moments Books 1–5
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Recorded accompaniment on Soundwise (access code included with the book/purchase)
Clarinet Exam Pieces 2017–2020 Initial – Grade 8
Recorded accompaniment on streaming platforms, or CDs available to purchase
Musical Moments Books 1–5
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Musical Moments Books 1–5 and non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Recorder Anthologies Books 1–3 and non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Trumpet/Cornet/Flugelhorn Exam Pieces from 2019 Initial – Grade 8
Recorded accompaniment on streaming platforms and Soundwise (code included with book)
Non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced recorded accompaniment
Book
Options for accompaniment
Drum Kit Exam Pieces from 2020
Initial – Grade 8
Backing tracks on streaming platforms and Soundwise (code included with book)
Solo performance without backing track not permitted
Raise the Bar
Backing tracks on streaming platforms and Soundwise (code included with book)
Solo performance without backing track not permitted
Introducing Drum Kit: Parts 1-3
Backing tracks on Soundwise (code included with book)
CD included with book (earlier editions of part 1)
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Introducing Percussion (for Initial and Grade 1)
Backing tracks on Soundwise (code included with book)
Tuned Percussion Pieces from 2007 Grades 1-5, Snare Drum Pieces from 2007 Grades 1-5, Timpani Pieces from 2007 Grades 1-5, non-Trinity publications
Own-sourced backing track
Book
Alternative options available for accompaniment
Electronic Keyboard Exam Pieces from 2019
No pieces require accompaniment. Demo recordings on streaming platforms and Soundwise (included with book)
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