The Drum Kit & Percussion Syllabus from 2020
Style
This syllabus gives drummers a range of authentic styles to master, including jazz, funk, show tunes, film, TV, Latin, reggae and swing. Percussion exams cover the full range of orchestral instruments with refreshed repertoire for tuned percussion, snare drum and timpani.
Pro-skills
Developed with professional drummers and percussionists, our online support resources show you what an exam is like, demonstrate drum kit exercises on split-screen, explore professional techniques and look at where our exams can take you.
Technique
Our syllabus develops instrument-specific technique, with bespoke rudiment exercises for drum kit and enhanced technical work for orchestral percussion.
Books and backing tracks
Three drum kit repertoire books from Initial to Grade 8 are available, with professional backing tracks and demos to download or stream. The syllabus also gives the option to choose additional repertoire from Introducing Drum Kit or Raise the Bar Drum Kit at all grades. Percussion repertoire features a wide range of newly added pieces, including options from Introducing Percussion.
We offer drum kit and percussion exams from Initial to Grade 8. The Initial exam acts as an introduction to the exam system for new performers.
Face-to-face and digital options
Candidates can play to their strengths and choose the exam type that works best for them.
Find out more about digital grade exams
Technical Work details for digital grade drum kit and percussion exams
Filming and recording guidance for digital music exams
Electronic Drum Kits may be used up to Grade 5 for both digital and face-to-face drum kit exams. An acoustic drum kit is required at Grades 6-8.
Trinity’s new and innovative syllabus approach
From now onwards, Trinity’s Drum Kit & Percussion syllabus will no longer operate with an end date. All pieces will remain valid until further notice and any planned updates will be announced at least 12 months in advance.
Trinity will continue to increase the repertoire available to candidates through an ongoing programme of new publication releases. This will include a diverse range of exciting exam books, individual digital downloads, ebooks, anthologies and more. Most repertoire and technical work will remain indefinitely*. You will find information about new publication releases on the Drum Kit & Percussion webpages and the shop.
This innovative change in approach to our music exam syllabuses will make our exams open to more people, provide rich and ever-increasing repertoire to choose from, and encourage candidates to continue performing the music they love for as long as they wish.
* copyright and territory dependent
Exam booking
Within the UK:
Book digital exams Book face to face examsOutside the UK:
Book all music exams via your local Trinity representative.
Further information
Full details (including our procedures, syllabus requirements, what to expect, and what to bring with you) can be found in our Information & Regulations.
Related products
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