Trinity College London has long been established as a global leader in qualifications for Drum Kit, but with a range of flexible options to tailor your assessment to your goals, you might wonder: which pathway is right for you?
JJ Wheeler, a former professional drummer and current UK & Ireland National Business Development Manager, sheds light on the choices available. With his extensive experience as an examiner and drum kit consultant for both the Rock & Pop and Classical & Jazz panels, JJ is well-equipped to guide you.
What kind of drummer are you?
Or perhaps, what kind of drummer do you aspire to be? Whether you're channelling the energy of the late Taylor Hawkins or perfecting the art of groove like your favourite drummers, Trinity offers options that suit a wide range of musical styles. With such diversity in drumming, trying to fit everything into a single syllabus would be impossible. That’s why Trinity provides two distinct graded syllabuses for drum kit:
- Rock & Pop Drums: This syllabus features real hits, spanning from The Beatles to Bring Me The Horizon
- Drum Kit (Classical & Jazz): Though this might be more accurately described as a ‘Jazz, Latin, and Musical Theatre’ syllabus, it remains a comprehensive programme under the Classical & Jazz category.
Both pathways are available from Initial (pre-Grade 1) to Grade 8, with UCAS points awarded for Grades 6-8. For those seeking advanced qualifications, Trinity also offers three levels of Drum Kit diplomas: ATCL (Level 4), LTCL (Level 6), and FTCL (Level 7). These diplomas are delivered as recitals, allowing you to perform any combination of your own choice of pieces or selections from a pre-approved list.
Exploring the Rock & Pop Drums syllabus
The Rock & Pop Drums exams can be taken in person at a centre of your choice or digitally via a pre-recorded video. The digital option gives you the flexibility to record your performance at a time and place that suits you.
Regardless of how you choose to take your exam, the requirements for choosing your songs remain the same. You'll need to perform three songs, one of which must be a ‘Technical Focus’ song from your grade’s songbook. Technical Focus songs aren’t necessarily more difficult, but they do include specific technical challenges, such as complex sticking, dynamics, or coordination, which require particular attention. You can choose to perform up to three Technical Focus songs, but only one will be marked with these criteria in mind—just let us know which one.
For your other songs, you must include at least one song from the current Trinity Rock & Pop songbook for your instrument and grade, or from the additional songs available in our eStore. The catalogue is regularly updated to keep the repertoire fresh.
The third song can be another selection from the current songbook or eStore, or you can opt for an ‘Own Choice’ piece. This could be:
- a song from our pre-approved list from the 2012 Rock & Pop syllabus
- a self-composed song
- a song from another exam board or publication
- a cover of a favourite artist’s track.
If you choose to perform a self-composed song, a cover, or a piece from another publication, you’ll need to ensure two things:
- Sheet Music: You must provide sheet music for the examiner to follow during your performance. For digital exams, this can be uploaded as a PDF or JPEG file along with your video. Full notation is preferred, but at minimum, lyrics with chord symbols will be accepted.
- Correct Standard: Your chosen song must match the grade level you’re sitting for. To help gauge this, check out this previous blog post about choosing Own Choice songs; Make it yours: choosing an own choice song for a Trinity Rock & Pop exam.
Ready to perform?
Once you’ve finalised your setlist, it’s time to decide whether you want to take your exam digitally or in person at one of our exam centres across the UK and Ireland.
For digital exams, set up your camera, tablet, or phone to capture good quality audio and video of your performance. Positioning the camera side-on through the hi-hat stand often works well, but feel free to experiment with different angles to find what suits your space. The audio must be captured from a single point in the room, whether it’s through your device or a mic/stereo pair connected to an audio interface.
When you’re ready, hit record and perform your set in one continuous take. Editing or splicing together different takes is not allowed, as the Overall Performance criteria assess your ability to maintain focus, communication, and stylistic integrity across the entire set—crucial skills for any performing musician.
After recording a performance you’re happy with, enrol and pay for your exam at Trinity’s booking site. You’ll then receive a link to upload your performance along with details of the songs you performed. Assuming there are no syllabus infringements or technical issues, Trinity aim to release your marks, examiner comments, and certificate within two weeks.
If you prefer a face-to-face exam, you can find your nearest public centre on the Trinity College London website, or at a private exam centre if you have access to one.
The process of selecting your setlist for a face-to-face exam is the same as for a digital one. However, instead of the Overall Performance criteria, you’ll be assessed on a ‘Session Skills’ test designed to enhance your abilities as a session musician. You’ll have the choice of two options:
- Improvising: Improvise over a chord progression played on a backing track. You’ll be given a lead sheet with the chords, bar structure, genre, time signature and tempo to guide you.
- Playback: Perform previously unseen material presented as both a chart and audio recording, using both resources to complete the task.
What's next?
Hopefully, this guide has provided all the information you need to prepare for your Trinity Rock & Pop Drums exam. If you're interested in exploring other options, stay tuned for part two of this blog, where we’ll dive into the Trinity Drum Kit graded exams, part of the Classical & Jazz syllabus.
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