DRUMS - GRADE 1
At Grade 1 you can develop a range of skills and techniques including double snare hit, semiquavers, push note and counting. In the exam you’ll play a set list of three songs and demonstrate your playback or improvising skills.
You can find out more about the exam by downloading the complete Drums syllabus, or taking a look at the information below.
Everything you need to know about the exam, including durations, marking, room setup and what to take, can be found in the Drums syllabus.
EXAM STRUCTURE AND MARK SCHEME
Maximum marks
SONG 1
25
A song chosen from the relevant graded Trinity Drums songbook, played with the Trinity backing track
SONG 2
25
Either a different song chosen from the relevant graded Trinity Drums songbook, played with the Trinity backing track
or a song from the additional Trinity Drums arrangements at trinityrock.com/extra-songs
or an own-choice song
or a song composed by the candidate
Song 2 may:
- be unaccompanied
- be played to a backing track (which can be recorded by the candidate)
- include added vocals, performed live by the candidate
- include an accompaniment played or sung live by another musician
SESSION SKILLS
20
Either playback or improvising
SONG 3
30
A technical focus song chosen from the relevant graded Trinity Drums songbook, containing specific technical elements, played with the Trinity backing track
TOTAL
100
In your Grade 1 exam you’ll play a set list of three songs. Two of these will be from our Grade 1 songbook, including a technical focus (TF) song which focuses on two specific technical skills which run throughout the song, so you can demonstrate these techniques seamlessly in your performance. Your other song can be from our Grade 1 songbook, or can be a song of your own choice, a song that you’ve written, or a cover version that you’ve arranged.
These songs are included in the Grade 1 Drums songbook:
| MICHAEL JACKSON | Billie Jean |
| TRIBES | Dancehall* |
| THE BLACK KEYS | Fever |
| MODEST MOUSE | Float On (TF) |
| WILSON PICKETT | Mustang Sally |
| FONTELLA BASS | Rescue Me* |
| THE WHITE STRIPES | Seven Nation Army |
| THE BAND | The Weight (TF) |
| MARK RONSON, FEAT. BRUNO MARS | Uptown Funk (TF) |
| QUEEN | Another One Bites The Dust |
* Only available as a single-piece download from store.trinitycollege.com
THE SONGBOOK
The Grade 1 Drums songbook includes everything you need for your exam, including sheet music for eight songs, along with performance hints and tips and background information for each song.
It also contains a code that gives access to downloadable demo and backing tracks for each of the songs. Buy and download your resources here.
LISTEN ON SPOTIFY
For inspiration, have a listen to our Spotify playlist featuring the artist’s original versions of our Rock & Pop 2018 Drums songs for Initial to Grade 2. If you don’t already have a Spotify account, it’s free to set one up. Follow us and our playlists to easily find them again.
Develop the skills professional musicians rely on in their careers, and learn how to play music you’ve never seen or heard before or improvise over a track in the session skills part of your exam. You can choose which skill to demonstrate in your exam.
PLAYBACK
Candidates choosing this option perform some music they haven’t seen or heard before. The test consists of a series of short drum grooves and fills, which candidates repeat back in turn, over a backing track. See the syllabus for full requirements and graded parameters.
This is a guide to the notation used for the playback test.
IMPROVISING
Candidates choosing this option improvise in a specified style over a recorded backing track that they haven’t seen or heard before. The backing track consists of a passage of music played in a loop. See the syllabus for full requirements and graded parameters.
Download example Playback and Improvisation test audio and charts for Grade 1 Drums.
You can find out more about the session skills tests, including technical expectations and how they are marked, in the Drums syllabus.
We will be releasing additional arrangements suitable for use as own-choice songs.
There’s also a range of songs from the 2015-2017 Trinity Rock & Pop syllabus that match the current own-choice parameters, and can also be used for Song 2.
See the latest releases and the list of 2015-2017 songs
