The Gardner's Trust
THE GARDNER'S TRUST
BRAILLE MUSIC LITERACY AWARDS
VOLUME 1
GENERAL REGULATIONS
REQUIREMENTS
SPECIMEN TESTS
(LEVELS 1 TO 5)
Produced and published by
RNIB
105 Judd Street
London
WC1H 9NE
Revised Braille edition 2009
Revised print edition 2009
© Royal National Institute of Blind People 2009
Contents
Page
General Regulations3
Requirements4
Specimen Tests9
Level One10
Level Two11
Level Three 12
Level Four 13
Level Five 16
THE GARDNER'S TRUST
BRAILLE MUSIC LITERACY AWARDS
General Regulations
1. Candidates need to be under 19 years of age and resident in the UK.
2. Candidates may enter for any level of the Awards, but only enter each level once.
3. Candidates will be required to read and memorise the test, and subsequently perform it on the instrument of their choice, or sing it. They may practise the test during the preparation time. They must not refer to the Braille during the playing of the test. They may read or play first.
4. The following preparation times are set:
Levels 1 and 2: 5 minutes
Level 3: 10 minutes
Level 4: 15 minutes
Level 5: 20 minutes
Advanced Level:30 minutes
5. The prizes awarded to the best candidate each year for each level, providing a basic standard of competency has been achieved, are:
Level 1:£10
Level 2: £20
Level 3: £30
Level 4: £40
Level 5: £50
Senior Braille Music Literacy Award: £250
Braille Music Literacy Awards
Requirements
Level One
1. To recognise all seven notes as crotchets, minims, dotted minims or semibreves and corresponding rests.
2. 3rd, 4th and 5th octave signs, and the rules of their use.
3. The following time signatures:
4. The sharp, flat, bar rest and double bar signs.
5. To show an understanding of the major keys: C, G and F.
Level Two
As Level 1, adding:
1. Quavers, dotted crotchets and corresponding rests.
2. The keys of D major and also A, E and D minors.
3. The natural, tie and the pause.
Level 3
As Level 2, adding:
1. The dotted quaver, semiquaver and semiquavers grouped:
#b4 "&gef?<k
Also, corresponding rests.
2. 2nd and 6th octave signs, as appropriate to the voice or instrument.
3. The following time signatures for common time, alla breve and 6 8 time.
4. The major keys of B flat, E flat and A and the minor keys of C and G.
5. In keyboard music, right hand, left hand and fingering signs.
In other instrumental and vocal music, signs used for bowing and breathing as follows:
<b
>1
<'
,/
Level 4
As Level 3, adding:
1. In keyboard music, interval signs up to the octave.
2. Dynamics from to
The signs for (beginning) >c
(end) >3
(beginning) >d
(end) >4
3. Major keys of E and A flat and also F sharp minor.
4. The time signature of
5. The signs for
a. bar or part-bar repeat 7
b. <7 c. <2
6. The signs for a slur or phrase
a. linking two, three or four notes together: c
b. linking more than four notes together:;bbeginning~2end
7. The signs for:
a. staccato 8 b. accent .8
Level 5
As Level 4, adding:
1. Time signatures
2. Stem signs:
_' _k _a _b _l
and metronome marks:
_a ;7#f8
3. B and D flat major, and C sharp and F minor, scales.
4. All remaining octave signs.
5. The triplet sign. 2
6. Pedal signs: down <c up *c
7. The "in-accord" signs: big > little "1 and the "part-bar division" sign: .k
8. Dynamics
and cresc. >cr' dim. >dim'
9. Simple Italian terms:
AllegroAndanteLento AdagioScherzo
legatocantabileespressivo
rit. a tempopocomoltosempre
Advanced Level
A music extract of Grade VIII standard will be set. This may include any of the Braille music signs commonly used at this level, for the chosen instrument or voice.
Braille Music Literacy Awards
Specimen Tests
The following examples have been prepared as a guide. The purpose of the tests is to ascertain that candidates can read, understand and perform from a Braille score at a given level.
In levels 4 and 5, two versions of each test are given: one for keyboard and the other for a solo string or wind instrument.
Specimen Tests
Level 1
A
B
C
Specimen Tests
Level 2
A
B
C
Specimen Tests
Level 3
A (Piano fingering)
B (Cello fingering)
C (Violin fingering)
Specimen Tests
Level 4
A (Keyboard)
A (Solo part)
Specimen Tests
Level 4
B (Keyboard)
B (Solo part)
Specimen Tests
Level 4
C (Keyboard)
C (Solo part)
Specimen Tests
Level 5
A (Keyboard)
A (Solo)
Specimen Tests
Level 5
B (Keyboard)
B (Solo)
Specimen Tests
Level 5
C (Keyboard part)
C (Solo part)
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