EXAMINATION REGULATIONS
These regulations cover all examinations in Music Performance.
1. Validity of syllabus: Please refer to individual syllabuses and current repertoire lists (grade books and backing track list) for the dates when each syllabus or repertoire list
may be used.
RECORDED EXAMINATIONS
Conditions 5 to 9; 14 to 17; 19; 20a); 21 to 24; 26 to 30 apply.
Also seeRecorded Examinations page.
FACE TO FACE EXAMINATIONS
2. Examination dates: Practical examinations take place three times a year at public centres In the UK:
Spring (March/April),
Summer (June/July)
Autumn (November/December).
The dates are published on the PercussionAcademy website: www.percussionacademy.co.uk
3. Entry procedure:
Closing dates for entry, for each examination session, are listed on the PercussionAcademy website: www.percussionacademy.co.uk
Entry Forms should be sent directly to the PercussionAcademy office and should arrive on or before the closing date for the examination session.
Entries may not be submitted by fax.
Please note that, while PercussionAcademy will make every effort to
accommodate requests for practical exam dates, no guarantee can be made that such requests will be met.
4. Late entries:
These may be accepted up to seven days after the last date of entry. Each entry must be accompanied by the current late fee for each candidate, (late entry fees listed on the PercussionAcademy web site: www.percussionacademy.co.uk
5. Conditions of entry:
PercussionAcademy reserves the right to refuse entry to any candidate without giving a reason.
The right to postpone or cancel the entry of any candidate is reserved.
Entries are accepted subject to the regulations stated in this syllabus.
Entry for examination constitutes an agreement on the part of the candidate to
abide by the regulations.
6. Fees:
A complete table of current UK examination fees is printed on the examination entry forms each year or may be found on PercussionAcademy web site: www.percussionacademy.co.uk.
Cheques, bankers’ drafts, etc. must be made payable to PercussionAcademy.
Fees cannot be refunded, nor entries postponed to a later examination session.
Candidates not attending examinations for which they have entered, unless in possession of a relevant medical certificate, will forfeit their fees, (see: ‘Equal Opportunities Policy, section 3 ‘Special Considerations policy’
7. Pre-requisite qualifications (approved prior learning):
Candidates may enter for any graded examination without having taken any preceding examination.
8. Substitutions: Only candidates officially entered will be accepted for examination. Substitution of a candidate in place of a candidate originally entered will not be allowed.
9. Transfers: Transfer of candidates from one centre to another will not be considered unless there are exceptional circumstances which have been approved prior to the transfer by PercussionAcademy. Transfers will only be administered on receipt of the transfer fee.
10. Examination appointments: An Attendance Notification detailing the date, time and venue of the examination will be issued to each candidate, via the correspondence address on the entry form, not later than two weeks before the
date of the examination. This should be retained by the candidate, and handed to the attendant on the day of the examination. PercussionAcademy should be informed immediately if there are any errors on the Attendance Notice.
An incorrect grade or subject cannot be changed on the day of the exam, and spelling corrections will incur a fee if notified after the issue of the certificate. Candidates should arrive at the venue no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled time of the examination.
11. Conditions at public centres: A quiet room will be provided. Every effort will be made to ensure that the candidate is not disturbed by outside noise. The room will be of a moderate size, but with sufficient room to enable candidates to perform effectively. A music stand will be provided for instrumentalists. A waiting room
will be provided, and a warm-up room where available.
12. Examination procedure: The examination components will normally be conducted in the order shown in the syllabus, unless the candidate requests otherwise. Examiners will normally offer a brief warm-up period of approximately 1 minute.
For sight-reading components, candidates will be given approximately one minute's preparation time, during which they may study and try out short sections of the extract, but they may not play the complete extract through until asked to do so by the examiner
13. Admission to the examination room: Practical examinations are conducted in closed conditions. No-one, apart from the candidate and the examiner(s),is allowed into the examination room with the following exception:
an approved person, such as a parent or teacher, or a language interpreter, where this concession has been granted prior to the examination as the result of a request for reasonable adjustments for a candidate with particular needs.
14. Use of music in examinations: With the exception of certain examinations (see below),candidates must use published editions of all music performed in the examination, whether published by PercussionAcademy or by other publishers. Where a piece not published by PercussionAcademy is used it must not be a simplified version and a copy for the examiner’s reference* must be provided by the candidate. Candidates should ensure that they have obtained all the necessary music before submitting an entry. Where a candidate wishes, or it is necessary, to perform from memory, published editions of the music must still be available for the
examiner’s reference.
*photocopies may be used for this purpose, they will be destroyed by the examiner at the conclusion of the examination.
- Performance of repertoire: All repertoire should be performed exactly as indicated in the published edition. Music which is published with an accompaniment must be performed with that accompaniment. Music may not be altered, abridged, or cut.
- Use of photocopies: The use of photocopied music by candidates or accompanists, unless authorised by the publisher or copyright holder, will not be permitted in the examination with the following exceptions:
(a) a photocopy of a page of a work for ease of performance due to a difficult page turn;
(b) a photocopy of a piece for the examiner’s reference, provided the performer is using his or her own published edition;
(c) an enlarged or modified photocopy for candidates with particular needs, provided the original edition is also brought to the examination and presented to the examiner.
All such photocopies will be retained by the examiner, and destroyed at the conclusion of the examination.
Compliance with copyright law is the responsibility of the candidate. However, failure to comply will lead to disqualification and no marks or certificate being awarded.
NB. Printouts of legal internet downloads are acceptable. - Accompaniment: It is the candidate’s responsibility to provide a suitable accompanist, if required, for the examination PercussionAcademy cannot provide or recommend accompanists. Pre-recorded backing tracks may be used but must in no way contain the part to be played by the candidate.:
Where pre-recorded backing tracks are used, candidates are responsible forsupplying and operating their own equipment. For young candidates (aged 12 and below),an adult may be present to operate any such equipment. - Stopping candidates: Examiners may, at their discretion, stop a candidate at any part of a practical examination if the candidate has exceeded the time allowed for that part of the examination.
- Exemptions: No exemptions are allowed from any part of any examination. Where an examination component is not attempted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
- Recording of examinations:
a) A random selection of examinations is recorded for purposes of archiving, standardisation and examiner training. PercussionAcademy undertakes not to disseminate such recordings in any way whatsoever beyond these purposes.
b)The recording equipment used is unobtrusive and does not affect the examination procedure. Such recordings may not be used or referred to at any stage in connection with any enquiry, appeal or complaint about the examination, either by the candidate or by Percussion academy. - Examination results and certificates: A written report will be compiled for each examination. Candidates will be informed of the result of practical examinations as soon as possible, and not later than four weeks after the examination date, by post. Representatives are not allowed to issue results over the telephone. Certificates for successful candidates are normally dispatched within eight weeks of the date of the examination, but very often they will be received sooner than this. Replacements of lost or destroyed certificates can normally be provided, subject to proof of the result, the applicant's identity, and payment of the appropriate current fee. An Application for Replacement Certificate form should be submitted. The form can be found on the PercussionAcademy website, and is available on request from PercussionAcademy.
- Graded qualifications: Certificates issued for graded examinations are not intended to imply that the holder is qualified to teach, nor do they give the holder the right to use any letters after his or her name.
- Enquiries and appeals: Information about lodging enquiries and appeals against results is contained in the document Enquiries and Appeals available from PercussionAcademy or may be downloaded in PDF format from:
www. Percussionacademy.co.uk. Initial enquiries must be made in writing to PercussionAcademy, enclosing a copy of the examiner’s marksheet.. - Equal opportunities: Entry for examinations is available, and assessment is carried out, on an equal and fair basis to all candidates, regardless of origin, status or background. The full policy is contained in the document Equal Opportunities, available on request from PercussionAcademy or may be downloaded in PDF format from: www. Percussionacademy.co.uk.
- Special consideration (including absence through illness):
Candidates who are unable to take an examination at the scheduled time, for medical reasons, are invited to submit a signed doctor's letter indicating the reason, and accompanied by the Attendance notification, to PercussionAcademy. The letter must be submitted within two weeks of the examination date, and must make clear that the candidate was incapacitated on the day of the scheduled examination. The candidate will then be permitted to re-enter for the same examination on payment of half the current fee.
Candidates who are unwell on the day of the examination, but elect to take the exam nonetheless, will not be granted any special consideration in terms of assessment, and will not be eligible for a half-fee re-entry.
Candidates who are unable to take an examination for compassionate reasons (e.g. death of a relative) are also covered under this policy, at the discretion of the chief examiner. The full policy is contained in the document Equal Opportunities, available on request from PercussionAcademy or may be downloaded in PDF format from: www. Percussionacademy.co.uk. - Reasonable adjustments (candidates with particular needs):
PercussionAcademy is sensitive to the requirements of candidates with particular needs, and encourages them to enter for examinations. There is a wide range of special procedures which can be put in place for such candidates. Full details and accompanying documentation MUST be included at the time of entry; examiners are not able to consider such documents if submitted for the first time on the day of the examination. Full details of this policy are contained in the document Equal Opportunities, available on request from PercussionAcademy or may be downloaded in PDF format from: www. Percussionacademy.co.uk. - Language:: All examinations are conducted in English.
- Syllabus requirements and infringements: It is the candidate’s responsibility to obtain, and comply with, the current syllabus. Please note that certain syllabuses may contain particular conditions and requirements. Where candidates are entered for examinations by teachers, the teacher should ensure that candidates are entered in accordance with the current syllabus requirements. Where there are variations without prior agreement, marks may be adjusted or deducted, and in serious cases, candidates may be disqualified.
- Changes to syllabuses: PercussionAcademy follows a policy of consistent improvement and development and may, without notice, update its regulations, syllabuses and other publications. Where alterations, additions and/or deletions to syllabuses take place, PercussionAcademy cannot accept responsibility for informing candidates and teachers of such changes except via postings on the website www.percussionacademy.co.uk and the normal reprinting process.
Availability of syllabuses: A wide range of examinations is offered, across an extensive range of music genres. All syllabuses and repertoire lists are printed in the range of grade books published by PercussionAcademy,
(available for download in PDF format, free of charge to teachers from the website: www.percussionacademy.co.uk).