Major scale and natural minor scale - 1 octave ascending and descending - first very slowly and then at a fast tempo Blues scale - 1 octave ascending and descending Major arpeggio ascending with major scale descending
Intervals: any diatonic interval from the major scale up to and including one octave, plus minor 3rd, minor 6th and minor 7th
Key/pitch to be chosen by the candidate, and stated to the examiner. The examiner will then provide the tonic note before candidate sings from memory – using any vowel sound(s) or sol-fa syllables (such as ‘lah’). A ‘neutral’ (non-stylised) voice should be used during this section of the exam, avoiding excessive vibrato.
Consonant and vowel sounds should be accurate and distinct, and where a single consonant or vowel is used its clarity should be maintained.
Tempos are at the candidate’s discretion – subject to the guidelines given in the examination handbook. All scales and arpeggios may be requested by the examiner to be sung either legato or articulated.

Candidates who have not passed the Popular Music Theory Grade 7 exam, and candidates not choosing the option described in Section 2.7, will be asked a selection of questions, appropriate to the grade, covering some or all of the following topics. Candidates’ responses should demonstrate a ‘practical’ understanding of the topics as follows:
␣ Note values – to include 16th notes (semiquavers) ␣ Key signatures (up to 4 sharps or 4 flats) ␣ Construction and interval spellings of major, minor, major 7th, minor 7th and dominant 7th chords ␣ Transposition of a major key chord progression

Repetition of rhythm: To clap back a complex 4 bar rhythm in 3/4, 6/8 or 4/4 time. The rhythm will contain no note value shorter than a sixteenth note, but may include triplets. The third bar will be a repeat of the first bar, whilst the fourth bar will be a variation of the second.
Keeping time and recognition of time signatures: To clap the main pulse, and accent the first beat of each bar, during the playing of a four bar melody in either 3/4, 6/8, 12/8 or 4/4 time. To identify the time signature. The melody will not begin on the first beat of the bar, and may include triplets.
Harmonisation of a melodic phrase: The examiner will play, up to 5 times, the tonic chord followed by a 2 bar phrase in either 4/4 or 6/8 time. The phrase will be in a major key and will contain no interval greater than a perfect 5th and no note value shorter than a 16th note. The candidate should join in on the final playing singing a suitable harmony line.
Recognition of intervals: To identify any interval, when played consecutively, from a minor 2nd up to and including an augmented 9th.
Recognition of cadences: To identify a perfect, plagal, imperfect or interrupted cadence at the end of a chord progression in a major key.

Specialism

a) Sight singing of a quick study piece
The candidate will be shown two short melodies and will be allowed 2 minutes to study and try them. The candidate will then be asked to sing one of the melodies – of the candidate’s choosing. The candidate should choose the piece that best suits their vocal range. The examiner will provide accompaniment, in the form of block chords – played either on keyboard or guitar.
This will be 8 bars in length. The key signature will be limited to 1 sharp or 1 flat, or less. The rhythmic range will be limited to eighth notes or longer, and may include ties. The time signature will be limited to 3/4 or 4/4. The pitch range will be limited to a major 9th, and the melody may be in a major or minor key. There will be no interval leaps greater than a major 6th.
b) Improvisation
The examiner will play a chord progression, in 4/4 time, in a major or minor key, on a keyboard or guitar. This will be in the form of block chords, with a straightforward rhythmic groove. During the first playing the candidate should listen to the progression, before improvising over two further cycles of the progression. The improvisation may be sung using any syllables, vowels, words or phrases of the candidate’s choosing.
The chord progression will be 8 bars in length, and will contain 1 chord per bar. The candidate will be given a copy of the chord progression.

Major scale and natural minor scale - 1 octave ascending and descending - first very slowly and then at a fast tempo Blues scale - 1 octave ascending and descending Major arpeggio ascending with major scale descending
Intervals: any diatonic interval from the major scale up to and including one octave, plus minor 3rd, minor 6th and minor 7th
Key/pitch to be chosen by the candidate, and stated to the examiner. The examiner will then provide the tonic note before candidate sings from memory – using any vowel sound(s) or sol-fa syllables (such as ‘lah’). A ‘neutral’ (non-stylised) voice should be used during this section of the exam, avoiding excessive vibrato.
Consonant and vowel sounds should be accurate and distinct, and where a single consonant or vowel is used its clarity should be maintained.
Tempos are at the candidate’s discretion – subject to the guidelines given in the examination handbook. All scales and arpeggios may be requested by the examiner to be sung either legato or articulated.

Candidates who have not passed the Popular Music Theory Grade 7 exam, and candidates not choosing the option described in Section 2.7, will be asked a selection of questions, appropriate to the grade, covering some or all of the following topics. Candidates’ responses should demonstrate a ‘practical’ understanding of the topics as follows:
␣ Note values – to include 16th notes (semiquavers) ␣ Key signatures (up to 4 sharps or 4 flats) ␣ Construction and interval spellings of major, minor, major 7th, minor 7th and dominant 7th chords ␣ Transposition of a major key chord progression

Repetition of rhythm: To clap back a complex 4 bar rhythm in 3/4, 6/8 or 4/4 time. The rhythm will contain no note value shorter than a sixteenth note, but may include triplets. The third bar will be a repeat of the first bar, whilst the fourth bar will be a variation of the second.
Keeping time and recognition of time signatures: To clap the main pulse, and accent the first beat of each bar, during the playing of a four bar melody in either 3/4, 6/8, 12/8 or 4/4 time. To identify the time signature. The melody will not begin on the first beat of the bar, and may include triplets.
Harmonisation of a melodic phrase: The examiner will play, up to 5 times, the tonic chord followed by a 2 bar phrase in either 4/4 or 6/8 time. The phrase will be in a major key and will contain no interval greater than a perfect 5th and no note value shorter than a 16th note. The candidate should join in on the final playing singing a suitable harmony line.
Recognition of intervals: To identify any interval, when played consecutively, from a minor 2nd up to and including an augmented 9th.
Recognition of cadences: To identify a perfect, plagal, imperfect or interrupted cadence at the end of a chord progression in a major key.

Specialism

a) Sight singing of a quick study piece
The candidate will be shown two short melodies and will be allowed 2 minutes to study and try them. The candidate will then be asked to sing one of the melodies – of the candidate’s choosing. The candidate should choose the piece that best suits their vocal range. The examiner will provide accompaniment, in the form of block chords – played either on keyboard or guitar.
This will be 8 bars in length. The key signature will be limited to 1 sharp or 1 flat, or less. The rhythmic range will be limited to eighth notes or longer, and may include ties. The time signature will be limited to 3/4 or 4/4. The pitch range will be limited to a major 9th, and the melody may be in a major or minor key. There will be no interval leaps greater than a major 6th.
b) Improvisation
The examiner will play a chord progression, in 4/4 time, in a major or minor key, on a keyboard or guitar. This will be in the form of block chords, with a straightforward rhythmic groove. During the first playing the candidate should listen to the progression, before improvising over two further cycles of the progression. The improvisation may be sung using any syllables, vowels, words or phrases of the candidate’s choosing.
The chord progression will be 8 bars in length, and will contain 1 chord per bar. The candidate will be given a copy of the chord progression.

Major scale and natural minor scale - 1 octave ascending and descending - first very slowly and then at a fast tempo Blues scale - 1 octave ascending and descending Major arpeggio ascending with major scale descending
Intervals: any diatonic interval from the major scale up to and including one octave, plus minor 3rd, minor 6th and minor 7th
Key/pitch to be chosen by the candidate, and stated to the examiner. The examiner will then provide the tonic note before candidate sings from memory – using any vowel sound(s) or sol-fa syllables (such as ‘lah’). A ‘neutral’ (non-stylised) voice should be used during this section of the exam, avoiding excessive vibrato.
Consonant and vowel sounds should be accurate and distinct, and where a single consonant or vowel is used its clarity should be maintained.
Tempos are at the candidate’s discretion – subject to the guidelines given in the examination handbook. All scales and arpeggios may be requested by the examiner to be sung either legato or articulated.

Candidates who have not passed the Popular Music Theory Grade 7 exam, and candidates not choosing the option described in Section 2.7, will be asked a selection of questions, appropriate to the grade, covering some or all of the following topics. Candidates’ responses should demonstrate a ‘practical’ understanding of the topics as follows:
␣ Note values – to include 16th notes (semiquavers) ␣ Key signatures (up to 4 sharps or 4 flats) ␣ Construction and interval spellings of major, minor, major 7th, minor 7th and dominant 7th chords ␣ Transposition of a major key chord progression

Repetition of rhythm: To clap back a complex 4 bar rhythm in 3/4, 6/8 or 4/4 time. The rhythm will contain no note value shorter than a sixteenth note, but may include triplets. The third bar will be a repeat of the first bar, whilst the fourth bar will be a variation of the second.
Keeping time and recognition of time signatures: To clap the main pulse, and accent the first beat of each bar, during the playing of a four bar melody in either 3/4, 6/8, 12/8 or 4/4 time. To identify the time signature. The melody will not begin on the first beat of the bar, and may include triplets.
Harmonisation of a melodic phrase: The examiner will play, up to 5 times, the tonic chord followed by a 2 bar phrase in either 4/4 or 6/8 time. The phrase will be in a major key and will contain no interval greater than a perfect 5th and no note value shorter than a 16th note. The candidate should join in on the final playing singing a suitable harmony line.
Recognition of intervals: To identify any interval, when played consecutively, from a minor 2nd up to and including an augmented 9th.
Recognition of cadences: To identify a perfect, plagal, imperfect or interrupted cadence at the end of a chord progression in a major key.

Specialism

a) Sight singing of a quick study piece
The candidate will be shown two short melodies and will be allowed 2 minutes to study and try them. The candidate will then be asked to sing one of the melodies – of the candidate’s choosing. The candidate should choose the piece that best suits their vocal range. The examiner will provide accompaniment, in the form of block chords – played either on keyboard or guitar.
This will be 8 bars in length. The key signature will be limited to 1 sharp or 1 flat, or less. The rhythmic range will be limited to eighth notes or longer, and may include ties. The time signature will be limited to 3/4 or 4/4. The pitch range will be limited to a major 9th, and the melody may be in a major or minor key. There will be no interval leaps greater than a major 6th.
b) Improvisation
The examiner will play a chord progression, in 4/4 time, in a major or minor key, on a keyboard or guitar. This will be in the form of block chords, with a straightforward rhythmic groove. During the first playing the candidate should listen to the progression, before improvising over two further cycles of the progression. The improvisation may be sung using any syllables, vowels, words or phrases of the candidate’s choosing.
The chord progression will be 8 bars in length, and will contain 1 chord per bar. The candidate will be given a copy of the chord progression.