Electone Grade 5-3
Examination Procedure
1. Reception
Present the admission slip for examination at the reception desk.
2. Preview
Follow the instructions given by the person in charge.
10 minutes will be given for preview for Improvisation (a) and (b).
3. The Examination
- Note:
- In the preview room, candidates may not copy the exercise to another piece of paper nor may they play on the keyboard.
- In the examination room, candidates should follow the instructions of the examiners.
- In the examination room and the preview room, candidates must switch off their mobile phones.
Subject Details
I. Improvisation
10 minutes are allotted for preview of improvisation (a) and (b) in a separate room.
Candidates are not allowed to write or play during preview of the improvisation examination.
I-I. Improvisation (a)
Contents & Level
Grade 5
A melody of about 16-32 bars with chord names.
Chords may include: Major, minor, dominant 7th, minor 7th, minor 7th♭5 (-5).
Numbers of choruses: 2-3 choruses
Grade 4
A melody of about 16-32 bars without chord names.
Numbers of choruses: 2-3 choruses
Grade 3
A melody of about 16-32 bars without chord names.
Numbers of choruses: 2-3 choruses (no notation of specified chorus)
Procedure
After performing the assigned melody with appropriate accompaniment, improvise an arrangement of the melody.
The melody of the first chorus must be played as indicated in the score.
For Grade 5, follow the chord names provided and play with appropriate accompaniment.
Please compose the entire piece for around the specified number of choruses.
Points of Evaluation
Grade 5
The ability to perform expressively by arranging the given melody into a complete piece
Correct understanding of chord names
The ability to understand musical styles (genres) and perform as a single piece with a natural flow
Grade 4, 3
The ability to perform expressively by arranging the given melody into a complete piece
Appropriate chords and accompaniment to the melody
The ability to understand musical styles (genres) and perform as a single piece with a natural flow
*The higher the grade, the higher the level of performance expression is required.
I-II. Improvisation (b)
Contents & Level
Candidates will improvise and perform a small piece based on a given short motif. (about 2 to 4 measures)
Procedure
Candidates are to choose one motif out of the three given motives.
Improvise the motif into a complete piece. Candidates can use any form.
Points of Evaluation
- The ability to create a natural flow of melody and harmony using the assigned motif
- The ability to consolidate the entire piece as a single piece, paying attention to the appropriate sense of style and form, with effective registration
- The performance should have a natural flow as a single piece
*The higher the grade, the higher the level of performance expression is required.
II. Sight Playing
Contents
Candidates will be given a short piece of 1-2 pages.
It may be in any key or time (meter).
Procedure
For every grade, candidates will be given about 30 seconds for preview. On the examiner's cue, candidates should set the registration and then start to play.
Candidates are not allowed to touch the Electone during the preview time.
Unless otherwise instructed, you are not permitted to perform the following at your own discretion.
III. Repertoire
Number of Pieces Required
The number of Compulsory Pieces, Free Selections and Original Compositions required for each grade is shown below. Any candidates offering repertoire inconsistent with the requirements may be disqualified. The examiners will decide which pieces will be played at the examination.
Grade 5, 4
Compulsory Piece: 1
Free Selection: 3
Total: 4
Grade 3
Compulsory Piece: 1
Free Selection: 4
Original Piece: 1
Total: 6
General Remarks on Repertoire
One movement of a Sonata or Sonatina is counted as one selection for both Compulsory Piece and Free Selection. However, selection of more than one movement from the same piece is not allowed.
It is highly recommended that candidates play all the pieces by memory. In case the candidate needs to use the score, a request to turn pages will be denied. They will have to turn the pages by themselves.
Be sure to bring the scores as examiners may request to see them (Photocopies are not allowed), even if candidates are performing from memory.
Please note that the performance may be stopped in the middle due to time constraints. However, this will not affect the judgment.
Points of Evaluation
Candidates will be evaluated in terms of both performance technique and expression. The higher the grade, the higher the level of performance expression is required.
The ability to express the appeal of the music
The ability to understand and express the style/genre of the music
The ability to play with registrations that match the music
Compulsory Piece
Starting in August 2023, we provide the scores in PDF format.
Please select one of the pieces from the PDF sheet music.
Pieces not listed below will not be counted as compulsory pieces. If candidates do not meet the requirements, they may be disqualified.
You may not choose a piece of music from a grade other than the one you are taking.
For the Grade 5 compulsory pieces by PDF sheet music (D-501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 521, 522, 523), you may download and use the registration data.
There is no registration data available for the pieces for Grades 4 and 3.
Grade 5
- D-501: Early Spring (Tomoko Noji)
- D-502: Sonata (Maki Yamada)
- D-503: Legend of the Sea (Ayaka Naritomi)
- D-504: A Legend of Nome (Azusa Ono)
- D-505: In the Autumn Fields (Maho Taniguchi)
- D-506: The Barley Field (Ayumi Tanaka)
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- D-521: The Moldau from the cycle of Symphonic poems "My Fatherland" (B.Smetana)
- D-522: Motet "Ave verum corpus" K.618 (W.A.Mozart)
- D-523: Suite "Pictures at an Exhibition" Promenade (M.P. Musorgsky)
Grade 4, 3
- D-301: From the Meadow Wind Blows You (Keiko Tanimura)
- D-302: Angels Dancing with Stars (Kyoko Nakajima)
- D-303: Memories (Mami Kakuda)
- D-304: Traveling on a Cloud (Mari Kamimoto)
- D-305: Towa ~ Wish to wings ~ (Nanami Utsumi)
- D-306: A Triumphal Song of Sky (Kyoko Ogawa)
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- D-321: 8 Little Preludes and Fugues No.1, Prelude BWV. 553 (J.S. Bach)
- D-322: "Peter and the Wolf" Op.67, Peter's Theme (S. Prokofiev)
- D-323: "The Sleeping Beauty" Waltz (P.I. Tchaikovsky)
Free Selection
Although there are no regulations as to the choice of free selection, candidates are advised to keep the following in mind:
- Choose from a variety of pieces.
- Regarding performance level, refer to the Electone books published by Yamaha Music Foundation/Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings which indicate the grade level.
- One's own arrangement or composition may be included in Free Selection. In that case, be sure to bring a score. The candidate needs to provide his/her score to the examiners.
- A compulsory piece may not be selected as a free selection.
Original Piece (Grade 3)
For Grade 3, candidates are required to compose and perform an original piece.
The style of the composition is not specified. The piece should sufficiently demonstrate the candidate's abilities as both a performer and composer.
If candidates have composed or arranged a simple folk song, it can be considered an original piece.
- Only one composition is required for the Original Piece. However, candidates may also include his/her original piece in the Free Selection.
- A copy of the score is to be submitted to the examiners in the examination room.
- The copy of the score will not be returned.
Electone Model Used for Examination
1. Electone models available at examination venues
All venues will have ELS-02C and ELS-01C models provided.
Please indicate your choice in the application.
(Candidates are to use the same Electone model for the entire examination.)
2. Use of recordable media
The only media (storage) that is allowed with the ELS-02C and ELS-01C is USB flash memory.
Please note that smart media and floppy disks are disallowed.
3. Advice to Candidates in preparation of registration data
Candidates preparing data for the ELS-02 (standard model) or ELS-02X (professional model) should perform on the ELS-02C on the day of exam.
Candidates preparing data for the ELS-01 (standard model) or ELS-01X (professional model) should perform on the ELS-01C on the day of exam.
Usage of MDR and Electone Functions
MDR
Candidates may use MDR by following the points listed below. In that case, the candidates may also use commercially available registration data.
The use of MDR is limited to the loading of registration data and playing the Auto Registration Change Data.
No performance data including use of XG tone generator may be permitted to be used.
Function of Electone
The candidates may use the functions of the Electone freely to enhance the performance effects. However, they should take care in maintaining their performance level in correspondence to the grade for which they are being examined.
Others
The local Yamaha Music School, subsidiary, distributor, Yamaha Music Foundation or Yamaha Corporation are not responsible for the registration data failures. Please bring backups of your registration data, protected data provided by Yamaha Music Foundation and Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, etc.