Recorded accompaniments for Classical & Jazz and Rock & Pop music exams

Classical & Jazz Digital Grades

Candidates may use recorded accompaniments/backing tracks in place of a live accompanist or duet partner for all digital graded music exams at Initial – Grade 8.

• For duets, these must be played on the original duet instrument specified in the syllabus
• For other items, these can either be played on piano, or an instrumental track may be used. 
• The track must not offer more assistance to the candidate than the original piano part (eg, doubling of the instrumental or vocal line/rhythmic fills in held notes), or the exam may be subject to referral  
• The tracks must not include the solo instrument line played on the candidate instrument, ie be a demo track, or the exam may be subject to referral

The Trinity recorded accompaniments set out below can be used for all digital grades exams.

• Drum Kit Group A performances and Acoustic Guitar pieces (where tracks are required) must always be accompanied by the Trinity backing tracks.
• Solo (unaccompanied) performances in place of live accompaniment/backing tracks are not permitted

Candidates may have help operating the equipment so that it does not disrupt their performance. Performing levels should be checked before the recording starts to ensure that there is correct balance and the candidate’s instrument can be heard properly.

Classical & Jazz Face-to-face Grades

Candidates may use recorded accompaniments/backing tracks as follows:

• Drum Kit – at all grades, for Group A pieces (using the Trinity backing tracks only)
• Acoustic Guitar – at all grades, for all pieces where tracks are required (using the Trinity backing tracks only)
• Jazz Woodwind (all grades) / all other instruments (Initial-Grade 3 only) – These may be a recorded accompaniment of the piano part or instrumental tracks however these must not include the solo instrument line played on the candidate instrument, ie be a demo track. The track must not offer more assistance to the candidate than the original piano part (eg, doubling of the instrumental or vocal line/rhythmic fills in held notes), or the exam may be subject to referral. For duets, the recorded part must be played on the original duet instrument specified in the syllabus.
  

Candidates will need to provide the playback equipment unless other arrangements have been made with the exam centre. Equipment must produce good sound quality at an adequate volume – a phone or tablet speaker is not acceptable. Contact should be made with the centre well in advance to confirm the arrangements (power supply, equipment insurance, etc), which must be agreed with the Trinity local representative. All electrical devices must comply with health and safety requirements in the country where the exam is taking place. Examiners will not operate playback equipment – this should be fulfilled by the candidate, teacher or another person not related to the candidate, who must leave the room as soon as their playback duties are complete.

Classical & Jazz Digital Diplomas

For digital music diplomas, we strongly advise candidates to perform with live accompaniment. However, we will accept recorded accompaniments in digital diploma exams.

Recorded parts should be on piano for digital diploma exams (except for Drum Kit). If recorded parts on other instruments are required for any other reason, eg harpsichord for baroque works, approval must be obtained in advance.

Classical & Jazz Face-to-face Diplomas

Recorded accompaniment is not permitted – the accompaniment must be performed live in the exam (except Drum Kit).

Rock & Pop Digital Grades

Rock & Pop performances must always be accompanied by the Trinity backing tracks, for all songs chosen from the Trinity songbooks or eStore. The only circumstances in which a non-Trinity backing track can be used is for Song 2, if performing an own-choice song or one composed by the candidate.

Rock & Pop Face-to-face Grades

The examiner will have all the backing tracks for songs in the Trinity songbooks, as well as official additional tracks published by Trinity for purchase from the eStore. Examiners will operate the backing tracks to provide a sound check using the opening bars of the first song.

The Trinity backing tracks must be used for any songs chosen from the Trinity songbooks or eStore. If Song 2 is an own-choice song, the backing track should be given to the examiner on a USB stick (in MP3 format) or CD (if appropriate).

Obtaining Trinity recorded accompaniments / backing tracks

SOUNDWISE

SoundWise allows files to be downloaded as MP3 from website or streamed using an iOS/Android app using a code printed on inside cover of the book. See our audio downloads page.

TRINITY AUDIO PLATFORM

This hosts audio downloads for the Piano Exam Pieces Plus Exercises from 2023 Extended Edition books. See our audio downloads page.

STREAMING PLATFORMS

Please note that Trinity no longer publishes its music on streaming platforms. However, older publications can be found on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music and YouTube Music. Search for ‘trinity’ followed by the name of the instrument, eg ‘trinity flute’. Streaming services may remove any of the tracks or albums from their service at any time without notice.

Using other pre-recorded accompaniments

These can be produced by the teacher, candidate or any other musician, or included with publications, or obtained from third-party websites (NB Acoustic Guitar, Drum Kit and Rock & Pop candidates must use the Trinity backing tracks). These may be piano or instrumental tracks however these must not include the solo instrument line played on the candidate instrument, ie be a demo track. For duets, these must be played on the original duet instrument specified in the syllabus.

It is important that the candidate’s performance can be heard clearly throughout, and so any recorded accompaniment should match the published piano accompaniment and not provide any additional assistance to the candidate part (eg doubling of the instrumental or vocal line/rhythmic fills in held notes), or the exam may be subject to referral.

All Trinity publications can be purchased from shop.trinitycollege.com or from sheet music retailers. A growing number of publications can be purchased as an ebook through our digital music store at store.trinitycollege.com