Trinity’s woodwind certificate exams offer an alternative to graded exams.
Our music certificate exams are delivered as face-to-face exams only, open to all candidates, with no age restrictions or other limitations. There is no requirement to have passed lower levels, theory exams or other qualifications.
Choose from three levels of assessment representing key stages of musical development.
Certificate level | Equivalent grade level |
Foundation | Grade 3 |
Intermediate | Grade 5 |
Advanced | Grade 8 |
Certificate exams are available for the following woodwind subjects:
Flute
You may offer own-choice pieces on piccolo/alto flute/bass flute
Clarinet
Works written originally for Clarinet in A may be played on Clarinet in Bb and the accompaniment transposed accordingly. You may also offer own-choice pieces on Eb clarinet/bass clarinet.
Saxophone
Exams may be taken either on one instrument only, or on a variety of saxophones at the candidate's discretion.
Recorder
Any size(s) of instrument may be used; pieces published for descant recorder may be played on the tenor and pieces published for treble may be played on bass or sopranino.
Recorder exams should be taken on recorders with baroque fingering; instruments using German fingering must not be used. Instruments pitched at A=415 may be used where suitable accompanying instruments are available.
Jazz Flute, Jazz Clarinet, Jazz Saxophone
At least one third of the programme duration must comprise pieces containing improvisation.
Certificate repertoire lists are available for some subjects. For instruments without a repertoire list, candidates may select their pieces from the graded lists. For full details (including what you can play, and how long your recital should be), please see the syllabus.
Flute repertoire lists Clarinet repertoire lists Saxophone repertoire lists Recorder repertoire lists
Full details (including our procedures, syllabus requirements, what to expect, and what to bring with you) can be found in our Information & Regulations.
Exam report forms are released typically within 1-2 weeks, enabling candidates to benefit from the detailed feedback whilst the exam experience is still recent. Certificates usually follow 4 weeks later. Occasionally, we may not be able to release the exam result straight away. Further details about this can be found on our music syllabus Infringements page. For any other questions, please see our music exam help pages.
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