THIS IS
THE ENTIRE SYLLABUS FOR DOWNLOAD2006 ONWARD
Celebrating 70 years
1936-2006
GOVERNING COUNCIL
Chairman
: COLIN F. COOK,MA, FIL, HonFBCA.
GINA BRANNELLI, ALCM, LLCM., MICHAEL H
CUNNINGTON.
ROBERT FLETCHER, PATRICK HAY, AMIEE.,
HARRY HINCHCLIFFE.
STEVE MALES, MA, MBIM, FRGS, Ph.D., JOHN
M. POTTERTON.,
PAUL WESLEY., PHILIP WHEELER.
EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR
RAYMOND BODELL
Bsc (hons), FLCM, LmusLCM, AmusLCM, AmusTCL,
PGCE, LBCA (TD), ABCA (TD), LBCA
SECRETARIAT
PAULINE NOON
Hon FBCA
PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR
GRAHAM LAURIE
ABCA (TD), LBCA
ADMINISTRATOR
ANNA BODELL
ASSISTANT SECRETARY
KAROLYN BROADHEAD
LBCA.
CONTENTS
Page
General
Regulations
3
Solo
Preliminary 6
Grade 1
7
Grade
2 8
Grade
3 9
Grade
4 10
Grade
5 11
Grade
6 12
Grade
7 13
Grade
8 14
Duet
Grade
1 15
Grade
2 15
Grade
4 16
Grade
6 16
Grade
8 16
Theory of Music
Preliminary
17
Grade
1 18
Grade
2 18
Grade
3 18
Grade
4 19
Grade
5 19
Grade
6 20
Grade
7 20
Grade
8 20
Recital
21
Diploma
Regulations 22
ABCA
23
ABCA
(TD) 24
LBCA
25
LBCA (TD) 26
List of
Publishers
27
Examination General
Regulations
Categories
of Examinations. There
are three categories of
examination:
A. Accordion Playing- Solo D. Accordion Playing –Duet T.
Theory of Music
Categories A and T are in eight
grades (plus a Preliminary Grade), and Category B in five grades, as follows:
Category A
- Solo
Category D - Duet Category T - Theory of Music
Grade Pr
Preliminary Grade
Pr Preliminary
Grade
1 Primary Grade 1 Primary Grade
1 Primary
Grade 2
Secondary Grade 2 Secondary Grade 2
Secondary
Grade
3 Elementary
Grade 3 Elementary
Grade
4 Transitional Grade 4 Transitional Grade
4 Transitional
Grade
5 Intermediate
Grade 5 Intermediate
Grade
6 Senior Grade 6 Senior Grade
6 Senior
Grade
7 Advanced
Grade 7 Advanced
Grade
8 Final Grade 8 Final Grade
8 Final
Qualifications to Category A - Solo Examinations:
Grades Pr, 1,
2, 3, 4, 5 - No entry qualification.
Grade 6 -
To be awarded the grade a “pass” in Theory of Music Grade 5 (BCA only)
Grade 7 &
8 -To be awarded the grade a “pass” in Theory of Music Grade 6 (BCA only)
In every case a “Pass” in a higher
BCA Theoretical Examination grade than that specified will be accepted.
Qualifications to Category D -
Duet and Category T - Theory of Music Examinations:
No entry qualification is
required. Candidates may enter these categories without previously having passed
any other examination.
Entry.
Examination entries will only be accepted in accordance with these Regulations,
and on the understanding that in all matters the decision of the Governing
Council is final. The Governing Council reserves the right to refuse or cancel
the entry of any candidate, in which case the entry-fee will be refunded. There
is no age limit for grade examinations.
Entry Forms.
Entry for any examination must be made on the official Examination Entry Form.
The Entry Forms must be completed and sent, together with the appropriate fee,
direct to the College. Entry Forms are obtainable from the College. The Fees are
as per current Entry Form, and should be remitted by cheque or P/O, made payable
to “British College of Accordionists”. Cash and Treasury notes should not be
sent unless registered.
Closing Dates for Entry.
All Entry Forms must reach the
College at least FIVE WEEKS before the advertised date of examination.
Late Entries.
Late Entries will be accepted up to FOUR WEEKS before the advertised date of the
examination, on payment of a Late Entry Fee.
Examination Appointments.
A Notification Card with details of the examination date, time and place will be
sent to each candidate TEN days beforehand. This card must be produced at the
examination: and no candidate will be examined unless the notification card
is produced. Appointments for Practical Examinations can be fixed by
the College only after the entries are complete and the Examiners’ tours
arranged. Individual requests and preferences for days and times will be
considered provided they are declared in the appropriate space on the entry
form, but the final time allotted must be decided by the College. The College
will do its utmost to avoid dates and times inconvenient to candidates, but
cannot give a prior undertaking to examine on, or avoid, a particular date or
time, and must reserve the right to arrange the examinations to suit the
majority. Examination sessions are normally in the Morning, afternoon and
Evening.
Withdrawals.
Withdrawals will be accepted only if made in writing and received at the College
at least THREE WEEKS before the examination date. In this case a candidate may
enter for the examination at the next session held at the same or an alternative
centre on payment of a Re-Registration Fee (see entry form for details). Failure
to comply with this rule will result in the Entry Fee being forfeited.
Absence.
Candidates who do not present
themselves for examinations at the appointed times will automatically forfeit
the Examination Fee. In the case of illness a doctor’s certificate must be
forwarded to the College within TWO WEEKS. The candidate may re-enter for the
same examination within twelve months on payment of a Re-Registration Fee.
Re-Registration.
Any candidate may re-register by
payment of the Re-Registration Fee because of illness or incapacitation or
withdrawal . When applying for Re-Registration a new entry form must be
submitted.
Examination.
Every candidate must be prepared
to carry out ALL the requirements contained in the syllabus for the examination
for which he or she has been entered. The examiner is empowered to ask any
reasonable questions bearing on the subject of the examination, and may also
stop the performance of any item when sufficient has been heard on which to
judge the candidate’s ability.
Examiners Decision.
In all examinations the examiners decision is final, and no appeal to the result
can be considered. THE EXAMINERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION AS TO THE RESULTS OF EXAMINATIONS TO ANY PERSON PRIOR TO THE
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE COLLEGE.
Marks.
The total mark obtainable is
100. 70% of this total is required to Pass, 80% to pass with Merit, and 90% to
pass with Distinction. Certificates specifying the grade and manner of passing
will be awarded to all successful candidates. These certificates will not
certify that the holders thereof, are qualified to teach, nor entitle them to
append any letters to their names.
Report and Mark Sheets.
As soon as possible following the examination, a report and mark sheet - with
the examiners remarks (of which no duplicate is retained by the college) and the
marks obtained, will be sent to the person indicated on the appropriate section
on the Entry Form. The college cannot accept any responsibility for the
non-receipts of any reports or mark sheets after their dispatch. On application,
the detailed marks (but NOT the examiners remarks) can where necessary be
re-issued by the college. A payment of £5 must accompany each application.
Disability or learning
difficulty. If a
candidate has a physical disability which requires some modification of
performing technique or a learning difficulty such as dyslexia, a letter should
be attached to the entry form so that the examiner may be advised. It should be
understood, however, that although the examiner will be sympathetic to the
candidate, no special allowance in marking will be made and the candidate’s
performance will be judged according to the standard normally expected for the
grade.
Privacy.
Local Representatives are under requirements to ensure that absolute privacy
during an Examination is maintained, including the forbidding of loitering by
any person outside the Examination Room door.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES.
The BCA is committed to providing equality of opportunity and treatment for all,
and will not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly on the basis of age,
ethnic origin, gender or disability in all matters.
CHILD PROTECTION.
As many of the Candidates for the BCA
examinations are children, the BCA accepts it has a responsibility for the
welfare and safety of children undertaking its examinations, or otherwise under
its temporary care. All persons working on behalf of the BCA are required to
accept this responsibility and are committed to practises which protect children
from harm.
N.B. Teachers and candidates are
reminded that the Copyright Act 1988 forbids the making or use of photo-copies
or manuscript copies of Copyright Works, and that all College Examination
Representatives are under explicit instruction to debar all such copies from
entering the examination Room, in order to protect themselves, the Examiner and
the College from possible prosecution as Accessories to an infringement of the
above Act.
Category A - SOLO
ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS.
·
Scales and Arpeggios
A musical performance of scales is required. To be played from
memory in all grades.
Touch
: See appropriate Grade.
Bellows Control: Each scale or arpeggio should be played ascending with the
bellows opening and descending with the bellows closing; the highest note should
not be repeated, and there should be no perceptible break in continuity
when changing the direction of the bellows. No undue accentuation is expected.
Tempo:
The metronome - mark indicated is the
approximate tempo acceptable for each particular grade. N.B. All scales and
arpeggios must be played using the same keyboard system(s) throughout. A change
of system(s) during the session is not permitted.
·
Pieces:
The pieces contained in the syllabus
for the grade are the only pieces accepted for the Examination. Preparation
of an incorrectly chosen piece will affect the final result. Repeats are not
required unless they are essential to the Form of the piece.
·
Playing at Sight:
During the short preparation time you
may try out parts or sections of the test. Blind candidates should request
special tests in lieu of sight-playing at the time of submitting entry.
These tests will require them to repeat on the instrument short passages
appropriate to the grade, played twice by the examiner. Large print versions of
tests can be made available for partially- sighted candidates if requested at
time of submitting entry.
·
Aural Tests:
These may be played by the examiner
on the Accordion, piano, keyboard, or organ. Deaf and hearing impaired
candidates may opt to respond to special tests in place of the standard aural
tests if a written request is made at the time of submitting entry.
N.B. A 48 bass accordion with 26 or
less piano-keys is regarded as unsuitable for Examinations beyond Grade 2. A
72 bass accordion with 34 piano-keys is regarded as unsuitable for Examinations
beyond Grade 5. Candidates must use an instrument capable of carrying out
all of the requirements for the examination entered.
A.Pre Preliminary
Grade
Scales and Arpeggios.
(5 marks)
·
To play on the treble keyboard,
the major scales of C and G one octave ascending and descending. (approx.
tempo MM=50, two notes per beat). Touch Legato.
Pieces (25 marks each piece) To choose ONE
piece from each of the following Groups.
Group A:
Primary Course for Accordion
F Wright Charnwood
Any two right hand studies from p3 and No 4 & 5, p5 (Left hand)
Eight Studies for the Beginner
Accordionist R Wright
Charnwood
(P2, Nos 1, 2, 3 & 4)
Group B:
P9 No 13 Primary Course for Accordion F
Wright Charnwood
P9 No 12 Primary Course for
Accordion F Wright
Charnwood
Eight Studies for the
Beginner Accordionist p3 No 5 R Wright
Charnwood
The Small
Snowman G
Laurie Musical Pages
Skipping Along from “Playground
Games” H Hinchcliffe Charnwood
Group C:
P7 No 9 Primary Course for
Accordion F Wright
Charnwood
P8 No 10 Primary Course for
Accordion F Wright
Charnwood
Eight Studies for the
Beginner Accordionist p4 No 7 R Wright
Charnwood
Sleigh
Bells
G Laurie Musical Pages
Mini
Mo
H Benton Charnwood
Dreaming Dolly from
“Playground Games” H Hinchcliffe
Charnwood
Sight Reading
(10 marks)
·
To locate single notes on the
treble keyboard, written as semibreves, natural notes only, ranging from middle
C to G above the stave.
·
To play a rhythm-pattern on one
note, treble keyboard only, containing crotchet, minim and semibreve notes in
4/4 time only.
Aural Tests
(10 marks)
·
To state which is the higher in
pitch of two notes sounded in succession.
·
To state which is the longer in
value of two notes sounded in succession
·
To clap a time-pattern after it
has been given twice.
·
To sing, hum or whistle a note
played twice by the examiner (range - middle C up to clef-line G)
A.1 Grade 1
Primary
Scales and Arpeggios.
(20 marks)
To play two octaves, ascending and descending,
on the treble keyboard:
·
The major scales and arpeggios of
C.
To play one octave, ascending and descending, on
the treble keyboard:
·
The major scales and arpeggios of
G, D and F.
(Approx. tempo: MM = 66, two notes per beat).
Touch: legato or staccato, as requested by the examiner.
Pieces (20 marks each piece) To choose ONE
piece from each of the following Groups.
Group A:
Primary Course for Accordion
F Wright Charnwood
(p11, No 17; p12, Nos 18
& 19)
Work and Play, Vol 1(p6, No10; p9,
No17; p8, No14) G Romani Charnwood
Work and Play, Vol 1(p6, No10; p4,
No2; p8, No14) * G Romani Charnwood
Group B:
The Princess
Waltz H
Benton Charnwood
Lullaby from Two selected
pieces L A Grace
Charnwood
Happy
Waltz
K Harling KDH Music
Picking Edelweiss from “Tyrolean
Sketches” K Broadhead Charnwood
Romantic Moon from “Mainly under the
Fingers” F Parnell Charnwood
A Little
Game
H Benton Charnwood
Withybrook Waltz (either version)
* L A Grace
Charnwood
Mixolydisch p8 from Musik fur Kinder
Bk 2 * W Koschorke Schmulling
Gentle Doll
* R
Fleming Waterloo
Group C:
Puffing Billy
R
Wright Charnwood
Jingle Bells from “Primary
Course” F Wright
Charnwood
Strolling Sammy from “Waltzing
Winnie and Friends” E Sabin Charnwood
Scoobie
T Fraser Charnwood
Chasing Goats from “Tyrolean
Sketches” K Broadhead Charnwood
Gay Galop from “Little Dance
Suite” G Romani
Charnwood
The Kings March from “A Royal
Suite” L Law
Charnwood
A Pleasant Memory (either
version) Young Player Bk 1* E Harris
Charnwood
Grazioso no 5 from
“Allerlei” * T
Lundquist M Hohner
Sight Reading.
(10 marks)
To play on both keyboards - with hands moving
separately simple passages of approximately 8 bars in 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4 time,
using semibreve, dotted minim, minim and crotchet notes only. These will use the
first five notes of the major scales of C & G (treble) and C, G, and F bass
notes and major chords written without chord symbols.
Aural Tests.
(10 marks)
·
To state which is the higher in
pitch of two notes sounded in succession.
·
To sing, hum or whistle a note
played twice by the examiner (range Middle C up to Treble Clef line G)
·
To clap or tap a time-pattern of a
simple melody of four bars in length after it has been played twice by the
examiner, and to state whether it is in Simple, Duple or Simple Triple time.
·
To recognise a rhythmic change in
a two-bar phrase played twice by the examiner, with the change being made in the
second playing. Candidates will be required to recognise and tap or describe
the change.
A.2 Grade 2
Secondary
Scales and Arpeggios. (20 marks)
To play two octaves, ascending and descending,
on the treble keyboard:
·
The major scale and arpeggio of C.
To play one octave, ascending and descending, on
the treble keyboard:
·
The major scales and arpeggios of
D, F and Bb.
·
The minor scales and arpeggios of
A, E and D (harmonic or melodic at candidates choice).
To play one octave, ascending and descending, on
the bass keyboard:
·
The major scales and arpeggios of
C, G and F.
(App. tempo: MM = 76, two notes per beat).
Touch: legato or staccato, as requested by the examiner.
Pieces (20 marks each piece) To choose ONE
piece from each of the following Groups.
Group A:
Primary Course (p7, No15; p21, No 45; p14, No 28) F
Wright Charnwood
Work and Play, Vol 1(p10, Nos 22 &
20; p21, No27) G Romani Charnwood
Work and Play, Vol 1(p10, No 20; p5,
No5; p8, No15)* G Romani Charnwood
Group B:
Buttercup Meadows from “In the
Country” R Wright
Charnwood
Alpine Yodel from “Young Player Vol
2” E Harris
Charnwood
By the
Seashore
R Wright Charnwood
Tartan
Ribbons
K Broadhead Charnwood
Minuet and Trio from “Mainly under
the Fingers” F Parnell Charnwood
Easdale
Waltz
J F MacIntyre Charnwood
Sweet
Lavender Waltz D
Smith Charnwood
Minuet from
“Two Original Pieces” * G
Vasco Kestrel
Minuet
*
Bach arr H Benton Charnwood
Rustic
Ballad (version 1) * E
Sabin Charnwood
.
Group C:
Chucky, Ducky
Polka K
Broadhead Charnwood Miniature
March L A
Grace Charnwood
A Little Polka from “Preparatory
Course” F Wright
Charnwood
A Sleeping
Warrior J F
MacIntyre Charnwood
On Horseback from “In the Country” R
Wright Charnwood
A Merry March from “Young
Player Vol 2 E Harris
Charnwood
Aolisch p12 from “Musik fur Kinder”
Bk 2 * W Koschorke Schmulling
Autumn Evensong from “Mainly under
the Fingers” * F Parnell Charnwood
Piccolissima Sonatina no 1 from
“Allerlei” * T Lundquist M
Hohner
Sight Reading. (10 marks)
To play on both keyboards, with hands moving
separately simple passages in 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4 time, using accidentals F#, C#,
and Bb (treble) in five finger position and C, G, D and F (bass) notes and major
chords written without chord symbols.
Aural Tests. (10 marks)
·
To sing, hum or whistle a sequence
of three diatonic notes played twice by the examiner in a major key, the tonic
chord first having been sounded.
·
To identify the interval sounded
above the tonic of the major scale as the 2nd, 3rd, 4th,
or 5th degree. The tonic chord will be sounded first.
·
To clap or tap a time-pattern of
a simple melody of four bars in length after it has been played twice by the
examiner, and to state whether it is in Simple, Duple or Simple Triple time.
·
To recognise a rhythmic change in
a two-bar phrase played twice by the examiner, with the change being made in the
second playing. Candidates will be required to recognise and tap or describe
the change.
A.3 Grade 3
Elementary
Scales and Arpeggios.
(20 marks)
To play two octaves, ascending and descending,
on the treble keyboard:
·
The major scales and arpeggios of
G, A, Bb and Eb.
·
The minor scales and arpeggios of
A, E and D (harmonic or melodic at candidates choice).
To play two octaves, ascending and descending,
on the bass keyboard:
·
The major scales and arpeggios of
G and D.
To play one octave, ascending and descending, on
both keyboards together:
·
The major scale and arpeggio of C.
(App. tempo: MM = 88, two notes per beat).
Touch: legato or staccato, as requested by the examiner.
Pieces (20 marks each piece) To choose ONE
piece from each of the following Groups.
Group A:
48 Exercises (p7, No 20; p11, No38; p13, No 44) F
Wright Charnwood
Work and Play, Vol 2 (p6, No 39; p9
No 46; p7, No 41) G Romani Charnwood
Work and Play, Vol 2 (p6, No 39; p4,
No33; p16, No 60) * G Romani Charnwood
Group B:
Sunshine Waltz from “Elementary
Course” F Wright
Charnwood
Cargen
Lodge
G Laurie Charnwood
Tyrolienne
Masquerade K
Harling Charnwood
Serenata from “5
Divertimenti” F
Wright Charnwood
Miss Yvonne
Laurie G
Laurie Charnwood
Gruss Aus
Wien G
Crossman Charnwood
Phyrygisch from “Musik fur Kinder”
Bk 2 * W Koschorke Schmulling
In Autumn from “The
Seasons” * Y Apparailly
Waterloo
Ploughing the Field from “On
the Farm” * R Wright
Charnwood
Group C:
Dance of the
Jesters from “The Magic Mirror” A Carter
Charnwood
Kevana
K Harling Charnwood
Kindermarch
F Wright Charnwood
Chiripa
G Crossman Ledgerline
The Cuckoo Clock
Polka K Broadhead
Charnwood
Strathspey
–Glenlogan E
Lusk Charnwood
The Drum Majorette from
“Elementary Course” F Wright
Charnwood
Imitation No12 from
“Allerlei” *
