THE GARDNER'S TRUST BRAILLE MUSIC LITERACY AWARDS VOLUME 1 GENERAL REGULATIONS REQUIREMENTS SPECIMEN TESTS (LEVELS 1 TO 5) Produced and published by RNIB 105 Judd Street London WC1H 9NE Revised edition 2018 Royal National Institute of Blind People 2018 Charity Number 226227
Contents THE GARDNER'S TRUST... 3 BRAILLE MUSIC LITERACY AWARDS... 3 Introduction... 3 General Regulations... 3 Braille Music Literacy Awards... 5 Requirements... 5 Level One... 5 Level Two... 5 Level Three... 6 Level Four... 7 Level Five... 8 Advanced Level...10 Braille Music Literacy Awards...11 Specimen Tests...11 Level 1...12 7;c7...12 #b4...12 >/l_n "n w{ \v {} :_w?v u<klevel 2...12 7;c7...13 Level 3...14 Level 4...16 7solo "p7...21 %%%.c...21 >/l'>f'88"=.did=did>p'7...21 >f"=.eje=eje>p'7...21 >f'%"&.djd%&dj>p"&.djd(djd...21 >f"=.did=did"=idg!gd8i<2.8"]vu<klevel 521 [[JB Contents will look better when document is styled.]] 2
THE GARDNER'S TRUST BRAILLE MUSIC LITERACY AWARDS Introduction These awards are designed to assess formally - the ability to turn braille music symbols into fluent musical performance in a short space of time, and - to read the symbols accurately and fully. The Braille Music Literacy Awards have been sponsored by the Gardner s Trust for the Blind and administered by RNIB since 1992. Tests take place in June and July annually at a location to suit the candidate. Entries need to be submitted to mas@rnib.org.uk by 1 May each year including preferred dates and locations. An annual report is written summarising the year s examinations and each candidate receives a detailed report and a certificate of entry. The best candidate at each level receives a financial prize providing that a minimum standard has been reached. General Regulations 1. Candidates need to be under 19 years of age and resident in the UK. 2. Candidates may enter for any level of the Awards but only enter each level once. 3. Candidates will be required to memorise the test, and subsequently perform it on the instrument of their choice, or sing it. They may practise the test during the preparation time. 4. Candidates will be required to read the test, explaining each braille music symbol. 5. Candidates may read or play first. 6. The tests are recorded. 7. The following preparation times are permitted: Levels 1 and 2: 5 minutes Level 3: 10 minutes 3
Level 4: 15 minutes Level 5: 20 minutes Advanced Level: 30 minutes 8. Prizes awarded to the best candidate each year for each level, providing a minimum standard of competency has been achieved, are: Level 1: 10 Level 2: 20 Level 3: 30 Level 4: 40 Level 5: 50 Advanced Braille Music Literacy Award: 250 4
Braille Music Literacy Awards Requirements Level 1 1. To recognise all seven notes as crotchets, minims, dotted minims or semibreves and corresponding rests. 2. To recognise 3rd, 4th and 5th octave signs, and the rules of their use. 3. To recognise treble and bass clefs. 4. The following time signatures: two four, three four, four four. #b4 #c4 #d4 5. The signs for sharp % flat < bar rest m and double bar <k 6. The dynamic markings: >p (piano) and >f (forte) 7. To show an understanding of the major keys: C, G and F. Normally the test will be up to eight bars long, on no more than two braille lines (of 38 cells). The vocal test will be melody line only, that is, without lyrics. For vocal tests, the examiner will play the starting note if required. Level 2 As Level 1, adding: 1. Quavers, dotted crotchets and corresponding rests. 2. The keys of D major, E minor and D minor. 3. The signs for: natural * tie @c pause <l 5
4. The dynamic markings: mezzo piano, mezzo forte, pianissimo, fortissimo >mp >mf >pp >ff Normally the test will be up to eight bars long, on no more than two braille lines (of 38 cells). The vocal test will be melody only, that is, without lyrics. For vocal tests, the examiner will play the starting note if required. Level 3 As Level 2, adding: 1. The dotted quaver, semiquaver and semiquavers grouped: #b4 >/l"&gef?<k and rests for dotted quaver and semiquaver. 2. 2nd and 6th octave signs, as appropriate to the voice or instrument. 3. The following time signatures for common time, alla breve and six eight time..c _c #f8 4. The major keys of B flat, E flat and A and the minor keys of C and G. 5. Relevant common signs for each instrument: In keyboard music, signs for right hand.> left hand _> and fingering. 6
In string music, signs for bowing and fingering. <b <' In woodwind and brass music, signs for breath,/ and musical comma >1 In vocal music, signs for breath mark,/ and lyrics. Lyrics will be set out on the line above the music with the music indented into cell 3. Vocal tests will have one syllable per note. 6. The slur c 7. The musical hyphen " Normally the test will be up to eight bars long, on no more than two braille lines (of 38 cells) or four lines for vocalists. For vocal tests, the examiner will play the starting note if required. Level 4 As Level 3, adding: 1. The breve and demisemiquaver. 2. The triplet 2 3. In keyboard music, interval signs up to the octave with intervals reading downwards in the right hand (treble clef) and upwards in the left hand (bass clef). 4. Hairpin markings as follows: The signs for (beginning) >c (end)>3 (beginning) >d (end) >4 7
5. The major keys of E and A flat and F sharp minor. 6. The time signature of #c8 7. The signs for a. bar or part-bar repeat 7 b. Forward repeat <7 c. Backward repeat <2 8. The sign for slurs linking more than four notes together: Beginning ;b Ending ~2 9. The signs for: a. staccato 8 b. accent (V on side in print).8 10. The doubling of signs such as slur, staccato, accent, triplet and interval signs. 11. Tempo markings in English Normally the test will comprise up to 12 bars, on no more than three braille lines (of 38 cells), or six lines for vocalists or keyboard music. For vocal tests, the examiner will play the starting note if required. Level 5 As Level 4, adding: 1. Time signatures three two and nine eight #c2 #i8 8
2. Stem signs: _' _k _a _b _l and metronome marks: _a "7 #fhk 3. The keys of B and D flat major, and C sharp and F minor. 4. The double sharp and double flat. 5. All remaining octave signs. 6. The signs: Appoggiatura 5 Acciaccatura "5 Tenuto _8 Trill 6 7. Irregular groupings of notes such as _5 or _7 8. Pedal signs: down <c up *c 9
9. The "in-accord" signs: Full-bar <> Part-bar "1 and the "part-bar division" sign:.k 10. Dynamics >fff >ppp >sf and cresc. >cr' dim. >dim' 11. Simple Italian terms: Allegro Andante Lento Adagio Scherzo legato cantabile espressivo rit. a tempo poco molto sempre Normally the test will comprise up to 16 bars, on no more than four braille lines (of 38 cells) or eight lines for keyboard music and vocalists. For vocal tests, the examiner will play the starting note if required. Advanced Level A music extract of Grade VIII standard will be set. This may include any of the Braille music signs commonly used at this level, for the chosen instrument or voice. 10
Braille Music Literacy Awards Specimen Tests The following examples have been prepared as a guide. The purpose of the tests is to ascertain that candidates can read, understand and perform from a Braille score at a given level. In levels 4 and 5, two versions of each test are given: one for keyboard and the other for a solo string or wind instrument. 11
Level 1 A,a <#c4 >/l.?{? "}v? \v? "sv<k B ;,b %#d4 >/l"r{w n'[.:vu ":vu.o?w n'{ \vu _\vu<k C ;,c #b4 >/l_n "n w{ \v {} :_w?v u<k 12
Level 2 A,a <#d4 >/l"ihgfex.:@c :%d*jdxxi.:'gfxex "!<k B ;,b %#c4 >/l^t_fh w'h$@c f%egxix {\v<k C ;,c %%#b4 >/l"ige*.d wxe df"id efgx "ige*d wx"h g.e"f.d o<l<k 13
Level 3 A (Keyboard fingering),a "<,kdybosrd f+}+"> <<<#f8.>"fahj.f'")h.d'k*!%gj'1(f "i1=(ihk&=h g1daefxx<k B (Cello fingering) ;,b "<,cello f+}+"> <<#b4 >#l'<b_\j_e x<'"ejh y*jdbea&bmx <b_!lhijyjih %gikeg h<b*=&zkdji rk<l<k 14
C (Violin fingering) ;,c "<,viol9 f+]+"> %%%.c >/l.sa?x'<'.&k s?x'<'.&1.eej<b)zddi<b!y f=&em<'){@cix<k 15
Level 4 A (Keyboard),a "<,keyboard7"> #d%.c a.> v;b"$@cfhj.f^2 _>'>mp_&k+l9a b.>.elc&c="{@ci>c"ij*d _>_pk#b*0apk/1#b c.>'>d'*.dlcj>4'v>pp'%"o1+b#ac _> _pk+l*3ax>p.8^ia.8h.8*gc@c d.> "$k#0avu<k _>'>d^gcf>4'vu<k 16
A (Solo part),a "<,solo "p"> #d%.c >/l'v>mp';b<b"$@cfhj.f^2.ec&c=;b"{@c>c"!*deg!^2icjc*d >d'*;?ct'<l>4 x>pp;b<b"ih*g@cgf^2v<l<k 17
B (Keyboard) ;,b "<,keybo>d"> #c8 a.>'>mf'8<.h/xx 7 <7>p'8<"fb/a77 _> 8^j/xx 7 <7m d.>.8"ik%/18<f/7 >c'8<"f/.8i%/8f/ _>.8_e</xx '''' m f.>.8"i%/8<f/.8i/>3'<2 m _>'m<2 '''''''''''''' m h.>'>ff'8<;h/90xx<l<k _> 8^j/9<0xx<l<k 18
B (Solo part) ;,b "<,solo "p"> #c8 >/l'>mf'<b.=c<(xx 7 <7>p'<'8<"f8f8f.8i8<f8f >c'8<"f.8i8f.8%h8<f.8i>3'<2 M >ff>c'<'")cyc=c<(>3'x<k 19
C (Keyboard) ;,c "<,keybo>d"> %%%.c a.>'>f'88"=.did=did>p'7 _> 8_g+9xv7 b.>'>f'88"=.eje=eje>p'7 _> 8_g#0xv7 c.>'>f'88%"&.djd%&djd>p'7 _> 8_g/#xv7 d.>'>f'88"=did=di8d.8"q<k _> 88_g+9xvmdi8d.8^]<k 20
C (Solo part) ;,c "<,solo "p"> %%%.c >/l'>f'88"=.did=did>p'7 >f"=.eje=eje>p'7 >f'%"&.djd%&djd>p"&.djd(djd >f"=.did=did"=idg!gd8i<2.8"]vu<k 21
Level 5 A (Keyboard),a "<,keybo>d">,andante _a "7 #gb4 #e%#c4 a.> >mp espressivo> ;b"t"?k<> X;b"eagjd"f^2 _>'v^wc_]+ b.>.o1$k<>x;b"gjef"h^2 _>'v^wc_$9 c.>.o1?l<>x;b"gjed"f^2 _>'v^wc_]+ d.>"t1^2"1x"ecgcj.k2"ichcg _>'v^wc_]9 e.>';b.o1$k<>x;b"gjef*"h^2 _>'v^wc_]+ f.>.q1\k<>x;b"ga.fldbel"ha^2 _>'v^{c%w g.>.q1%$k<>x>d;b"iadl"gajbha^2>4 _>'v_?c^? h.>.q'k^2<l<>x>poco rit'> >c;b"ibdlf1>d'*"hagb>4'<l<k _>'v_gcicdcg<l<k 22
A (Solo part),a "<,solo "p">,andante _a "7 #gb4 #e%#c4 >/l >mp espressivo> "wc@cj'c8)ycjcicj.:'ec$ o? ycjcicj}@cgx.o$.]c@c2gcecj2.hcec%j.ic)c%);b?@c>d;y*jih^2 >poco rit'>.\c]>4'v<k 23
B (Keyboard) ;,b "<,keybo>d">,adagio4 _a "7 #fj4 #d<.c j.> >mf cantabile> ;b"dbzy*)y _> '''''''''''''''' xv a.>'"s'kh'^2;b=<>v_iacdbcglxv _>'<c;b^gk_dbgaildb^2*cxv b.>'"s@cih12gafleb<>7 _>'<c7 c.>"?a^2x;bd:@c>c"z&>d'2"=&z>4 _>'<c*^fkc_dbcha*cx<c^gc_eci*cx d.>'>rit'"n^2@cd<l<k _>'<c;b^dkhb*_fahl"db<l^2*c<k 24
B (Solo part) ;,b "<,solo "p">,adagio4 _a "7 #fj4 #d<.c >/l'>mf cantabile> ;b<'"dzy*)y^2 "s'ch'=c s@cihc2gcfce "?x;bd>c":@cz&>d'2"=&z>4 "?^2x>pp;b.dz&2=(!2)!(2=&z^2 n@cd<l<k 25
C (Keyboard part) ;,c "<,keyboard "p">,lento4 _a' "7 #eb4 #e<#i8 a.>'v'>p;b.eb>c.fg>d'*.ha*i*j^2>4 _>'<c>pp;b_ekiajb<c*\'l*/a.c" \/^2x b.>'v'>pp;b;e>c.fg>d'*;h*i*j^2>4 _>'<c7 c.>'v'>mf;b.:'k<?1e<> v'>pp>c"eacfcgc>3'*"haxx _>'<c>pp'7 d.>'>rit'*"s'k>d'*"\1f^2>4'<> v'>c"eacfcgc>3'*"hxx _>'<c7 e.> >a tempo> v'>ppp;p'k*#l3a<l<k _>'''''''''' <c>ppp@:'@co'<l*c<> v'"o'k*#b*9a<l<k 26
C (Solo part) ;,c "<,solo "p">,lento4 _a' "7 #eb4 #e<#i8 >/l'v'>p>c;b.efg>d'*.h*i*j^2>4 v'>pp>c;b"efg>d'*"h*i*j^2>4 v'>mf'<b;:'c<?ce *.s'c*\cf x>mp>c;b<'.:@c:'@ce<de^2 >rit'>d;b*"{'@ci*\@ch$^2>4 >a tempo> v'>p>d'<b;q'<l>4'<k 27