Rockschool is taking a trip down memory lane and reminiscing about some of the milestones that we’ve hit. In this issue, we’re taking a look at some of the key syllabuses RSL have released in recent years, as well as throwing it back to the ’90s with some exclusive images of early handwritten Rockschool syllabuses!
Dipping into the archives
In the process of preparing for this milestone 30th anniversary celebrations, our friends at RSL Head Office managed to rediscover some old gems from back in the ’90s when Rockschool first started.
RSL Awards was formerly known as Rockschool Ltd, and their logo has come a long way since they started back in 1991. Check out how it used to look back in the day!
Nowadays all of the scores are available digitally and supported by innovative technology like the RSL Learning Platform and Replay but it wasn’t always like this!
The first Rockschool scores were handwritten, including this early chart for ‘Superstition’ by Stevie Wonder.
Music Production
Technology has permanently changed how music is made, consumed, and taught, and RSL acknowledged this with the 2016 Rockschool Music Production syllabus.
The initial release was the world’s first graded syllabus in Music Production, and it’s gone from strength to strength, with an updated version released in 2019 allowing students greater creative freedom than ever before with a coursework format.
Guitar, Bass & Drums
Fast forward to 2018 and RSL launched the Rockschool Guitar, Bass and Drums grade books for 2018-2024 (raise your hand if you were at the Singapore Launch in October 2018 with Conor Burns!).
These syllabuses include much-loved Rockschool Originals as well as arrangements of titles reflecting rock and pop’s musical heritage in all its forms (including blues, rock, pop, soul, funk, R&B, jazz fusion, reggae, punk rock, alternative rock, grime and hip hop) and have tailored each piece to make it exactly right for the grade. That means there’s a whopping 12 pieces per grade to choose from!
The arrangements were written and performed by top session musicians who have worked with some of the biggest names in rock and pop. The tracks were recorded live at Real World’s acclaimed recording studios and feature live instruments and first rate performances for an unrivalled level of feel, authenticity, and musicianship
Piano & Keys
In 2019 RSL revamped their Piano and Keys offering, splitting them into their own syllabuses. The Keys syllabus includes specific arrangements to utilise varied levels of sound manipulation, patch switching, layers and splits, with the Piano syllabus exploring the capabilities of the acoustic piano in contemporary rock, pop and beyond!
Each grade features a collection of meticulously researched, and suitably arranged tracks from artists including: The Beatles, Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Keane, John Legend, The Police, David Bowie, Queen, Chvrches, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Jamiroquai, and Snarky Puppy and many more! They also contain music from films and musicals such as: The Greatest Showman, The Lion King, Frozen, E.T. and Wicked.
We have a little roundup of the RSL Rockschool Piano and Classical Piano syllabuses right here if you’d like to check it out!
Acoustic
2019 was a busy year for RSL, as they also updated the Acoustic syllabus in a big way. With hand-picked tunes from some of the world’s biggest artists across a diverse range of genres to provide students with an expansive song choice to use in their exam and for their own enjoyment. Designed for all types of aspiring guitar players, at each grade Rockschool Acoustic includes four session-style songs featuring recorded vocals, and two instrument-specific solo guitar arrangements to allow students to recreate a studio style session!
Vocals
Earlier this year RSL launched the latest Rockschool Vocals syllabus with updated, refreshed and expanded repertoire!
Rockschool Vocals is no longer split into male and female syllabuses, introducing students to a broader range of repertoire and technical exercises. Gender and ethnicity are well represented throughout the grades, whilst the repertoire expands upon a range of genres and styles that will encourage students with popular modern songs as well as connecting them to an array of established songs that exemplify vocal performance. There are also new piano arrangements for each piece, making Rockschool Vocals the perfect audition and recital tool.
RSL Classical
Okay it’s not *strictly* Rockschool, but we couldn’t cover the graded music exams without mentioning the RSL Classical!
RSL Classical landed with a bang at the end of 2020, with the first syllabus in the range, Classical Piano, proving an instant hit with students and teachers alike. Featuring a hugely diverse range of composers and artists, you can check out the highlights from each syllabus in RSL’s What’s The Score series:
And let’s not forget their innovations in remote exams in response to a Global Pandemic with Live Video Exams and more!
We hope you enjoyed this overview of how RSL has evolved over the years!
To find out more about RSL’s Rockschool Exams, Performance Arts Awards Exams and more in Singapore, visit www.rs-event.sg
Remember, you can grab your copy of Rockschool’s Syllabus Books at RS Event Center!
Need some tips on preparing for your next Rockschool Exam? Check out our Blog Page for all that and more!
We hope this information has been helpful. Find out more about the RSL Examinations in Singapore at www.rs-event.sg.