On 6th March 2023, The RSL Singapore Community got an in-depth guide to the new RSL Classical Guitar Syllabus with the help of RSL’s own Head of Graded Music and Publishing, Mr Jono Harrison.
Jono was heavily involved with writing many of RSL’s Syllabuses since 2019, such as the Acoustic Guitar, Contemporary Piano, and Keys which have been well received by teachers and learners alike.
The motivations and ethos behind RSL’s Classical Syllabuses is to honour tradition whilst looking to the future.
Striking a balance between radical redesign and recognisable structure, RSL Classical Guitar adheres to four key principles: championing composers from the global majority, true representation of gender, acknowledging the history and tradition of guitar pedagogy, and enabling students to feel comfortable studying music in a popular and classical environment. With works from a diverse selection of composers across classical, contemporary classical, jazz and pop, the syllabus provides an engaging stimulus for learning guitar from beginner to advanced level.
One of the key consultants for this syllabus is the brilliant Laura Snowden, an award-winning composer and one of this generation’s leading Classical Guitarists, composed 5 exquisite pieces exclusively for our RSL Classical Guitar syllabus. She is also a great example of the modern opportunities for aspiring classical guitarists of today.
The RSL Classical Guitar Syllabus features a diverse selection of works in Western Classical tradition, as well as repertoire from Jazz & Pop arranged with classical techniques, giving a modern flair to this classical discipline. This aims to ultimately break down division between Classical & Contemporary Music and open doors to learners that allow them to explore and appreciate a wider variety of music whilst maintaining a high academic standard.
Several volunteers played a selection of beautiful pieces from the syllabus, afterwhich Jono took participants through the key features of each piece.
A Q&A session followed, and here are some of the most notable points shared
There are no lists to choose from as in other examination boards! Candidates are free to specialise in a certain style they enjoy and choose their favourites from the 10 pieces at each grade, or they may also play pieces in a comparable standard from other sources for their exams.
Flexibility & accessibility – live accompaniment or backing track accompaniment is allowed on pieces with duet arrangements! So you can even have your teacher come in and play with you if your selected piece requires a duet, or you can play to a backing track if that is more comfortable or accessible for you. You don’t have to pay an accompanist!
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