Grade Eight Theory

Co-requisite for Grade Eight Practical Examinations

Examination Length: 2.5 Hours

Grade Eight Theory topics include:

All major and minor keys ( scales beginning on any degree);
Writing of blues, pentatonic, whole tone, octatonic, and chromatic scales;
Simple, compound and irregular metre;
Treble, bass, alto and tenor clef;
Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian modes;
All intervals and inversions, including compound intervals;
Major, minor, augmented and diminished triads, dominant seventh and diminished seventh chords with inversions;
Identification of quartal chords, polychords, clusters and bi-tonal chords;
Writing of simple chorale passages using figured bass analysis;
Perfect, plagal, imperfect and deceptive/interrupted cadences in chorale or keyboard style;
Transposition using major and minors keys and for instrumental writing;
Realization of the Acciaccatura;
- Trill;
- Appoggiatura;
- Mordent;
- Open scores (vocal and string quartet);
- Analysis;
- Melody writing with cadences;
- Passing notes and auxiliary notes; and
- Italian, French and German terms and musical signs