The Trinity examinations aim to provide a framework to enable and encourage progress and enjoyment in guitar technique as well as in guitar musical performance. They assess aural competence, musical performance, and technical ability.
The Classical Guitar Examination by Trinity Guildhall Classical consists of three components :
I’m getting a lot of messages from people coming here because they want to learn to play guitar as part of worship. If this is you, you might want to join Aaron Anastasi’s programme. Aaron is a musician and a worship leader. He put together a step by step programme for aspiring Christian musicians. If you're interested, you can use the exercises and advice in learn-classical-guitar-today to develop your finger strength and dexterity and Aaron's lessons to work on strumming and worship music.
In Grade 1 candidates are expected to show the following understandings and competencies in their performance:
Pick three pieces from the pieces provided below. It is important to select a range of pieces in terms of dynamic, musical style and - if possible - musical key.
One piece may be replaced by the candidate's own composition provided that it is of a suitable length and standard for Grade 1.
Up to two duets may be chosen in the examination. The accompaniment must be played in the examination.
COMPOSER and NAME OF THE PIECE |
MIDI |
Lully arr. Sollory Trad. Mallorcan arr. Preiss Trad. arr. Tholaksson Tchaikovsky arr. Sollory Montgomery Winfield |
Menuet Mateixas d'es Figueral Mareta (Valencia Folk Song ) Old French Song op.39 no.16 El Caballo Hayride |
Attaignant Burden Burden MacDonald Powlesland Sollory Sor Trad. arr. Garcia Trad. Irish arr. Fiorentino |
Tourdion Kingston Calypso (from Travelling in Style: The Start) Menorca (from Travelling in Style: The Start) Tango (from Simply Guitar book 1) Baroque & Roll (from The Real Guitar Book Vol 3) Impossible Mission (from The Real Guitar Book Vol 1) Study op.60 no.2 (from Complete Studies for Guitar) Tumbalalaika (from First Guitar Pieces) The Wild Colonial Boy (from Celtic Music for Classical Guitar) |
    Attaignant: Tourdion |
    Burden: Kingston Calypso |
    Burden: Menorca |
    MacDonald: Tango |
    Powlesland: Baroque & Roll |
    Sollory: Impossible Mission |
    Sor: Study op. 60 no. 2 |
    Trad. arr. Garcia: Tumbalalaika |
    Trad. Irish arr. Fiorentino: The Wild Colonial Boy |
You'll need to go a little deeper into music theory as you proceed. The best online resource for this is Guitar Theory Revolution. It recognises that music theory is very hard for guitarists because music theory has till now been located in the piano paradigm. The Guitar Theory Revolution overthrows the piano paradigm that is holding you back and embraces the attributes of the guitar to unpack music theory. In fact, it goes further and allows you to see that the guitar is one of the best instruments for learning theory.