RSL Classical Guitar Grade 1 (2022)

Overview

RSL Classical Guitar Grade 1 (2022) is the next level in the RSL Classical Guitar pathway after Debut. It is designed for students who have mastered the fundamental skills introduced at Debut and are ready to develop greater technical control, rhythmic coordination and musical understanding.

The book contains 10 benchmarked arrangements, technical exercises, sight-reading or Contemporary Improvisation & Interpretation, Ear Tests and General Musicianship Questions, providing the core material needed to prepare for the Grade 1 examination.

Key Features

• Official RSL Classical Guitar 2022 Grade 1 resource

• 10 benchmarked arrangements across classical and contemporary styles

• Professionally recorded performance audio and backing tracks

• Composer and repertoire Fact Files

• Walkthroughs with guidance for each arrangement

• Technical Exercises covering scales, double-stopped exercise, arpeggios and technical studies

• Sight Reading or Contemporary Improvisation & Interpretation

• Melodic and Rhythmic Recall Ear Tests

• General Musicianship Questions

• Suitable for both structured lessons and examination preparation

Featured Repertoire

The 10 Grade 1 pieces are:

• In My Heart – Laura Snowden

• Titanium – David Guetta feat. Sia

• Lotus Flower – Helen Sanderson

• We Found Love – Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna

• It's Just a Matter of Time – Nick Powlesland

• Snake in a Basket – Gary Ryan

• What If I Never Speed – John Dowland

• Seville – Peter Nuttall

• Perfect – Ed Sheeran

• Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen

The repertoire deliberately combines established classical guitar material with contemporary and popular music, reflecting RSL's modern approach to classical guitar education.

What Students Will Develop

Students will develop:

• More secure classical-guitar technique

• Greater left- and right-hand coordination

• Improved rhythmic accuracy

• Fingerstyle control

• Tone production and articulation

• Basic double-stopping

• Scale and arpeggio fluency

• Reading and interpreting beginner-level notation

• Musical expression across contrasting styles

• Sight-reading ability or introductory improvisation

• Melodic and rhythmic aural recognition

• General musicianship and musical terminology

The Grade 1 syllabus is intended for candidates who have moved beyond Debut and acquired greater use of technique, rhythms, coordination and musical understanding.

Technical Exercises

Grade 1 technical work is divided into three groups.

Group A – Scales & Double-Stopped Exercise

Students perform:

• G Major – 1 octave

• F Major – 1 octave

• C Major – 1 octave

• A Minor – 1 octave, natural or harmonic minor

• E Minor – 1 octave, natural or harmonic minor

• G Major Double-Stopped Exercise

The major scales use tirando or apoyando at the candidate's choice. The minor scales use the thumb, and the double-stopped exercise combines thumb and fingers.

Group B – Arpeggios

Students perform:

• G Major Arpeggio – 1 octave

• F Major Arpeggio – 1 octave

• E Minor Arpeggio – 1 octave

The exercises develop evenness, right-hand coordination and control of arpeggiated patterns.

Group C – Technical Study

Students choose one of three technical studies provided in the Grade 1 book. These studies reinforce the practical technical skills required at this level.

Product Details

• Brand: RSL Awards / Rockschool

• Series: RSL Classical Guitar

• Instrument: Classical Guitar

• Level: Grade 1

• Syllabus: 2022

• Publisher: RSL Awards / Rockschool

• Publication Year: 2022

• Pages: 44

• Includes: Performance repertoire, technical exercises and supporting tests

• Audio: Digital / downloadable audio and backing tracks