RSL Classical Guitar Grade 5 (2022)

Overview

RSL Classical Guitar Grade 5 (2022) is designed for students who have fully consolidated their intermediate-level classical guitar skills. The book combines 10 benchmarked repertoire pieces with technical exercises, supporting tests, professional audio and performance guidance.

The repertoire balances established classical guitar works with contemporary and popular music, while the technical syllabus develops greater control, coordination, expression and stylistic awareness.

Key Features

• Official RSL Classical Guitar 2022 Grade 5 resource

• 10 benchmarked arrangements across classical and contemporary styles

• Professionally recorded performance audio and backing tracks

• Composer and repertoire Fact Files

• Detailed Walkthroughs for each arrangement

• Technical Exercises covering scales, harmonised scales, arpeggios and broken chords

• Technical Studies

• Sight Reading or Contemporary Improvisation & Interpretation

• Melodic and Harmonic Recall Ear Tests

• General Musicianship Questions

Featured Repertoire

The Grade 5 book includes:

• The Fairground – Laura Snowden

• Don’t Know Why – Norah Jones

• Étude No. 6 – Leo Brouwer

• Lágrima – Francisco Tárrega

• Songbird – Eva Cassidy

• Étude No. 3 – Matteo Carcassi

• Country Étude – Tatiana Stachak

• Shape of My Heart – Sting

• Paseo – Eduardo Sainz de la Maza

• African Sunset – Giorgio Serci

This selection gives students experience across traditional classical repertoire, modern classical guitar writing and contemporary songs.

What Students Will Develop

Students will develop:

• Greater technical fluency and control

• More secure two-octave scale playing

• Harmonised scale technique

• Arpeggio and broken-chord fluency

• Improved right-hand coordination

• Greater rhythmic control

• More sophisticated musical expression

• Stronger stylistic awareness

• Chord and harmonic understanding

• Sight-reading or improvisation skills

• Melodic and harmonic aural recognition

• Greater independence in musical interpretation

RSL describes Grade 5 candidates as having consolidated intermediate-level playing, with more advanced technique, complex rhythms, coordination, musical understanding, expression and stylistic awareness.

Technical Exercises

Group A – Scales

Students prepare:

• E Major – 2 octaves

• B♭ Major – 2 octaves

• C Harmonic Minor – 2 octaves

• G Melodic Minor – 2 octaves

• Chromatic Scale starting on A

• C Major in 6ths

• A Harmonic Minor in 6ths

• G Major in 10ths

Major, minor and chromatic scales are prepared at a minimum tempo of ♩ = 96, with both tirando and apoyando requirements prepared where specified. Harmonised scales use thumb-and-finger technique.

Group B – Arpeggios & Broken Chords

Students prepare:

• E Major – 2 octaves

• B♭ Major – 2 octaves

• C Minor – 2 octaves

• G Minor – 2 octaves

• Broken Chords in E Minor

• Broken Chords in G Major

Arpeggios are performed evenly using tirando with thumb-and-finger technique.

Group C – Technical Study

Students choose one of three Technical Studies included in the Grade 5 book.

Product Details

• Brand: RSL Awards / Rockschool

• Series: RSL Classical Guitar

• Instrument: Classical Guitar

• Level: Grade 5

• Syllabus: 2022

• Publisher: RSL Awards

• Publication Year: 2022

• Product Type: Graded Music Exam Book

• Includes: Performance repertoire, technical exercises and supporting tests

• Audio: Digital / downloadable audio and backing tracks