Preparatory Rudiments

Preparatory Rudiments
The Royal Conservatory

Off icial Examination Papers
2010 Edition
RCM Examinations and the National Music Certificate Program
dolce
accelerando
mit Ausdruck
tre corde
martellato grandioso
crescendo
senza tacet
animato
bewegt
polyphonic
tutti langsam
adagio grazioso modéré

maestoso pizzicato
rubato
ternary poco a poco

semplice simile cluster
fortepiano
exposition vivace brillante

con fuoco
léger spiritoso scherzando

sopra
D.C. al fine
The formal study of theory allows students to identify and explore elements that already form the basis of their
musical experience. It also builds aural awareness, develops analytical thinking, and encourages the creative
impulse. The study of Rudiments introduces students to the basic elements and notational conventions of
music—the building blocks of musical grammar.
Preparatory Rudiments, the first (and newest) examination in the Rudiments stream, will launch students in
their theoretical studies and provide an enriching context for their evolving practical studies.
This book contains the actual examination papers from the three most recent examination sessions. The
questions contained in these papers reflect the requirements outlined in the Theory Syllabus, 2009 Edition.
For the purposes of this publication, some questions may differ slightly from those on the original
examinations.
These papers are an invaluable resource for students preparing to write the Preparatory Rudiments
examination. The variety of questions students will encounter here will help them to sharpen their skills and
gain confidence in the application of their knowledge. It is hoped that this book will assist students in the
successful completion of their Preparatory Rudiments examination.
Maria Case
Chief Examiner, Theoretical Subjects
Attention Attention
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enues from this book to contribute to their livelihood. des ventes de ce livre. Photocopier le contenu de cette
Photocopying the contents of this publication deprives publication prive les créateurs d’une rémunération bien
the creators of due compensation. For this reason, the méritée. Pour cette raison, le contenu de cette publication
material in this publication is protected by copyright est protégé par des lois concernant les droits d’auteur.
law. Please follow the intention of the law and do Nous vous prions d’observer les intentions de ces lois et
not photocopy. Reproduction of any part of this book de ne pas photocopier. La reproduction de quelque partie
without the permission of the publisher may lead to de ce livre sans la permission de la maison d’édition peut
prosecution. conduire à des poursuites.
The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited Unit 1, 5865 McLaughlin Road
(905) 501-1595 Mississauga, Ontario
Fax (905) 501-0929 Canada L5R 1B8
Printed in Canada Imprimé au Canada
www.frederickharrismusic.com
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada

through the Canada Book Fund (CBF) for our publishing activities.
The Royal Conservatory of Music is a registered trademark used under licence by

The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited
© Copyright 2010 The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited

All Rights Reserved
ISBN 978-1-55440-331-8
December 2009
December 2009 - Page 1 of 9

Your answers must be written IN PENCIL in the space provided. Confirmation Number
Maximum Marks
10 1. Name EACH of the following notes and draw corresponding lines to the keyboard.
M
I
D
D
L
E
w
C
& w
? w bw
#w
_______ _______ _______ _______ _______
? & bw nw ? w #w
10 2. For each of the following pairs of notes, circle the note which sounds HIGHER.
? w bw & bw nw ? w #w
w bw
n w
? nw
& #w ? ? w &
& #w ? w & bw
© Copyright 2010 The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited
bw 3
December 2009 December 2009 - Page 2 of 9
10 3. a. Name the size (number only) of the boxed intervals.
œ œ œ œ œ ˙.
&b c œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ
A B C D E F
Example: A 4
__________
B __________
C __________
D __________
E __________
F __________
b. Write the specified intervals (numerical size only) above EACH of the given notes.
Example:
& ww w w w
w w
3 5 4 8 7 6
© Copyright 2010 The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited 4
10 4. a. Write the scale of C major ascending (going up), starting on the given note.
?
w
b. Draw the key signature of F major in the box.

Write the scale of F major ascending (going up). Use whole notes.
Circle one TONIC note.
&
c. Draw the key signature of G major in the box.

Write the scale of G major descending (going down). Use whole notes.
&

ww
10 5. Draw a line connecting each triad with its name.
? w
F major in the treble clef b
G major in the bass clef

? www
G major in the treble clef &b www

?# www

C major in the bass clef
# www
F major in the bass clef
&

10 6. a. Draw a line connecting each note with a rest of the same value.
q ∑
h ‰

e Œ

w ∑
b. Name this note.

h ___________________________________________________


10 7. a. Add the correct time signature at the beginning of each excerpt, under the bracket.
j
& œ Œ œ Œ œœœœ˙ œ. œ œ œ w
& j Œ
œ œ œ œ. œ œ œœœ ˙
& j
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ ˙.
b. Add bar lines to each of the following.
3 Œ j
&4 œ œ œ œ. œ œ ˙ œ
4 ‰ j j
&4 œ œ œ œ ˙ œ. œ œ ˙ œ
2 j‰
&4 œ œ œ œ Œ œ œ œ œ ˙
10 8. a. Draw ONE note which is equal in value to the combined value of the given notes.
Example:
h . q = w
h q =
q q q =
q q q q q =
b. Draw TWO rests which equal the value of each given rest.
Example:
∑ = ∑ ∑
∑ =
Œ =


10 9. Circle the correct meaning of each Italian term.

Example:
allegro fast slow
staccato smoothly detached
moderato very slow at a moderate tempo
largo fast very slow
andante at a walking pace loud
piano loud soft

10 10. Analyse the following piece of music by answering the questions below.
L. Schytte
œœœœœ œœœœ œœœœ œœœœœ Œ

& Œ œ Œ œ Œ
f
œœ œœ œœ œ œœ
? Œ Ó Œ Ó Œ œ Œ
# Œ Ó
B
A
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ Ó
& œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œœ œœ œœ
? œœ Œ
œ
œ Œ œ Œ œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Ó
a. Write the correct time signature directly on the music.
b. Name the composer of this piece. ________________________________
c. Explain the meaning of f. ________________________________
d. Name the size (number only) of the interval in the box at letter A. ____________________
e. Circle the name of the symbol in the box at letter B. sharp flat natural
f. Name the size (number only) of the interval in the box at letter C. ____________________
g. How many measures are in this piece? ________________________________
h. How many slurs are there in this piece? ________________________________
i. Circle the highest note in this piece.
j. Name the highest note in this piece. ________________________________

May 2010
May 2010 - Page 1 of 10

Maximum Marks
10 1. Name EACH of the following notes and draw corresponding lines to the keyboard.
M
I
D
D
L
E
C
& w w
w w
? w
_______ _______ _______ _______ _______

May 2010 May 2010 - Page 2 of 10
10 2. a. Name each of the following notes. Beside each note, write the note that is one
semitone higher. Name the note you have drawn.
Example:
& w
? w #w bw
E
_______ E #
_______ _______ _______ _______ _______
b. For each of the following pairs of notes, circle the note which sounds LOWER.
w #w
w bw &
&
? #w nw ?
bw nw

May 2010 May 2010 - Page 3 of 10
10 3. a. Write the specified intervals (numerical size only) above EACH of the given notes.
w
Example:
& ww w w
w w
3 6 2 8 7 5
b. Name the size (number only) of each of the following intervals.
w
? w w # w w w
w w w w
_________ _________ _________ _________ _________

May 2010 May 2010 - Page 4 of 10
10 4. a. Draw the key signature of G major in the box.

Write the scale of G major ascending (going up). Use whole notes.
&
b. Draw the key signature of F major in the box.

Write the scale of F major ascending (going up). Use whole notes.
c. Write the scale of C major descending (going down), starting on the given note.
Use whole notes.
? w
d. Write the key signature and the tonic note of each of the following keys.
?
&
G major F major
May 2010 May 2010 - Page 5 of 10
10 5. Draw a line connecting each triad with its name.
? ww
G major in the bass clef w

&b www

?# www

www

F major in the treble clef

&
www
C major in the treble clef ?b

May 2010 May 2010 - Page 6 of 10
10 6. Draw a line connecting each note with a rest of the same value.
e ∑
w Œ

q. ∑

h ‰

q Œ.

May 2010 May 2010 - Page 7 of 10
10 7. a. Add the correct time signature at the beginning of each excerpt, under the bracket.
& ‰ j Œ ‰ j‰ j Ó
œœœ œ ˙ œ œ œœ œ
& Œ œ œ . œj œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œœÓ
& ‰ œj Œ œ.
j
œ œ œ œ œ
b. Add bar lines to each of the following.
2 ‰ j Œ
&4 œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ
4 j
& 4 œ. œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ Œ Ó Œ œ
3 ‰ œj ˙
&4 Œ œ Œ ˙ Œ

May 2010 May 2010 - Page 8 of 10
10 8. a. Draw ONE note which is equal in value to the combined value of the given notes.
Example:
h . q = w
h q q =
q . e q =
q q q =
b. Draw TWO notes which equal the value of each given note.
Example:
w = h h
h =
q =


May 2010 May 2010 - Page 9 of 10
10 9. a. Fill in the blanks for each of the following sentences. Choose your answers from
the following list of words:
flat semitone sharp
A ________________________ raises a note one semitone.

A ________________________ lowers a note one semitone.
The smallest distance between two notes is called a _________________________.
b. Circle the correct meaning of each Italian term.

Example:
allegro fast slow
ritardando (rit.) slowing down gradually smooth
staccato smooth detached

May 2010 May 2010 - Page 10 of 10
10 10. Analyse the following piece of music by answering the questions below.
œ
J.W. Hässler
œ œ œ œ œ
& ˙. ˙.
P œ œ
˙. œ œ œ
A
? ˙. œ
œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ #œ nœ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ ˙
C
& œ œ
œ
cresc.
œ ˙. œ œ
D
? œ œ œ
dim.
œ œ
b. This piece is in the key of C major. How many times is the tonic note played? _____________
c. Name the highest note played this piece. ________________________________
d. Name the lowest note played in this piece. ________________________________
e. Explain the meaning of the sign in the box at letter A. ________________________________
f. Name the note in the box at letter B. ________________________________
g. Name the note in the box at letter C. ________________________________
h. Name the size (number only) of the interval in the box at letter D. ____________________
i. Circle the meaning of cresc. becoming slower becoming louder becoming softer

j. Circle the meaning of dim. becoming slower becoming louder becoming softer

August 2010
August 2010 - Page 1 of 8

Maximum Marks
10 1. Name the following notes.
w
& w
w w
?
w
_______ _______ _______ _______ _______
10 2. Write the specified intervals (numerical size only) above EACH of the given notes.
w w
Example:
& w w w w
w
8 3 4 5 2 6

August 2010 August 2010 - Page 2 of 8
10 3. a. Name this scale as C major, G major, or F major.
w w w wwww
&b w www www w
________________________________________
b. Draw the key signature of G major in the box.

Write the scale of G major ascending (going up). Use whole notes.
Circle each TONIC note.
c. Write the scale of C major descending (going down).

Use whole notes.
&

10 4. Draw the following tonic triads.
F major in the treble clef &b
#
G major in the treble clef
&

?b

C major in the treble clef

&

10 5. a. Draw the following RESTS.
Whole Rest
Half Rest
Quarter Rest
b. Name the following NOTES.

h _____________________________________________
e _____________________________________________

10 6. a. Add rests under the brackets to complete each measure.
4
&4 ˙ œ œ œœœ ˙
2 j
&4 œ œ ˙ œ
b. Add bar lines to the following.
3 j
& 4 œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙.
10 7. Name each of the following intervals as a semitone (half step) or whole tone (whole step).
& ww w bw ww # ww
ww
_______ _______ _______ _______ _______
10 8. Add the value of the notes or rests on the left side and draw a line connecting them
to the answer on the right side. (Do not mix note and rest values.)
Example:
q + e w
h + h Œ
q + q + q ∑
q q + q h
Œ + Œ q.
‰ + ‰ h.

10 9. Draw a line between each musical term or sign on the left side with its meaning
on the right side.

Example:
ritardando (rit.) soft
diminuendo loud
allegro becoming louder
p slowing down gradually
f becoming softer
crescendo (cresc.) fast

10 10. Analyse the following piece of music by answering the questions below. L. Schytte
& œœ Œ Ó Œ Ó œœœ Œ Ó œœ Œ Ó
œœ
L. Schytte
œ Œ Ó œ œœ
& œ œœ Œ Ó œœœ Œ Ó œœ Œ Ó
œœf œ
? œf œ œ œ Œ œ
œ œœ œœœ Œ œœœœ
œ Œ œœœœ Œ
? œœœœ Œ œ
œ œœ œœœ Œ œœœœ
œ Œ œœœœ Œ
œœ Œ Ó
& # œœœ Œ Ó œœ œœœ Œ œœœ Œ œœ Œ Ó
œœ
A
& # œœœ Œ Ó œœ Œ Ó œœœ Œ œœœ Œ œœ Œ Ó

œ œœ œ œœ œ. œ
? œ #œ œœ Œ œœœœ Œ œœ œ Œ Ó
? œ œ #œ œœ Œ
œ
œœœœ Œ œœ œ œ. Œ Ó
œ
B
B
b. Name the composer of this piece. ________________________________
c. Explain the meaning of f. ________________________________
d. Find a TONIC triad of C major in this piece and circle it.
e. Circle the correct name for the symbol at letter A. sharp flat natural
f. How should the note at letter B be played? Circle one. staccato legato
g. How many measures are in this piece? ________________________________
h. How many slurs are in this piece? ________________________________
i. Circle the highest note in this piece.

j. Name the highest note in this piece. ________________________________

Preparing for your theory examination?
The papers in this book are actual theory papers from past examination sessions, to
help you study and prepare for your theory examination.
Did you know you can also have your practice paper assessed by a member of the
College of Examiners?
You do not have to be a current candidate, or even have done an examination with
us, to submit a practice paper for assessment. Your marked paper will be scanned
and emailed to you so you can review the results and the examiner’s comments.
The results are for your reference only, and will not count toward your official
examination.
For more information about Practice Theory Assessments, including submission
deadlines, please visit:
Canada: www.rcmexaminations.org
USA: www.nationalmusiccertificate.org
The Royal Conservatory Official Examination Papers are invaluable resources for
ensuring thorough preparation for theory examinations. Each book contains a combination
of official and practice examinations that may be used to test knowledge and simulate the
examination experience. Three editions of each of the titles below provide a rich source of
review material and are available while quantities last.
Basic Rudiments
Intermediate Rudiments
Advanced Rudiments
Introductory Harmony
Basic Harmony
Intermediate Harmony
Advanced Harmony
Counterpoint
Analysis
History 1: An Overview
History 2: Middle Ages to Classical
History 3: 19th Century to Present
Piano Pedagogy Written (Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced)
One edition of the following papers is also currently available:
Basic Keyboard Harmony

Intermediate Keyboard Harmony
Advanced Keyboard Harmony
Preparatory Rudiments (available online only)

Canada: www.rcmexaminations.org
USA: www.nationalmusiccertificate.org
For more information or to find a retailer near you, visit www.frederickharrismusic.com.
ISBN 978-1-55440-331-8

Preparatory Rudiments

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Preparatory Rudiments

The Royal Conservatory

adagio grazioso modéré

ternary poco a poco

exposition vivace brillante

léger spiritoso scherzando

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada

The Royal Conservatory of Music is a registered trademark used under licence by

© Copyright 2010 The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited

December 2009 - Page 1 of 9

10 3. a. Name the size (number only) of the boxed intervals.

b. Draw the key signature of F major in the box.

c. Draw the key signature of G major in the box.

© Copyright 2010 The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited 5

G major in the bass clef

G major in the treble clef &b www

C major in the bass clef

© Copyright 2010 The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited 6

b. Name this note.

© Copyright 2010 The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited 7

© Copyright 2010 The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited 9

10 9. Circle the correct meaning of each Italian term.

allegro fast slow

staccato smoothly detached

moderato very slow at a moderate tempo

largo fast very slow

andante at a walking pace loud

piano loud soft

© Copyright 2010 The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited 10

œœœœœ œœœœ œœœœ œœœœœ Œ

a. Write the correct time signature directly on the music.

b. Name the composer of this piece. ________________________________

c. Explain the meaning of f. ________________________________

g. How many measures are in this piece? ________________________________

h. How many slurs are there in this piece? ________________________________

i. Circle the highest note in this piece.

j. Name the highest note in this piece. ________________________________

May 2010 - Page 1 of 10

© Copyright 2010 The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited 12

© Copyright 2010 The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited 13

b. Name the size (number only) of each of the following intervals.

© Copyright 2010 The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited 14

10 4. a. Draw the key signature of G major in the box.

b. Draw the key signature of F major in the box.

10 5. Draw a line connecting each triad with its name.

F major in the bass clef

C major in the bass clef

F major in the treble clef

© Copyright 2010 The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited 16

© Copyright 2010 The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited 17

b. Add bar lines to each of the following.

© Copyright 2010 The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited 18

© Copyright 2010 The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited 19

flat semitone sharp

A ________________________ raises a note one semitone.

The smallest distance between two notes is called a _________________________.

b. Circle the correct meaning of each Italian term.

allegro fast slow

ritardando (rit.) slowing down gradually smooth

staccato smooth detached

© Copyright 2010 The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited 20

c. Name the highest note played this piece. ________________________________

d. Name the lowest note played in this piece. ________________________________