RGT Electric Guitar Grade Exams

Ostrom

Anyone taken them at any particular grade? Any thoughts on their practical worth?

I'm looking at them as a possible way of focusing an otherwise messy practice routine - thinking I might be around a grade 3

BSOM

RGT is quite good.

There are a few examination boards for Rock type exams.

Rockschool.co.uk is another one.

Xmusic's School are now the exam centre for the RGT so might be worth touching base with them.

Regards,
John
Blanch Music

Matt Bianco

I took took the RGT exams at grade 4 & 5 and currently preparing for 6 in the summer. I took them as a means of breaking out of the same old ground I'd been covering for all too long and feeling that I'd hit a block in progressing. I find them well thought out and relevant and a good means by which to break into modes and integrated theory. What they did for me vitally is improve my discipline in practicing and shining light in dark corners of my knowledge.

You can prepare with any guitar tutor once you get the original application forms in any of the grade handbooks and apply independently so no need to go to X-Music although they will be very familiar with the demands of the curriculum.

Ostrom

Matt Bianco wrote: »

I took took the RGT exams at grade 4 & 5 and currently preparing for 6 in the summer. I took them as a means of breaking out of the same old ground I'd been covering for all too long and feeling that I'd hit a block in progressing. I find them well thought out and relevant and a good means by which to break into modes and integrated theory. What they did for me vitally is improve my discipline in practicing and shining light in dark corners of my knowledge.

You can prepare with any guitar tutor once you get the original application forms in any of the grade handbooks and apply independently so no need to go to X-Music although they will be very familiar with the demands of the curriculum.

Thanks for the replies - I have the grade book, so does the form go to their address in England or to xmusic?

I'm finding it very useful as my own knowledge is very haphazard. I can manage most of the grade 4 chords and rhythms, but my scales and theory are a mess - working through the books has been a big help.

Matt Bianco

Unless there is a new arrangement it is direct to their UK address.

As like you my theory and scales had definite holes in it, I found Music Theory : Everything that you need to know by Tom Kolb an excellent companion read. All scales etc are provided in the handbook.

As for grade, they appear to go in blocks of levels 1-3, then 4 & 5 before 6-8.
I erred on the side of the lower level if you're stuck between which one to take as I think you will get most out of doing well in a grade before moving on rather than just getting by and struggling at a higher grade. Any teacher familiar with the curriculum though will give you a good picture.

Thomas from Presence

Just a clarification. Xmusic are one particular exam centre and not the only exam centre for RGT.

All RGT tutors can arrange for exams and locations for these vary.

Visit http://www.rgt.org/ for a full list of tutors. There is not any particular advantage to dealing with Xmusic over any of these tutors. Many have been recognised and offering the course for far longer than them in fact.


Anyway....

The course is excellent. It is highly practical and as an added benefit your grades past Grade 6 are recognised in the UK as UCAS points (CAO for the UK).

They carry far more weight than other qualifications in this regard.

Thomas from Presence

efla wrote: »

Thanks for the replies - I have the grade book, so does the form go to their address in England or to xmusic?

I'm finding it very useful as my own knowledge is very haphazard. I can manage most of the grade 4 chords and rhythms, but my scales and theory are a mess - working through the books has been a big help.

Good idea to get some tutoring if you're stuck on the theory. A good teacher should be able to take you through it so it is practical for you and not a useless chore. Got to their site and contact Jay Malone (click into international tutors). X-Music are only new to this. Everyone else on the list has been at it for far longer. Jay is the head examiner for Ireland.

freepower

Hi, I'm Daniel, I'm one of the guitar tutors at the X-music academy, just a few things -

Any good guitar teacher should be comfortable teaching you the material in the RGT grades, it's very practical and would follow a fairly normal progression.

That said, obviously I'd recommend you check the list of registered tutors - http://www.rgt.org/tutors/tutors-non-uk.php - and talk to the ones closest to you.

You send your form to the RGT office in England, not Xmusic. The exam fee list for Ireland is here - http://www.rgt.org/info/country-details.php?L=EIRE

Finally, I'd recommend you sign up to the X-music mailing list, Jay is planning to come down and do talks on preparing for the exams every now and again, and if you're nervous it's always helpful to get advice from and meet your future examiner.

X-Music are only new to this. Everyone else on the list has been at it for far longer.

While there are a lot of tutors on that list with more teaching experience than me, I was one of the first registered tutors in Ireland, and to my knowledge the first with a teaching diploma from them.

Anyway, I know it's an old thread but I hope it helps the threadstarter and anyone else using the search function. Any updates threadstarter? Have you sat your exam yet?