RSCM Southwell and Nottinghamshire Area | Dean's Award (bronze) syllabus

Dean's Award (bronze) syllabus

The Fee for the Dean's Award is £10 including the presentation of the medal, green ribbon and certificate to successful candidates.

Examination time - approximately 25 minutes.

Section A · Using the voice well

Criteria for assessment

The performance of each item will be assessed on the following:

1. Hymn singing · Maximum 15 marks (9 to pass)
   Candidates should prepare three verses (melody or their own voice part) from a hymn of their choice (of four-line verses). The second verse should be sung unaccompanied.
   
   
2. Psalm (or Canticle) singing · Maximum 15 marks (9 to pass)
   Candidates should prepare eight verses from a psalm or canticle of their own choice (melody or their own voice part), to music of their own choice. This may be to an Anglican chant, to a plainsong tone, or in a responsorial form.
   
   
3. Prepared item · Maximum 20 marks (12 to pass)
   Candidates should select one item to perform from the list below. They may perform the melody or their own voice part. Candidates need learn only a single voice part. Marks awarded will take account of the level of difficulty of the music, but more weight will be given to interpretation and musicality.
   
   
   • Attwood, Come Holy Ghost
   • Bach, Jesu, joy of man's desiring
   • Elgar, Ave Verum
   • Evans, arr. How Be still, for the presence of the Lord (in Sing With All My Soul)
   • Hilton, Lord, for thy tender mercy's sake
   • How, Day by day
   • How, Praise O praise our God and King
   • Hurford, Litany to the Holy Spirit
   • Mozart, Ave Verum
   • Ogden, The fruits of the land (in Songs for Life 1)
   • Purcell, Thou knowest, Lord
   • Rutter, A Gaelic Blessing
   • Rutter, God be in my head
   • Shephard, The Easter Song of Praise (Sing choirs of heaven)
   • Tye, O come ye servants of the Lord
   • Wesley, S.S. Lead me, Lord (solo and choir parts)
   • Any item from the Bronze Collection (RSCM)

Throughout the above tests, the examiner will be looking for:

• Good unforced quality of tone with consistent control.
• Good breath control with the ability to sustain to the end of a phrase.
• Clear diction including good open vowel sounds.
• Accurate intonation.
• Rhythmic accuracy.
• Good expressive and dynamic contrasts.
• Evidence of comprehension of the text and mood of the piece.

All of the above should produce a sensitive and musical performance.

Note: The Bronze Collection (34 easy anthems and songs), published by the RSCM (D0090) contains anthems, and sample hymns and psalms with notes on preparation and performance.

Section B · Musical skills and understanding

1. Sight-reading · Maximum 10 marks (6 to pass)
   Candidates will be asked: (15 seconds preparation time will be allowed before each test)
   
   
   • To clap (or sing on one note) from sight, and unaccompanied, a simple rhythm of three or four bars in simple 2, 3 or 4 time, which may include dotted notes. A second attempt will be allowed if needed.
   • To sing at sight, with a simple helpful accompaniment, a short melody to a vowel, "lah", solfa or numbers/degrees of the scale (at the candidate's choice). The melody may be in any key up to three sharps or flats, in simple time, and may include dotted notes and leaps of 3rds, 4ths or 5ths. It may be part of a simple anthem or song. The key chord and first note will be given. A second attempt will be allowed. Candidates will be given 30 seconds to consider any areas for improvement before making the second attempt. (Candidates are required to sing the tune (melody part) only (at an appropriate pitch), and not lower voice parts).
   
   
2. Aural tests · Maximum 5 marks (3 to pass)
   Candidates will be expected to:
   • Sing the lower of two notes played simultaneously.
   • Sing (as an echo and in strict time) three simple 2-bar phrases, each heard only once. The key chord and the tonic will be sounded before the excerpt begins.
   • Identify a passage as having 2, 3 or 4 beats in a bar on a single hearing, having first clapped the rhythm.
   
   
3. Further questions · Maximum 5 marks (3 to pass)
   Using the prepared item as a starting point, questions will be asked to ascertain the candidate's knowledge of:
   • Pitch names of the treble clef, and for tenors and basses, the bass clef, up to one leger line.
   • Sing the lower of two notes played simultaneously.
   • Time values of notes and rests, including dotted notes.
   • Time signatures (simple time).
   • Simple terms of tempo, expression and style, including common Italian terms, and common symbols.

Section C · Repertoire

Maximum 10 marks (6 to pass)

Candidates will be asked questions, appropriate to their age or experience, on their prepared pieces. The topics for discussion should include:

• Text and music (style, meaning, how the music reflects the text).
• Context (composer, musical, liturgical where relevant). See relevant paragraphs in Voice for Life.

Typical questions on repertoire at Dean's standard would be:

• "Describe the mood of this piece, and say generally how the text is reflected in the music."
• "When was the text (or, the music) written, and by whom?"
• "In what season of the Church's year might this piece suitably be sung?"
• "In which part of your Sunday morning service might this piece be sung?"
• "Name another piece, or a hymn or song, that your choir might sing at the same season or occasion."

Section D · Belonging to the choir

There is no formal examination for this section and no marks are allocated. Nevertheless it remains a vital part of the Dean's Award. On application, candidates must present a written testimonial from their choir trainer, signed by the Incumbent / Minister / Head Teacher / Director of Music, confirming their commitment to the choir.

Section E · Choir in context

Maximum 20 marks (12 to pass)

1. Bible
   Referring back to their prepared psalm, candidates will be asked to describe what kind of prayer it is (joyful, sorrowful, praise, thanksgiving, etc) and why.
2. Liturgy
   
   • Candidates will be asked to describe the sung parts of the form of Morning or Evening Prayer or Eucharist (or similar services) with which they are familiar.
   • Candidates should choose beforehand one hymn, anthem or worship song suitable for one season (e.g. Eastertide) or festival (e.g. All Saints) celebrated in their church. Candidates will be asked to explain the significance of their choice in the context of the festival or season chosen. (Candidates should bring two copies of their chosen piece).
   • Candidates will be questioned on one other major season or festival (chosen by the examiner) e.g. Christmastide, Lent, Eastertide, Palm Sunday, All Saints, Good Friday
   
   
3. Ministry
   Candidates will be asked to describe what motivates and inspires them as singers in a Church or school choir.

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