Trinity exams offer a range of supporting tests, allowing candidates to play to their strengths. Candidates choosing the improvisation test can select between three types of improvisation: motivic, harmonic or stylistic. The examples on this page are all showing the stylistic stimulus, in which the candidate improvises over a piano accompaniment provided by the examiner.
Sample tests can be downloaded from our general resources page. The parameters for the test at each grade (e.g. length, keys, chords) and assessment criteria are given in the Strings Syllabus.
Violin – Initial
Watch an example of an Initial Grade Violin improvisation test (stylistic stimulus) performed by Amy.
Amy is awarded a pass for her improvisation. Rhythmic ideas from the stimulus were put to good use here, but the musical structures were not fully grasped.
Viola – Initial
Watch an example of an Initial Grade Viola improvisation test (stylistic stimulus) performed by Elizabeth.
Elizabeth is awarded a pass for this test. This is a good attempt with strong rhythmic pulse but the notes of G chord were not correct.
Violin – Grade 1
Watch an example of an Initial Grade Violin improvisation test (stylistic stimulus) performed by Allison.
Allison is awarded a Merit for this test. This was securely played with good understanding of the chords on the whole, however more use could have been made of material from the stimulus (rhythmically or melodically), and no opportunity was taken to develop the material during the repeat.
Viola – Grade 2
Watch an example of a Grade 2 Viola improvisation test (stylistic stimulus) performed by Jamie.
Jamie is awarded a Pass for his improvisation. This had good awareness of harmonies, but was repetitive, with no development, and somewhat basic use of instrumental resources.
Watch an example of a Grade 2 Viola improvisation test (stylistic stimulus) performed by Elizabeth.
Elizabeth's improvisation would be marked as Below Pass. Whilst there is fluent playing on the whole and some awareness of the chords, there is a very limited response to the stimulus with severely limited creative input.
Cello – Grade 3
Watch an example of a Grade 3 Cello improvisation test (stylistic stimulus) performed by Finlay.
Finlay is awarded a pass mark for his improvisation. There is some confident playing to start with good rhythmic ideas appearing. However the performance is not always fluent and there is some confusion over musical structure.
Filmed at Cheadle Hulme School, Cheshire, November 2016 and at CYM, London, June 2016.
- Further examples of the Stylistic test can be found on our Youtube playlist — covering higher grades and other instruments.
