How They Work

An outline of how the assessments work is given on this page.

How to obtain a syllabus
Please Click here to contact the school for a syllabus, which should always be referred to for guidelines / Rules & regulations and requirements for all of our assessments.

For the performance based assessments, we offer the following levels of assessment in most practical subjects, or a combination.

  • Grades                                    (Available from grades 1-8 in most disciplines)
  • performance certificates    (Available at four levels)
  • External Diplomas                (Available at four levels)

Within the assessments, the assessor will be looking for:

  • Musicianship
  • Technique
  • Style
  • Musicianship
  • Phrasing
  • Communication
  • Enthusiasm
  • Memory (applicable for appropriate singing candidates)
  • Choice of programme
  • Understanding of dynamics, interpretation, tone, intonation, breath control, vowel sounds
  • Technical skills (as applicable to the chosen instrument)
  • Basic musical knowledge
  • Evidence of the candidate’s musical interests / experiences as documented in the portfolio

Candidates’ choice of repertoire for most performance assessments
Most of our assessments allow candidates to choose their own repertoire (those that do not have repertoire lists clearly indicated on the syllabus, for example the Church Chorister assessments). Thus, Three Counties Music is flexible, allowing candidates to choose pieces of an appropriate standard for the assessment they wish to take.
The proposed repertoire must be submitted to the Three Counties School of Music in advance for approval. Marks are allocated for the choice of repertoire in most assessments, unless it is one where repertoire lists are supplied.

Grade assessments
Our grade assessments are available from grades 1-8 and are intended to be of a similar standard to other examination boards. The disciplines available are listed briefly on the ‘Types of Assessment‘ page, or can be found in more detail in the syllabus along with Rules & Regulations / guidelines / etc. Other than diploma level, Organists are currently only eligible to take grades 5-8, or the Intermediate / Advanced levels of Performance Certificate assessments.

Within the Grades, marks are allocated for the following sections of the assessments:

  • Choice of Programme
  • Presentation of recital (including the introductions if applicable & Performance
  • ‘Discussion’ Section
  • Mixed media Portfolio

Performance Certificates are available at  at four levels, which are listed below:

  • Preliminary Certificate      (Standard – approx. Grade 1)
  • Foundation Certificate      (Standard – approx. Grade 3-4)
  • Intermediate Certificate    (Standard – approx. Grade 5-6)
  • Advanced Certificate         (Standard – approx. Grade 7-8)

The performance certificate assessments are available in most disciplines, (including ensembles & Chorister) and are intended to be of a similar standard to the performance section of the specified grade assessments listed in the syllabus. They are designed to focus on the choice of repertoire and performance aspects only and are ideal for candidates who only wish to perform and be marked accordingly. There is no additional criteria required for these assessments, Organists are currently only eligible to take intermediate and advanced certificates.

Remote assessments options
Candidates or ensembles may wish to take the ‘Remote’ option performance assessment for our assessments, rather than attending in person. For this option, an unedited DVD recording of your performance in performance order of their chosen repertoire is required, in addition to a signed, dated and whitnessed statement declaring that it is indeed the named candidate performing, plus an additional portfolio and programme notes (applicable to diploma level assessments only).
Please click here to contact the school  in order to discuss options.

Performance Diplomas
Our diplomas are available at three levels: DipTCSM, ATCSM & FTCSM in most disciplines. (please refer to the syllabus or ’Types of Assessment‘ page:
A high standard of performance is required for all the performance based diplomas and candidates can perform to either a small invited audience or just in front of the assessor. However, within the ‘Sacred option’, the only discipline when an audience can be present is the Choral Director.

Tailor-Made Combination Diploma 
It is also possible to take a combination diploma, which would enable a candidate to focus on more than one musical discipline.
Please click here to contact the school  in order to discuss options.

Church Organist Diplomas
*Although we offer organ performance diplomas, we also offer a Church Organist diploma, at three different levels which are designed for church organists who play the organ regularly for church services.

Choral Director Diplomas
We also offer a choral directors diploma at three different levels which is aimed at choral directors of either sacred or secular choirs.

For most diploma assessments, marks are allocated for the following sections:

  • Choice of Programme
  • Presentation of recital (including the introductions if applicable. (Church Organist requirements are different and include pieces plus tests etc but no introductions).
  • Written programme notes (not applicable to Church Organist diplomas)
  • Recital
  • ‘Discussion’ Section
  • Mixed media Portfolio

Mixed Media Portfolio
(Required for most assessments)
The candidate is required to submit a portfolio containing evidence of the candidate’s musical interests, activities and performances in which they they have taken part. This can be a mixed media portfolio. However, there are no portfolio requirements for the Performance Certificates
Please see syllabus for guidelines on content and presentation etc. There are marks allocated for this section. of the assessment.

Introducing the pieces
(Only applicable to  to the higher grades and diplomas)
Introductions should be brief & informative. Candidates can just include the title of work, composer / arranger, or they can give slightly more detail. There are marks allocated for this section. of the performance assessments.

Written Programme Notes
(Only applicable to performance diplomas)
Candidates taking performance based diploma assessments are also required to research and write brief & informative programme notes in performance order. Marks are allocated for this section of the assessment.

‘Discussion’ Section
(Required for most performance assessments)
This section allows the assessor to get to know a little of the candidate’s musical interests / experiences in addition to his/her general musicianship / knowledge etc. General musicianship and general knowledge questions will be related to the chosen repertoire. There are marks allocated for this section. of the assessment.

Composition / Singer-songwriter Diploma Assessments
Candidates wishing to take diploma assessments in composition or Singer-song-writer do not attend in person, but are required to submit the following:

  • Short descriptive programme notes based on their compositions.
  • Portfolio of compositions
  • CD recording (either live or electronically generated recording in WAV format)
  • Mixed media Portfolio
  • Signed & dated declaration stating that the music is composed by the candidate.