Certifications

Treat certifications like a passport journey – each grade is a new country/stamp.

Want your child to get international certifications and recognition for their musical talent? Trinote Music Academy is the right place.

Certified by the world's leading exam boards:

• RSL 
• Trinity 
• ABRSM

Not sure which grade or exam board is right for your child? At Trinote, we guide you every step of the way.

Rock School London

With Rockschool Music, students can get certified from the world's leading assessment board offering graded syllabi for contemporary music subjects:

The Rockschool syllabus has 9 levels of grades:

Debut → Grade 1 → Grade 2 → Grade 3 → Grade 4b → Grade 5 → Grade 6 → Grade 7 → Grade 8
🎯 Debut Grade: Perfect for absolute beginners              🎯 Grade 8: Equivalent to advanced diploma level

Why choose Rockschool?

• Contemporary repertoire (rock, pop, jazz, metal)        
• Performance-focused exams (70% performance weight)       
• UCAS points for UK universities (Grades 6-8)              • Globally recognized in 40+ countries

At Trinote Music Academy, we prepare you/your kids for ALL the grades and guide you in choosing the right grade and exam type.

Trinity Music London

If you want your child to get a musical certification from one of the oldest and highly reputed international exam boards, Trinity Music London is the right choice for you.

The Trinity syllabus has 9 levels of grades, from Grade Initial to Grade 8.

Initial → Grade 1 → Grade 2 → Grade 3 → Grade 4 → Grade 5 → Grade 6 → Grade 7 → Grade 8 

Why choose Trinity?

• One of the oldest & most respected exam boards (est.1872)
• Balanced syllabus – classical & contemporary 
• Flexible exam options – own-choice pieces allowed
• UCAS points for UK universities (Grades 6-8)
• Globally recognized in 60+ countries
• Performance-focused with technique integration 

Trinity at Trinote Music Academy:

At Trinote Music Academy, we prepare you/your kids for ALL the grades and guide you in choosing the right grade and
exam type.
✓ Free assessment    
✓ Complete syllabus coverage (pieces, scales, sight-reading)
✓ Mock exams to build confidence                            
✓ Exam registration support                                 
✓ Performance practice & aural training                     
✓ Trinity exam centre guidance 

ABRSM London

If you want your child to get a musical certification from the world's most established and widely recognized exam board, ABRSM is the right choice for you.

ABRSM offers specialization in the assessment of:

The ABRSM syllabus has 8 levels of grades, from Grade 1 to Grade 8.

Grade 1 → Grade 2 → Grade 3 → Grade 4 → Grade 5 → Grade 6 → Grade 7 → Grade 8

  • 🎯 Grade 1-3: Foundation Level

  • 🎯 Grade 4-5: Intermediate Level

  • 🎯 Grade 6-8: Advanced Level

⚠️ Important: Grade 5 Music Theory is MANDATORY for Grade 6, 7, and 8 Practical exams.

Why choose ABRSM?

  • The world’s most established exam board (founded 1889)
  • Gold standard for classical music certification
  • Internationally recognized in 90+ countries
  • UCAS points for UK universities (Grades 6-8)
  • Rigorous syllabus builds complete musicianship
  • Theory exams strengthen overall musical understanding
  • Highly respected by schools and colleges worldwide

At Trinote Music Academy, we prepare you/your kids for ALL the grades and guide you in choosing the right grade and exam type.

Grades

Debut Grade

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

Exam Types

Eligibility Criteria

Grade Exam Syllabus (Recorded)

Performance Certificate Exam Syllabus (Recorded)

FAQs

BoardBest ForMusic StyleExam Focus
Rockschool (RSL)Contemporary musiciansRock, Pop, Jazz, MetalPerformance-heavy (70%)
TrinityBalanced musiciansClassical & ContemporaryFlexible, own-choice pieces allowed
ABRSMClassical musiciansClassical onlyTechnique, scales, sight-reading, aural

Trinote's advice: Choose Rockschool for rock/pop lovers, ABRSM for classical track, Trinity for students who want flexibility.

BoardBeginner DifficultyWhy
RockschoolEasierContemporary songs students already know; performance focus
TrinityModerateBalanced approach; own-choice pieces reduce pressure
ABRSMMore challengingRequires sight-reading and aural tests from Grade 1

Trinote's advice: Rockschool Debut or Trinity Initial are great starting points for young or nervous beginners

BoardGradesExtra Levels
Rockschool9 gradesDebut, Grade 1-8
Trinity9 gradesInitial, Grade 1-8
ABRSM9 gradesInitial, Grade 1-8

All three boards offer Grade 8 as the highest level before diplomas.

BoardUCAS Points (UK)Recognition
RockschoolYes (Grades 6-8)40+ countries
TrinityYes (Grades 6-8)60+ countries
ABRSMYes (Grades 6-8)90+ countries

Yes! Grade 6-8 certifications earn UCAS points for UK university applications. They are also recognized by international schools and music colleges worldwide.

BoardSkipping Policy
RockschoolYes – can skip to any grade
TrinityYes – can skip to any grade
ABRSMYes – but Grade 5 Theory required for Grade 6+ Practical

Note: For ABRSM, students cannot take Grade 6, 7, or 8 Practical without passing Grade 5 Music Theory first.

BoardExam FormatDuration (Grade 1)
RockschoolRecorded video or in-person12-15 minutes
TrinityIn-person or recorded video12-15 minutes
ABRSMRecorded video (Performance Grade) or in-person12-15 minutes

All boards now offer online recorded exams – students can perform at Trinote and submit the video.

BoardPass (min)MeritDistinctionTotal Marks
Rockschool60%75%87%100
Trinity60%75%87%100
ABRSM60%75%90%100

All three boards use: Pass (60-74), Merit (75-89), Distinction (90-100)

Grade LevelTypical Preparation TimeWeekly Lessons
Debut / Initial6-9 months1 hour
Grade 1-29-12 months1 hour
Grade 3-412-18 months1 hour
Grade 5-618-24 months1-1.5 hours
Grade 7-824-36 months1.5 hours

At Trinote, we create a personalized timeline based on your child's practice habits and natural pace.

If Your Child...Recommended Board
Loves rock, pop, or metal musicRockschool (RSL)
Wants to play familiar contemporary songsRockschool or Trinity
Is training for classical musicABRSM
Wants flexibility to choose own piecesTrinity
Plans to study music at university in UKAny (all give UCAS points)
Is nervous about sight-readingRockschool (optional sight-reading)

At Trinote, we offer a FREE assessment to help you choose the right board and starting grade.

What Trinote ProvidesRockschoolTrinityABRSM
Free grade assessment
Board & grade guidance
Complete syllabus coverage
Mock exams
Exam registration support
Performance practice
Sight-reading trainingOptionalRequiredRequired
Aural trainingOptionalRequiredRequired
Music theory (Grade 5)RecommendedRecommendedRequired

At Trinote Music Academy, we prepare you/your kids for all the grades and guide you in choosing the right grade and exam type.

Piano & Keyboard:

Classical to Contemporary.From timeless sonatas to modern pop, master the full 88-key spectrum. Build technical excellence and creative freedom in one complete program.

Guitar

Acoustic & Electric. Find your sound. Strum soulful acoustic ballads or command the stage with electrifying riffs. Our curriculum covers technique, theory, and playing the songs you love.

Violin

Western & Indian (Carnatic) Styles. Choose your tradition. Pursue the precision of Western classical or the intricate expressions of Carnatic music, guided by masters of each style.

Drums

Rhythm & Coordination. Become the heartbeat of the music. Develop powerful grooves, limb independence, and dynamic control on a full kit, from foundational rhythms to creative expression.

Where Passion Meets Excellence

At Trinote, we believe everyone has music within them. Our job is to help you find it, nurture it, and share it with the world. Whether you want to play for fun, prepare for exams, or pursue a professional career, we are here to guide you every step of the way.

Find Your Sound
Unlock Your Next Level: A Trinote Workshop

At Trinote, we believe in going beyond the weekly lesson. We offer specially curated

Music Immersion Retreats — transformative experiences designed to move you from practice to presence,

from playing notes to embodying music.

Gallery - Step Inside Our World of Music

Where Tradition Finds Its Voice
Where every bow tells a story, and every note finds its soul.
Start with a FREE trial class and consultation
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