Music Factsheet 13: Playing for Pre-Primary in Dance & Primary in Dance Exams

1. Introduction
In January 2009, the Royal Academy of Dance launches two new syllabi, complete with new music resources: Pre-Primary in Dance and Primary in Dance. For the first time, those who wish may conduct Class Awards and Examinations using recorded music. Alternatively, piano scores are available for teachers who work with live musicians. However, the music for these syllabi has been developed with a view to encouraging flexibility and creativity in accompaniment, so that for example:

• There are opportunities for instruments other than the piano to be used
• If keyboards other than acoustic pianos are used, musicians are free to explore the sound possibilities of these instruments
• ‘The music’ may mean either a live musician, music from CD, or a mixture of both. 
• There are opportunities for teachers to choose their own music, or for live musicians to improvise

There are opportunities for children and teachers to become involved in music-making during the class

2. Key Publications, Key features
Below is a brief guide to the resources available for Pre-Primary in Dance and Primary in Dance.

Music for exercises and dances: printed music (Product code 200 PPD)

• This 45-page book contains all the music for exercises and dances in both syllabi 
• For each exercise there are two musical selections, Music A and Music B. Music A and B differ from one another in one or more ways – in metre, rhythm, dynamics, timbre or other stylistic features. Pupils and teachers may choose which music to use in the Class Award/Examination (Except for the two Dances in Primary, and the Cool-Downs at both levels, which have set music rather than a choice)
• The two musical selections, A and B are intended as a means of exploring different qualities and possibilities in the movement as part of the learning experience
• The use of alternatives is intended also as a means of suggesting other musical possibilities chosen by the teacher, child or musician. In particular, music which has local significance, popularity or relevance is to be welcomed as a means of enhancing the child’s enjoyment and response to music.

Music for exercises and dances, 2-CD Audio set (Product code 300 PPDCD)

• CD 1 contains music for exercises and dances at Pre-Primary in Dance and Primary in Dance levels. The music has been created using a mixture of live  and sampled instruments, as a means of introducing children to a wide range of sounds and styles, and to provide an enjoyable and rhythmically supportive accompaniment.
• CD 2 contains a selection of short, evocative music extracts which can be used for the ‘Imaginative Movement Sequence’ section of the Pre-Primary in Dance Class Award. In this section, teachers and pupils create a story in movement in short, contrasting episodes. Two examples of such stories can be seen on the DVD.
  
• CD 2 also contains backing tracks for selected exercises from CD 1 which, being folk tunes, are particularly amenable to performance on solo instruments such as the violin or pennywhistle.  As there are no ‘tunes’ on the backing tracks, the harmonic structures may also be used as a basis for improvisation.

• 3.1 Using CD only
  Teachers use the CDs provided for all the exercises at either level, selecting between Music A and Music B*. They may if desired, provide their own percussion accompaniment for exercises where this is suggested. For the Imaginative Sequence in Pre-Primary in Dance, they may use either the musical excerpts provided in the audio resources, their own recorded music, or a combination of both.
• 3.2 Using piano only
  The teacher employs an accompanist for the whole of the exam. For the Pre-Primary in Dance Imaginative Movement Sequences, the pianist may improvise suitable music, or find a selection of appropriate pieces from existing repertoire.
• 3.3 Using a combination of piano and percussion or other instruments (Class Award only)
  A musician employed for the preparation period and class award may perform the set music using a combination of instruments and sounds. For example, if they are using an electronic keyboard capable of playing sampled sounds, they may use percussive sounds on such a keyboard, or live percussion in order to provide the accompaniment for those exercises which have a percussion accompaniment. Bearing in mind the kinds of sounds and styles exhibited on the audio resources supplied with the syllabus, the musician may use a combination of available sampled sounds or live instruments to provide a variety of musical sounds for the examination. In addition, the musician may use the backing tracks supplied as part of CD2 and perform the melodic line live on an instrument of choice, acoustic or sampled.
• 3.4 Using a combination of piano and CD and/or other instruments (Class Award only)
  At the teacher’s discretion, the Class Award may be accompanied by a mixture of CD and piano or other instruments according to taste.  For example, it may be that at Pre-Primary in Dance level, the teacher wishes the exercises to be performed to piano, but the Imaginative Movement Sequence to CD.  Any combination of CD and piano/other instrument is permissible.

4. Further resources

A Dance Class Tunebook: Making Music for Children’s Dance Classes (Product Code 200 DCT)
This book contains scores of the music used in CD2, together with chord symbols and other guidance where appropriate. Short articles and helpful advice above each musical selection (as in A Dance Class Anthology) offer guidance for today’s dance class musician on topics such as improvisation, selecting musical resources and using music technology. Separate parts for guitar and topline instruments are available to download and print, for use with the backing tracks on CD2 from the product page (click on link above).