Diplomas

Diploma Regulations

  • Diplomas. The BCA awards the Professional Diplomas of a Recital Diploma, Associate and Licentiate to candidates successful in the appropriate examination.

Categories of Examination:
            Performers Diploma       Recital – Dip.Rec,BCA, Associate – ABCA and Licentiate - LBCA
            Teachers Diploma         Associate - ABCA (TD) and Licentiate – LBCA(TD)

  • Qualification’s for Entry.

Recital Diploma: No pre-requisite.
Associate Diploma: Candidates must have passed Grade 8 Theory (T8) (or higher) of the BCA
Licentiate Diploma: Candidates must have passed the Associate Diploma of the College.

  • There is no age qualification for the Performers Diploma Examination. Candidates must have reached the age of 17 years before the Teacher Diploma may be awarded.
  • Candidates should present to the Examiner a typed programme listing the order of the works to be performed, timings and a copy of all the pieces performed.
  • Memorisation is not Obligatory.
  • Candidates are expected to be dressed appropriately (ie No leisure wear).

 

Dip.Rec.BCA - Recital

This Recital consists of a Practical Examination only.

OWN CHOICE PROGRAMME:
Consisting of three (3) or more pieces of approximately Grade 8 standard or above to include:
One piece to be of a Slower, Lyrical style
One piece of a Technical Virtuosic style It must contain at least one Original Work but transcriptions may also be used. Individual movements from cyclic works are acceptable.
Candidates must present themselves as artists to an audience, presentation, dress and stage-craft all being important.
Playing time: minimum 10 minutes to maximum 20 minutes playing time.
No Marks are awarded for this examination.
The RECITAL is either AWARDED or NOT AWARDED.

ABCA- Performer

This Diploma consists of a Practical Examination only.

Part 1
Practical Examination

Pieces: (75 marks - 25 marks each piece)
Three Pieces are to be performed.
Candidates must present a balanced programme of their choice of the three pieces.
The programme must show a range of contrast in Style, Character and Tempo

The following list of Pieces is a reflection of the standard required – however candidates may select alternative piece/s. Candidates may submit their chosen programme for approval by the BCA Board of Administration in advance of making entry.

Asturias * Albeniz arr Lips Schmulling
Berben Rhapsodie V Budrevicius Schmulling
Ciaccona J Oppenheimer Berben
Corale Farina Berben
Dance of the Comedians Smetana arr G Romani Charnwood 
Die Zertrummerte Kathedrale V Trojan Schmulling
Divertimento Kramer MAP
Gotisches Menuett from “The Gothic Suite” * L Boellmann Schmulling
Lied from Suite Mvt 1 * A Chlominov Schmulling
Metamorphoses * T Lundquist M Hohner
Scherzo  J Gart Berben 
Sonata No1 Mvt 3 * A Nagejev Schmulling
Variations  N Risol Schmulling

Test Performance   (10 marks)
            To play on the Accordion pieces in any major or minor key. The passage may include Changing time Signatures, common abbreviations and complex Accordion textures.

Aural Perception (15 marks)

  • Cadences: A continuous passage containing the four cadences will be played. The examiner will play it again and pause at each cadence.
  • Modulations: To identify the name of the second key in short modulating passages. These include the Major modulating to the Dominant, subdominant and Relative minor, the Minor modulating to the Dominant, Subdominant and Relative major.
  • Rhythm, Tempo and Dynamics:  A short passage will be played complete twice.

Either: Candidates will be asked to name the time signature and describe the rhythm in any section played again by the examiner
Or:  The examiner will play a two-bar section again first in its original version, then in a slightly modified version. Candidates will be asked to identify the differences in dynamics and texture.

(Maximum 100 marks)

ABCA(TD) - Teacher

This Diploma consists of a Practical Examination and written a Principles of Teaching Paper only.

Part 1
Practical Examination

Pieces: (45 marks - 15 marks each piece)
Three Pieces are to be performed.
Candidates must present a balanced programme of their choice of the three pieces.
The programme must show a range of contrast in Style, Character and Tempo

The following list of Pieces is a reflection of the standard required – however candidates may select alternative piece/s. Candidates may submit their chosen programme for approval by the BCA Board of Administration in advance of making entry.

Balkantanz Mvts 1 & 2

J Lochter

Preissler

Botany Play (any 3 mvts) *

T Lundquist

Waterloo

Festa Rusticana

G Crossman

Charnwood

Monastery of Ferapont *

V Zolotaryov

Schmulling

Mosaico Espanol

F Fugazza

Berben

Norwegian Suiite No 1 *

T Tollefsen

Kestrel

Partita Piccola *

T Lundquist

M Hohner

Russisches Volkslieder

W Motov

Schmulling

Sonata in C K159, L104*

D Scarlatti

Peters Edition

Suite pour Enfants No 2 (any 3 mvts) *

V Zolotaryov

Schmulling

Tokkatina

E Flecijn

Schmulling

Principles of Teaching Lesson (40 marks)

  • To explain, discuss and demonstrate on the Accordion details of technique and harmony, and aspects of Teaching and Performance as selected by the examiner. A demonstration lesson maybe required. 
  • To discuss the harmonic analysis, performance difficulties and artistic interpretation of Scales and the pieces played by the candidate Performance section of this examination.
  • To discuss Repertoire and the Examination music for Accordion from Preliminary – Grade 5.  Any questions may be asked including the appropriate pieces chosen for the appropriate candidates.

Aural Perception (15 marks)
Cadences: A continuous passage containing the four cadences will be played. The examiner will play it again and pause at each cadence.
Modulations: To identify the name of the second key in short modulating passages. These include the Major modulating to the Dominant, Subdominant and Relative minor, the Minor modulating to the Dominant, Subdominant and Relative major.
Rhythm, Tempo and Dynamics:  A short passage will be played complete twice.
Either: Candidates will be asked to name the time signature and describe the rhythm in any section played again by the examiner
Or: The examiner will play a two-bar section again first in its original version, then in a slightly modified version. Candidates will be asked to identify the differences in dynamics and texture.

(Maximum 100 marks)

Part 2
A Principles of Teaching Paper                         (Time allowed Three hours)

Teaching Procedure & Psychology:  To answer questions about the teaching procedure adopted for different types of pupil, and the elements of Psychology as applied to Teaching.
Technique & Musicianship: To suggest remedies for common technical problems, and to write examples of suitable exercise material. To add fingering, dynamics, phrasing of a given extract and to outline a method of approach regarding technique, phrasing and interpretation.
The Accordion & its Repertoire: To show a knowledge of the varying technical demands of the Accordion. To show familiarity with the standard Accordion repertoire.

(Maximum 100 marks)

LBCA - Performers

This Accordion Diploma consists of a Practical Examination only.
Candidates must have passed an Associate Diploma

Part 1
Practical Examination

Pieces: (80 marks - 20 marks each piece)
Four Pieces are to be performed.
Candidates must present a balanced programme of their choice of the three pieces.
The programme must show a range of contrast in Style, Character and Tempo

The following list of Pieces is a reflection of the standard required – however candidates may select alternative piece/s. Candidates may submit their chosen programme for approval by the BCA Board of Administration in advance of making entry.

3-3-2 *

B Precz

Schmulling

Amalgame *

F Angelis

Angelis

Autumn Elegy and Caprice

H Brehme

M Hohner

Ciacona Accademica

G Romani

Hohner

Concert Suite for Accordion *

J Feld

Preissler

Czardas

K Mjaskow

Schmulling

Danses Exotiques

I Beynon

Hohner

Disco-Tango *

P Makkonen

Schmulling

Kalina Krasnaya *

V Semionov

Schmulling

La Campanella

R Wurthner

M Hohner

Ouverture alla Zingarese

H Brehme

M Hohner

Spanish Suite *

A Belosicki

Schmulling

Test Performance   (20 marks)
            To play on the Accordion pieces in any major or minor key. The passage may include changing time signatures, common abbreviations and complex Accordion textures.

(Maximum 100 marks)

LBCA(TD) - Teacher

This Diploma consists of a Practical Examination and written a Principles of Teaching Paper only.
Candidates must have passed an Associate Diploma.

Part 1
Practical Examination

Pieces: (45 marks - 15 marks each piece)
Three Pieces are to be performed.
Candidates must present a balanced programme of their choice of the three pieces.
The programme must show a range of contrast in Style, Character and Tempo

The following list of Pieces is a reflection of the standard required – however candidates may select alternative piece/s. Candidates may submit their chosen programme for approval by the BCA Board of Administration in advance of making entry.

Cappriccio

A Repnikov

Schmulling

Divertimento in F

H Brehme

M Hohner

Flight beyond Time *

P Makkonen

Schmulling

Gigue from Partita No 3

J S Bach arr Jaschkewitsch

Schmulling

Jagerlied Variationen

J Lochter

Schmulling

Kleine Suite

J Derbenko

Schmulling

Prelude and Fuga *

F Fugazza

Berben

Schmulling Toccata from “The Gothic Suite”

L Boellmann

Schmulling

Sonata No 2 (Mvt 3) *

V Zolotariew

Schmulling

Sonata in G K146, L349*

D Scarlatti

Peters Edition

Toccata No 1 *

O Schmidt

M Hohner

Winterbilder *

A Kusjakov

Schmulling

Principles of Teaching Lesson (40 marks)

  • To explain, discuss and demonstrate on the Accordion details of technique and harmony, and aspects of Teaching and Performance as selected by the examiner. A demonstration lesson maybe required. 
  • To discuss the harmonic analysis, performance difficulties and artistic interpretation of Scales and the pieces played by the candidate Performance section of this examination.
  • To discuss Repertoire and the Examination Albums for Accordion of all grades.  Any questions may be asked including the appropriate pieces chosen for the appropriate candidates.

Test Performance   (15 marks)
            To play on the Accordion pieces in any major or minor key. The passage may include Changing time Signatures, common abbreviations and complex Accordion textures.

(Maximum 100 marks)

Part 2
A Principles of Teaching Paper             (Time allowed Three hours)

General Principles & Psychology: To answer questions of an advanced nature on the general principles and psychology of the Accordion as a medium for music.
Accordion Technique: To answer questions on the teaching of the Accordion technique up to concert standard.
Interpretation & Diploma Preparation: To answer questions on the preparation of students for the BCA Diplomas, ABCA and LBCA, covering all aspects of the requirements, with special attention to the art of interpretation.
Musical Training: To answer questions on the teaching of particular subjects related to the musical training of students ie: Playing at Sight, Aural Training, Transposition, Rudiments, Harmony, Counterpoint and Forms and Styles

(Maximum 100 marks)