We indicate what’s involved in picking your pieces and how marks will be apportioned; how your exam allows you to demonstrate your knowledge through musical understanding; additionally, take note of our Playing Skills Guide for your relevant grade as those are the signs we’re looking for in relation to your notation, mastery of rhythm and key-playing.

Each grade carries an easy-to-follow table which highlights the pieces that feature within our core syllabus, the specified book in each case; plus to help even further, we also provide details of the book’s ISBN number to make ordering in-store or on-line as easy as possible.

You could be tackling ‘Three Blind Mice’; a popular song from the perennial Lloyd-Webber hit-musical ‘Phantom of the Opera’ or something with a jazz vibe. Don’t forget you can also introduce ‘Own Choice’ pieces too and you’ll find details of how all that works by clicking our ‘Own Choice’ zone.

A point to note: you can use an acoustic or digital piano for any of NME’s CONTEMPORARY PIANO examinations.