Young rock musicians who attend secondary schools made the grade in exams offered locally for only the second time. Guitarists, drummers and a bassist sat exams under the Rockschool syllabus via the Department of Education and Children’s Music Service. Rockschool is the only music exam board in the British Isles that specialises in rock and pop exams. John Kinley, from the Music Service, said the exams allowed musicians to gain qualifications in popular music that are on a par with those traditionally taken by peers on orchestra or band instruments. Most students performed three contrasting pieces from Rockschool’s repertoire and demonstrated their technical skills through scales or drum rudiments, together with their ability to sight read music and/or improvise. New this year was the chance to perform two extra pieces but miss out technical exercises to attain a performance certificate. ‘Those who took the exams did really well,’ John said. ‘Twenty entrants from our schools succeeded, achieving two distinctions and 13 merits as well as five passes. There was a good uptake from candidates taught by private teachers too.’ Exams, which are also open to keyboard players, start at grade one, or, for some instruments, a debut grade, and go up to grade eight. The next exams in the Island will take place at the Music Centre in Douglas in July 2012. Candidates who are at school can enter via their teachers. Private candidates should register with Rockschool direct – http://www.rockschool.co.uk Results for DEC entrants: Drums Joe Caine Grade 1 Merit Kelly Firth Grade 1 Merit Frederick Whittle Grade 2 Merit Fredrik Marcus Grade 2 Merit Ewan Gawne Grade 3 Pass Sam White Grade 3 Distinction Adam Young Grade 3 Merit Kitty Gawne Grade 3 Merit Joe Callaghan Grade 5 Merit Barny Kimberley Grade 6 Distinction Peter Mitchell Grade 8 Merit Adam Cain Grade 8 Merit Guitar Ryan Millichap Grade 1 Merit Alexander Duke Grade 3 Merit Leo James Craig Grade 3 Merit Euan Dawson Grade 4 Pass Ronan P Lambden Grade 5 Performance Certificate Pass Luke Oldfield Grade 5 Performance Certificate Pass Jake Orritt Grade 6 Performance Certificate Merit Bass Benjamin Frankwick Grade 4 Pass Ends