Coming soon - Rockschool harmonica awards

During the October festival - Rockschool launched their brand-new harmonica syllabus and grades. This is a world first for the harmonica, as it means the creation of the world's first regulated graded qualifications in harmonica performance. It represents two and a half years work between Rockschool and HarmonicaUK, with Pete Hewitt heading the negotiations for HarmonicaUK and Vice-President Ben Hewlett as project leader, offering specialist advice on teaching harmonica as the collaboration between HarmonicaUK and RSL matured.

Outgoing Chair Pete Hewitt said "This is amazing news, Rockschool are already in so many schools in the UK and in 60 countries around the globe".

The partnership with RSL Awards will see HarmonicaUK provide the expertise in creating a new set of qualifications for learning and performing harmonica. These qualifications give a progression route from the very first steps on the student’s musical journey to the creation of performers with the skills, knowledge and confidence to be able to perform pieces of popular music specially arranged for the instruments.

The partnership will see the release of a new syllabus for the first five graded exams (Premiere to Grade 3), and method books published to accompany Premier and Debut Grades. The method books have been designed to be used in individual lessons and classroom teaching, offering a brand-new route for whole class music teaching.

The first awards have already been made as ambassadors: Sarah Saputri, Sam Spranger, Cy Leo and Rachelle Plas were presented with honorary diplomas, as was Vice-President Ben Hewlett.