RGT Jazz Guitar Performance Diplomas

 

RGT offers a series of fully-accredited post-Grade Eight Performance Diplomas that reflect the specific musical skills needed by jazz guitarists.

There are four levels of Jazz Guitar Performance Diploma available:

Each diploma provides guitarists with the opportunity to gain an internationally recognised professional qualification and to develop their jazz playing skills to an advanced level. The Diplomas are awarded by London College of Music Exams and are accredited by Thames Valley University.

Please click on the following links to view, print or save information about the Jazz Guitar Performance Diplomas:

Syllabus | Entry Form and Fee List

Handbook and Repertoire Books

RGT publishes one handbook that details the information and requirements for all four levels of Jazz Guitar Performance Diploma. The handbook also contains examples of what to expect for the improvised components of the diploma exams. This is a thorough and structured way of taking your jazz guitar playing to a professional standard.
The handbook can be obtained from www.booksforguitar.com.

The Jazz Guitar DipLCM, ALCM and LLCM exams require the candidate to perform pieces that are not notated in the RGT handbook. Details of the additional repertoire books, as well as a list supplementary reading material that candidates may find useful, are listed below.

 

RGT Jazz Guitar Diplomas Repertoire Books

 

Guitar Play Along Vol 16

Guitar Play Along Vol.16 – Jazz

This Jazz Guitar volume from the Guitar Play-Along Series enables you to play a selection of jazz songs quickly and easily! Just follow the tab, listen to the CD to hear how the guitar should sound, and then play along using the separate backing tracks. Each track also features an improvised solo. The audio CD is playable on any CD player. For PC and Mac computer users, the CD is enhanced so you can adjust the recording to any tempo without changing pitch!

8 songs: All Blues • Bluesette • Footprints • How Insensitive (Insensatez) • Misty • Satin Doll • Stella by Starlight • Tenor Madness

more info/buy

 

Jazz Play Along 7

Jazz Play Along Vol.7 – Essential Jazz Standards

For use with all Bb, Eb, and C instruments, the JAZZ PLAY ALONG SERIES is the ultimate learning tool for all jazz musicians. With musician-friendly lead sheets, melody cues, and other split-track choices on the included CD, this first-of-its-kind package makes learning to play jazz easier than ever before.

Each tune includes a split track with: • Melody cue with proper style and inflection • Professional rhythm tracks • Choruses for soloing • Removable bass part • Removable piano part. Each tune also has: • An additional full stereo accompaniment track (no melody) • Additional choruses for soloing.

10 songs: Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes) • Cotton Tail • Easy Living • I Remember You • If I Should Lose You • Lullaby of Birdland • Out of Nowhere • Stella by Starlight • There Will Never Be Another You • When Sunny Gets Blue

 

more info/buy

 

Jazz Play Along 12

Jazz Play Along Vol.12 – Essential Jazz Classics

For use with all Bb, Eb, and C instruments, the JAZZ PLAY ALONG SERIES is the ultimate learning tool for all jazz musicians. With musician-friendly lead sheets, melody cues, and other split-track choices on the included CD, this first-of-its-kind package makes learning to play jazz easier than ever before.

Each tune includes a split track with: • Melody cue with proper style and inflection • Professional rhythm tracks • Choruses for soloing • Removable bass part • Removable piano part. Each tune also has: • An additional full stereo accompaniment track (no melody) • Additional choruses for soloing.

10 songs: Airegin • The Frim Fram Sauce • The Jive Samba • Milestones • Nefertiti • Phase Dance • Red Clay • Song For My Father • Think On Me • Windows

 

more info/buy

 

Jazz Play Along 27

Jazz Play Along Vol.27 – Great Jazz Standards

For use with all Bb, Eb, and C instruments, the JAZZ PLAY ALONG SERIES is the ultimate learning tool for all jazz musicians. With musician-friendly lead sheets, melody cues, and other split-track choices on the included CD, this first-of-its-kind package makes learning to play jazz easier than ever before.

Each tune includes a split track with: • Melody cue with proper style and inflection • Professional rhythm tracks • Choruses for soloing • Removable bass part • Removable piano part. Each tune also has: • An additional full stereo accompaniment track (no melody) • Additional choruses for soloing.

10 songs: Call Me Irresponsible • Fly Me to the Moon • Girl Talk • Honeysuckle Rose • I’ll Remember April • It Could Happen to You • Lover • Softly as in a Morning Sunrise • Tangerine • There Is No Greater Love.

 

more info/buy

 

 

Supplementary Reading List

 

Fast Forward Jazz Improvisation

Fast Forward Jazz Guitar Improvisation (Book with CD by Andy Jones)

A helpful introduction to jazz improvisation and solo building for those relatively new to the jazz genre.  Includes sample solos and patterns in a wide range of jazz styles.

 

more info/buy

 

Jazz Guitar Mastery

Jazz Guitar Mastery (Book with DVD by John Stowell)

This book explores the use of triads, arpeggios and scales, and a variety of approaches to jazz improvisation. Suitable for those who have some experience of the jazz genre.

 

more info/buy

 

Exploring Jazz Guitar

Exploring Jazz Guitar (Book with CD by Phil Capone)

A comprehensive introduction to jazz harmony, technique, rhythm playing and improvisation. Useful for guitarists new to jazz and for more experienced jazz players.

 

more info/buy

 

Jazz Improvisation For Guitar

Jazz Improvisation for Guitar (Book with CD by Garrison Fewell)

A comprehensive guide to jazz improvisation that covers a variety of harmonic concepts, with the emphasis on the use of triads and their melodic
extensions. Suitable for players with some experience of playing jazz guitar

more info/buy

 

Jazz Guitar Soloing Concepts

Jazz Guitar Soloing Concepts (Book with CD by Ronald Lemos)

A detailed exploration of the theory and application behind using a pentatonic-based modal system to improvise. This book is suitable for more experienced players.

 

more info/buy

 

Creative Comping concepts For Jazz

Creative Comping Concepts for Jazz Guitar (Book with CD by Mark Boling)

An exploration of the theory and application of a range of chord and rhythmic ideas. Useful for guitarists new to jazz and for more experienced jazz players.

 

more info/buy

 

Building a Jazz Chord Solo

Building A Jazz Chord Solo (Book with CD by Fred Sokolow)

A useful practical guide that explores some of the theory and technique
behind creating chord melodies and chord solos. Useful for guitarists new to jazz and for more experienced jazz players.

more info/buy