Jazz Guitar Performance Diplomas

RGT@LCM 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:

  • Diploma Of The London College Of Music – DipLCM in Performance
  • Associate Of The London College Of Music – ALCM in Performance
  • Licentiate Of The London College Of Music – LLCM in Performance
  • Fellowship Of The London College Of Music – FLCM in Performance

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 the University of West London.

Download the Syllabus and Entry Form and Fee List from the Exam Information Booklets and Syllabuses page.

 

Handbook and Repertoire Books

RGT@LCM 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 LCM music shop.

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

 

Jazz Guitar Diplomas Repertoire Books

 

Guitar Play Along Vol.16 – Jazz
Guitar Play Along Vol 16

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 Vol.7 – Essential Jazz Standards
Jazz Play Along 7

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 Vol.12 – Essential Jazz Classics
Jazz Play Along 12

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

 

Supplementary Reading List

 

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

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.

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

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.

Jazz Guitar Mastery (Book with DVD by John Stowell)
Jazz Guitar Mastery

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.

Exploring Jazz Guitar (Book with CD by Phil Capone)
Exploring Jazz Guitar

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

General Enquiries: 020 8231 2751 - rgt.lcm@uwl.ac.uk
Membership Enquiries: 020 8231 2055 - membership@rgt.org

RGT@LCM, University of West London, St Mary's Road, London W5 5RF

 

Honorary Patrons

Sir Paul McCartney, David Gilmour, Hank Marvin, Ronnie Wood, Suzi Quatro, Carlos Bonell, Neil Murray, Gordon Giltrap, John Etheridge, John Illsley, Glenn Tilbrook, Dave Kelly