Inside I-Play Music

The Musical Artist Development Centre based in Coulsdon and surrounding areas for Performance

Our mission statement

“To provide individuals with the opportunity to excel in personal achievements

through the art of learning and playing their music with passion.”

Teaching and learning the I-Play Music way includes studying with style and expression.

A compelling performance involves more than just playing notes, it requires emotional engagement. The ability to convey expression while performing is what gets amateurs noticed by industry professionals.

In exams candidates who perform without emotion or movement risk a minimum deduction of two marks for each performance. Additionally, marks are deducted if a performance lacks realism; this realism is best achieved through collaboration with others.

We work with real musician's recordings. The grade books we use feature pieces accompanied by recordings from professional musicians, complete with sheet music and instructional overviews. Students have the opportunity to "learn to perform" alongside these real musicians through full mix audio and backing tracks, simulating a live performance experience.

While this isn’t the same as performing with the musicians in person, it’s the next best thing. We encourage students to practice and refine their skills by playing alongside peers and tutors. We hold Skill Sessions during the spring term, and band rehearsals during the summer term. We prepare every student to showcase their talents in our I-Play Mini Concert videos to be shown via our YouTube channel at the end of the music academic year. I-Play Music is best suited to those who want to build a solid foundation to become a top rated musical artist, within the music industry.

Learning Bass

The foundation instrument of every proper band in existence! The role of the bassist is ever changing from providing good grounding in supporting all instruments and vocals, to taking the lead role in more complex musical arrangements. No other instrument can do it better than the Bass, no bass, no band.

Learning Drums

The most rhythmical and percussive instrument. The drum-set provides time-lock foundation for all musical instruments and works closely along with the bass to keep every other musician in time with the tempo of the arrangement.

Learning Guitar

If the Bass and Drums are the parents of the band, the Guitarist is the teenager. The guitar is the tune and rhythm maker of the band and is often associated with melodies with many distinct voices.

Learning Piano and Keys

Piano is the instrument that encompasses all the qualities of producing complete sounds for a well-rounded performance. It can stand out in its own right if played correctly by a competent musician. The piano is also known as the 'writing tool' for arrangers and composers.

Learning to Sing

The Voice is known as the 'first instrument' as this is where all the above instruments came from. Vocalists are the melodic tune deliverers from the composer via the band, to the listener. However, a good knowledge of the piano is needed to become a good vocalist.

This next part of our website goes into detail about what we provide here at I-Play Music. Below is the overview of our 2025 / 2026 Music Academic year. There are five sections, these are: -

1. Introduction

2. Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)

3. Homework Assignment

4. I-Play Music Mock Exam

5. Additional Information

Introduction

I-Play Music (also known as IPM), is a musical artist development centre for performance. For the individual we provide one term of intensive training from September to December. New to the syllabus will be the inclusion of reading, writing, and recording instrument parts. For example, recording the entire bassline accurately and transcribing it to a full music notation or score.

In both the spring and summer terms, January to end of March, and from May to end of June, students work in groups to broaden their horizons in Session Skills and Band Rehearsals. At the end of the year, we put on our Presentation Awards before publishing our IPM Mini Concert Videos on YouTube featuring students as up-and-coming musical artists.

IPM is affiliated with the RSL Awarding body for music exams. As a private examination centre, we pride ourselves on being able to bring our Level 3 Music Instrumental, and Music Production Courses to Grade 6 through to 8; our level 3 students will themselves earn UCAS Points in the process.

UCAS

What is UCAS?

UCAS (Universities & Colleges Admissions Service) is a clearing house for applications to almost all full-time undergraduate degree programmes at UK universities and colleges.

What are UCAS Points?

UCAS rates qualifications and awards them a tariff score based on various factors. The points accrued by completing multiple qualifications which are on the UCAS tariff can be combined together to meet University entry requirements.

What is the Tariff and how does it work?

UCAS tariff points have changed for entry to Higher Education in 2017 and beyond. All qualifications in the new system carry far fewer points than was previously the case. 

All qualifications have been reassessed by UCAS and had a new rating applied. For example, a Grade A* at A Level used to carry 140 points under the old tariff. The same A* grade would now carry 56 points under the new system.

All of RSL’s qualifications have retained their value relative to equivalent qualifications from other Awarding Organisations.

Which RSL qualifications have UCAS points?

Bass, Drums, Guitar, Piano, Keyboard, Music Theory & Production, and Vocals, Grade 6, 7, and 8, all have UCAS Points. The table below shows the UCAS Points…

Instrument Music Grades and Music Production

Grade	Pass	Merit	Distinction
Grade 6	8 points	10 points	12 points
Grade 7	12 points	14 points	16 points
Grade 8	18 points	24 points	30 points

Where a candidate has taken more than one exam in one instrument, they can only put forward the exam that gave them the highest number of points. Points awarded for music exams in different instruments can be accumulated, but it would be the decision of the university or college whether or not they choose to accept both sets of points.

Music Theory

Grade	Pass	Merit	Distinction
Grade 6	4 points	5 points	6 points
Grade 7	6 points	7 points	8 points
Grade 8	8 points	9 points	10 points

UCAS Explained

https://www.ucas.com/advisers/guides-and-resources/information-new-ucas-tariff-advisers 

Homework Assignment 

Every December, I-Play Music students are expected to complete the IPM Homework Assignment Test. The overall marks will be entered into the Learning Diary, (see IPM Standards of Admission Policy). In preparation for the mock exam, students must have completed all sections and pass this test.

I-Play Music Mock Exam

The IPM Mock Exam is a matter of course and is IPM's standard procedure. If a student is not ready to take the scheduled mid-February mock exam, that student will most likely be deferred to the exam in May the following year. The I-Play Music Mock Exam is designed to closely replicate the RSL Awards Music Exam, providing valuable practice and preparation for the actual exam in May each year.

Graded Music Exam:

Candidates performing a graded exam will be required to perform three songs, along with the remaining three sections outlined below:

1. Technical Exercises

2. Supporting Tests

3. General Musicianship Questions

Performance Exam:

Candidates opting for a performance exam will perform just five songs. The Technical Exercises, Supporting Tests, and General Musicianship Questions are not included. This option is typically selected by candidates with a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical aspects essential for outstanding performances.

Below, the I-Play Music Session Timetable for the 2025 Autumn Term

At IPM we're dedicated to maintaining high standards and committed to enhancing our services.