Solo/Duo Musical Theatre
About the Solo/Duo Musical Theatre exam
Our Musical Theatre learners develop their acting skills through song. They use vocal techniques to convey the right mood, and engage with the material to form a thoughtful interpretation of the song.
As they progress through the grades, learners explore characterisation through monologues or duologues, which are performed in character and act as an introduction to their songs. They’ll also deepen their understanding of the history of musical theatre by performing songs from a range of eras, and by researching the work and influence of one of its composers or lyricists.
Learners can either take their Musical Theatre exams by themselves (solo) or with a fellow learner (duo).
Teaching the Solo/Duo Musical Theatre exam
Find Teacher Support Materials for this examination on our Download Centre.
LAMDA is recognised to award qualifications on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) in England by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), in Wales by Qualifications Wales (QiW), and in Northern Ireland by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA).
What does the exam involve?
Type of exam: Solo or Duo
Time allowance: Solo: 10 minutes, Duologue: 15 minutes
- Performing one song from memory (own choice)
- Answering questions about your performance
Please see the LAMDA Musical Theatre Solo/ Duo Graded Examinations Syllabus (2021) for full details.
Type of exam: Solo or Duo
Time allowance: Solo: 15 minutes, Duologue: 20 minutes
- Performing two contrasting songs from memory (own choice)
- Answering questions related to your performances
Please see the LAMDA Musical Theatre Solo/ Duo Graded Examinations Syllabus (2021) for full details.
Type of exam: Solo or Duo
Time allowance: Solo: 25 minutes, Duologue: 30 minutes
- Performing two contrasting songs from memory (own choices)
- Performing from memory a short piece of published or devised text in character leading naturally into each song
- Performing from memory lyrics from a song as a spoken monologue (own choice)
- Answering questions related to your performances
Please see the LAMDA Musical Theatre Solo/ Duo Graded Examinations Syllabus (2021) for full details.
Type of exam: Solo or Duo
Time allowance:
Grade 6: Solo: 35 minutes, Duologue: 40 minutes
Grades 7 & 8: Solo: 40 minutes, Duologue: 45 minutes
- Performing from memory three songs from specified time periods
- Performing from memory a short piece of published or devised text in character leading naturally into each song
- Answering questions related to your performances
Please see the LAMDA Musical Theatre Solo/ Duo Graded Examinations Syllabus (2021) for full details.
Resources & Teaching Materials
The list of set pieces for each Exam can be found in the corresponding syllabi for each exam. You can download the syllabi as a free pdf via our Download Centre or visit our online shop.
We are unable to verify the suitability of own choice pieces, please refer to the Exam Content and Assessment and Grading Criteria detailed for the exam subject and grade entered.
All our syllabi listed below are available for free via download, or you can purchase our full range of publications from our online shop.
You will need:
- Musical Theatre Solo/Duo Graded Examinations Syllabus, with effect from 01 August 2021
These might also be useful:
- Teacher support material - graded examinations in Musical Theatre Solo/Duo (2021), available via Download Centre.
- Knowledge Matters Volume 3
Download the syllabus Visit the online shop
- The new Musical Theatre Solo/Duo Syllabus came into effect from 1 August 2021
- Group Musical Theatre exams will be updated in 2024, along with the LAMDA Group Graded Examinations Syllabus
LAMDA has no restrictions on change of key for Musical Theatre examinations as long as it is appropriate to the song choice and the learner’s vocal capability.
It is permitted for the learner to take the song and the published or devised text preceding it out of context for all grades. Please note that for the knowledge section of the examinations from Grade 2 upwards, the learner will be expected to answer the questions about the musical or film musical that the song has been taken from based upon the original context of the musical/film, not the context devised by the learner.
Musical Theatre examinations do not have assessment criteria directly relating to the timings of the examination and therefore we would not penalise if the song was shorter than the guidelines state. We would usually allow around 30 seconds either side of the time guidelines.
However, the song must be long enough to allow the learner to meet all of the assessment criteria and answer the knowledge questions fully.
We do not specifically provide technicians at any of our Public Centres. At Public Centres, we understand the difficulty in finding a third person to operate the music so will allow a parent or teacher to operate the music as a last resort. If you are attending the examination by yourself, we would allow for a steward to operate the music for you. Please note that we do not provide any technical equipment for examinations, including computers or speakers. These should be provided by the learner.
Please request a steward’s assistance, before your examination with the Centre Representative, AND on the day of the examination, so the Centre is aware, as not all centres may be able to provide this for you.
The accurate date is the date that the song was placed into the context that makes it a published piece of musical theatre. What we can say is that we go by the first staging/publication of a song within the context of a musical.
In the case that a song has been adapted or revised for a new version/revival of a musical, the date used, will be the date that the new version of the song was written. we recommend you compare the two versions of the song. If there are differences, the dates used, would be the date the version of the song you are singing, was written. If there are no differences, we would use the original writing date of the fist version.
Yes, there are no restrictions on the same composer (etc.) being used providing the pieces enable the learner to meet the assessment criteria to the best of their ability, answer the knowledge questions and comply with the regulations
There are no requirements for dance.
Please see pages 12 & 13 of the MT teacher support materials for further information on this.
All Learners entered for Musical Theatre exams via ROA will take their exams in two parts:
- 3 days before exam date - Learners to record and upload their performances.
- Day of exam - Examiner to view recorded performances and then assess Learners via.
Zoom for the Knowledge section of the exam LAMDA will send a copy of the event timetable to the Centre Coordinator 1 week prior to the examination event. Learners will need to perform their pieces in the same order and exact exam times as listed on the timetable, 3 days prior to the exam date.
Pieces will need to be recorded and uploaded onto the SharePoint link sent by LAMDA. All videos must be time and date stamped. Once submitted, access to the link will be removed. Each recording will be reviewed by LAMDA to ensure that they are of the appropriate quality to assess. LAMDA will contact the Centre Coordinator if there is an issue with any recordings. Learners cannot be assessed unless an appropriate recording is submitted.
As the awarding body we cannot comment directly on whether the backing track you have selected is permitted. Backing tracks which include any vocal performance, including backing vocals, are not permitted. Backing tracks can be sourced from a range of places, please see page 5 of our teacher support materials for further information.
Edits can be made to own choice pieces, as long as the piece still makes sense, and the authors intent is still clear.
Please ensure the final piece used enables the learner to meet the assessment criteria and answer the knowledge questions.
