Last Updated on 13 October 2026 by Victoria Williams
I’m very pleased to announce that my latest book is now available on Amazon:
AMusTCL Explained – a Handbook for Diploma Candidates
See more here, including example pages: https://mymusictheory.com/amustcl-explained-a-mymusictheory-handbook/
This is a step-by-guide to each separate section of the Trinity Associate level music theory diploma, which is the next step after successfully completing grade 8 music theory (with any exam board).
The Associate diploma level is equivalent to the depth of study expected during the first year of an undergraduate degree, so this book is quite lengthy and detailed.
However, I have (as always, I hope!) written it with approachability in mind.
I have broken each section down into steps and simple concepts, provided examples, tips and advice, as well as strategies for learning, revising and organising your studies, and extensive reading recommendations.
The AMusTCL paper is divided into 2 sections. Section A covers specific topic areas, and section B covers musical works (see the current syllabus for the current works). In section A the options are Baroque chorales (4-part harmony), Classical orchestration, Romantic pianoforte composition, 20th Century Popular Song (e.g. Irving Berlin style, writing for piano and voice), and 20th Century Modern solo instrumental composition.
Candidates have to pick at least one question from section A, and one from section B, and to answer five questions in total. The exam length is 3 hours.
The book covers each Section A topic comprehensively, and there is a chapter on Section B which is not work specific, but more a general guide to selecting a work and studying for this question, including tips on essay-writing and writing style.
My new book is an all-in-one version of the PDFs which are already available on my website. These PDFs have also been updated and improved in the last few months. If you prefer the PDF format, you can find the PDFs here: https://courses.mymusictheory.com/courses/amustcl-course-pdf-trinity
As always, do feel free to drop me a line if you have any comments or questions!