Last Updated on 4 June 2026 by Victoria Williams
AmusTCL* Diploma Resources and Courses
*Associate of Music, Trinity College London
The links to books on this page are sponsored by Amazon.
For more information about taking a Diploma in Music Theory please click here
Syllabus
Candidates sitting the AmusTCL (2025-2028 syllabus) should choose five questions from the exam paper, with at least one question from section A, and one from section B.
See https://trinitycollege.com/qualifications/music/diplomas/theory/set-works for more details.
Section A
- Lutheran (Bach) Chorale
- Classical Orchestration
- Early Romantic Piano Composition
- 20th Century Popular Song Composition (Piano)
- 20th Century Melodic Composition (Solo instrument)
Section B
- Bach: Partita no. 6 in E minor, BWV 830
- Mozart: Cosi fan Tutte, K.588, Act 1 only
- Schubert: Die Schöne Müllerin, op. 25 (high voice/piano)
- Saint-Saëns: Symphony no. 3 (from page 55 to page 176); Dover DP15499 (this edition only)
- Tippett: A Child of Our Time; Eulenburg ETP8053 (this edition only) (NB vocal scores are not suitable)
AmusTCL Course Material by MyMusicTheory
Suggested Study List
AmusTCL Study Guide (Section A) (Published by Trinity College London)
Writing About Music
Wingell, R.: Writing About Music – an Introductory Guide
Herbert, T.: Music in Words – A Guide to Researching and Writing about Music
Creme, P. and Lea, M.: Writing at University – A Guide for Students
General Background Reading
Hurd, M.: An Outline History of European Music
A. Butterworth: Harmony in Practice
Taylor, E.: The AB Guide to Music Theory Part 2
Pratt, G.: The Dynamics of Harmony – Principles and Practice
Harper-Scott, J and Samson, J.: An Introduction to Music Studies
Bach Chorales
J.S. Bach: 371 Harmonised Chorales
Classical Orchestration
Carse, A.: The History of Orchestration
Jacob, G.: Orchestral Technique – A Manual for Students
Palmer, K.: Orchestration (Teach Yourself Books)
(Video) Techniques of Orchestration Part 1 | How To Orchestrate a Chord by Rick Beato
Composition (Romantic Keyboard, 20th Century Pop Song Composition & Modern Solo Instrumental Composition)
Schoenberg, A.: The Fundamentals of Music Composition (General techniques, not restricted to Schoenberg’s own style)
From Baroque to Romantic – Studies in Tonal Music Units 23-26 Romantic Music I, A314; The Open University, 1984 [Out of print, but available to borrow at https://archive.org/details/frombaroquetorom0000unse_i2x8]
A Guide to Musical Styles; Douglas Moore, W. W. Norton, 1962 [https://amzn.to/3QdS4he]
Investigating Musical Styles; Roy Bennett, CUP, 1992 [https://amzn.to/4bLuqkT]
Keyboard Music; Denis Matthews, Penguin, 1972 [https://amzn.to/4m0Q9bQ]
Masters of the Keyboard; Konrad Wolff, Indiana University Press, 1983 [https://amzn.to/47DgMO5]
The Pelican History of Music vol.3 Classical and Romantic; Ed. Alec Robertson and Denis Stevens, Penguin Books, 1968 [https://amzn.to/48klfW6]
The Romantic Generation; Charles Rosen; Fontana Press. 1996 [https://amzn.to/4sajkea]
Schumann Piano Music; Joan Chissell, BBC, 1972 [https://amzn.to/3OexrB5]
Popular Song (Piano Arrangement)
Series: “70 Years of Popular Music”, published by IMP. One volume per decade. Link to “The Forties” onwards.
Series: “100 Years of Popular Music”, published by IMP. One volume per decade. Link to “Vol.1 The 40s”.
“90 Golden Years of Irving Berlin”, published by IMP.
“The Rodgers and Hammerstein Collection”, published by Hal Leonard.
“The Andrew Lloyd Webber Sheet Music Collection”, published by Hal Leonard.
“The Best Broadway Songs Ever”, published by Hal Leonard. This book is also available to loan in digital format from: https://archive.org/details/bestbroadwaysong0000unse/page/4/mode/2up