Your alto/baritone saxophone grade 1 ABRSM exam will be marked out of 150 and you will need a total of 100 marks to Pass, 120 marks for a Merit and 130 marks for a Distinction.  The exam comprises of four main areas:

    Pieces

    In your exam you are required to play three pieces (worth up to 30 marks each), one from each of the three lists, A, B and C below:

    LIST A

    1. Anon. A Romp Time Pieces for Eb Saxophone, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
    2. Tchaikovsky Grandfather’s Dance (from The Nutcracker, Op. 71) Time Pieces for Eb Saxophone, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
    3. Brahms Cradle Song Time Travels for Saxophone, arr. Buckland and Scott (Astute Music: Eb piano accomp. published separately)
    4. Trad. Russian Song of the Volga Boatmen Time Travels for Saxophone, arr. Buckland and Scott (Astute Music: Eb piano accomp. published separately)
    5. Elgar Land of Hope and Glory. No. 3 from Up-Grade! for Alto Saxophone, Grades 1–2, arr. Wedgwood (Faber)
    6. Verdi La donna è mobile. No. 4 from Up-Grade! for Alto Saxophone, Grades 1–2, arr. Wedgwood (Faber)
    7. Glazunov Theme and Variations. First Repertoire for Alto Saxophone, arr. Harris and Calland (Faber)
    8. Schubert Entr’acte Music from Rosamunde, arr. Kolman. Repertoire Explorer for Alto Saxophone (Universal UE 21486)
    9. Philip Sparke A Victorian Ballad. No. 5 from Skilful Solos for Alto Saxophone, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 190-400)

    LIST B

    1. Ned Bennett Jazz Music for Beetles: from Jazz Club for Alto Saxophone, Grades 1–2 (IMP)
    2. J. W. Bratton Theme from ‘The Teddy Bears’ Picnic’. No. 11 from Up-Grade! for Alto Saxophone, Grades 1–2, arr. Wedgwood (Faber)
    3. Rob Buckland Saxi-Taxi. Time Travels for Saxophone, arr. Buckland and Scott (Astute Music: Eb piano accomp. published separately)
    4. Paul Harris Seascape. First Repertoire for Alto Saxophone, arr. Harris and Calland (Faber)
    5. Mike Mower Lullaby: from Future Hits for Alto or Baritone Saxophone (Itchy Fingers Publications 056)
    6. James Rae Rumba. Repertoire Explorer for Alto Saxophone (Universal UE 21486)
    7. John Reeman Promenade (from Simple Suite No. 3). Time Pieces for Eb Saxophone, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
    8. Philip Sparke Nice to See You Again. No. 1 from Skilful Solos for Alto Saxophone, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 190-400)
    9. Ros Stephen Guanabara Bay: No. 1 from Eb Saxophone Globetrotters (OUP: piano accomp. printable from companion CD)

    LIST C

    1. Alan Bullard Sax Café or Hungarian Sax or Balanced Sax: No. 5 or No. 7 or No. 8 from Sixty for Sax (ABRSM)
    2. Fetzen Study in C. No. 15 from 80 Graded Studies for Saxophone, Book 1 (Faber)
    3. Garnier Study in C. No. 11 from 80 Graded Studies for Saxophone, Book 1 (Faber)
    4. Mike Mower Knock Knock: from The Good-Tempered Saxophone (Itchy Fingers Publications 057)
    5. Popp Moderato. Repertoire Explorer for Alto Saxophone (Universal UE 21486)
    6. James Rae Blue Waltz: No. 2 from 36 More Modern Studies for Solo Saxophone (Universal UE 21613)
    7. Karen Street Easy P.C. No. 2 from Double Click!! for Solo Saxophone (Gumbles Publications)

    Scales & Arpeggios

    As part of your exam you are also required to play scales & arpeggios from memory (worth up to 21 marks) - please see the ABRSM Saxophone Grades 1-8 Scale Book

    Sight-Reading Test

    You will also be required to sight-read some music that you have not seen before (worth up to 21 marks) - to prepare for this part of your exam please see the ABRSM Saxophone Grades 1-5 Sight-Reading Book which has a selection of specimen sight-reading pieces.

    Aural Tests

    In another part of your exam you will be required to complete a set of aural tests challenging your musicianship (worth up to 18 marks). To help prepare for this please see the ABRSM Aural Training in Practice Grades 1-3 Book (a guide with tests) and/or ABRSM Specimen Sight-Reading Tests Grades 1-3 Book (specimen tests).

     

    *Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16


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