Your soprano/tenor saxophone grade 3 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. C. P. E. Bach March (from Anna Magdalena’s Notebook) Time Travels for Saxophone, arr. Buckland and Scott (Astute Music: Bb piano accomp. published separately)
    2. MacDowell To a Wild Rose Time Travels for Saxophone, arr. Buckland and Scott (Astute Music: Bb piano accomp. published separately)
    3. Grieg Morning (from Peer Gynt Suite). Classic Experience Collection for Tenor Saxophone, arr. Lanning (Cramer)
    4. Jacob A Christmas Tune Time Pieces for Bb Saxophone, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
    5. Mozart Marche funèbre del Signor Maestro Contrapunto (K. 453a) Time Pieces for Bb Saxophone, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
    6. Vaughan Williams Linden Lea Time Pieces for Bb Saxophone, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
    7. Mussorgsky Promenade (from Pictures at an Exhibition) Selected Solos for Soprano/Tenor Saxophone, Grades 1–3 (Faber)
    8. Vivaldi Cantabile (from Il Cordellino) Selected Solos for Soprano/Tenor Saxophone, Grades 1–3 (Faber)
    9. Philip Sparke Waltz with Variations. No. 13 from Skilful Solos for Tenor Saxophone, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 368-400)

    LIST B

    1. Coward My Horse has Cast a Shoe (from Pacific 1860). Time Pieces for Bb Saxophone, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
    2. Paul Harris Showtime Selected Solos for Soprano/Tenor Saxophone, Grades 1–3 (Faber)
    3. Pam Wedgwood Rosie or Plaza de Toros Selected Solos for Soprano/Tenor Saxophone, Grades 1–3 (Faber)
    4. Mike Mower Still Waters (observing 8va in bb. 15–16): from Future Hits for Tenor or Soprano Saxophone (Itchy Fingers Publications 060)
    5. James Rae Waltz for Emily: from Blue Saxophone (Universal UE 19765: Eb/Bb edition)
    6. Andy Scott Castanet. Time Travels for Saxophone, arr. Buckland and Scott (Astute Music: Bb piano accomp. published separately)
    7. Philip Sparke Alladale Aria. No. 10 from Skilful Solos for Tenor Saxophone, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 368- 400)
    8. Ros Stephen Roda de Choro: No. 11 from Bb Saxophone Globetrotters (OUP: piano accomp. printable from companion CD)
    9. Pam Wedgwood Survivor: from After Hours for Tenor Saxophone (Faber)

    LIST C

    1. Alan Bullard Scaly Sax or Thoughtful Sax: No. 23 or No. 24 from Sixty for Sax (ABRSM)
    2. Paul Harris Tango. No. 22 from 80 Graded Studies for Saxophone, Book 1 (Faber)
    3. Langey Study in A minor. No. 23 from 80 Graded Studies for Saxophone, Book 1 (Faber)
    4. Mike Mower Out of Plaice: from The Good-Tempered Saxophone (Itchy Fingers Publications 057)
    5. James Rae Spinnaker Jig or Pot Luck: No. 9 or No. 13 from 36 More Modern Studies for Solo Saxophone (Universal UE 21613)
    6. Soussmann Moderato. Repertoire Explorer for Tenor Saxophone (Universal UE 21612)
    7. Karen Street Phish and Chips or Domain Reason. No. 6 or No. 13 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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