Your grade 3 viola 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. Biber Presto (from Battalia, C. 61). More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1, arr. Lamb and Meredith (ABRSM)
    2. Boyce Bourrée. No. 10 from First Repertoire for Viola, Book 3, arr. Wilkinson and Hart (Faber)
    3. Gossec Gavotte. No. 19 from Suzuki Viola School, Vol. 1 (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 0241S: piano accomp. published separately, 0245S)
    4. Handel Hornpipe (from the Water Music). No. 26 from Viola Time Sprinters, arr. Blackwell (OUP: piano accomp. published separately)
    5. attrib. Henry VIII Pastime with good company (viola melody) (incl. second verse). The Fiddler Playalong Viola Collection, arr. Huws Jones (Boosey & Hawkes)
    6. Telemann Bourrée. Starters for Viola, arr. Salter (ABRSM)

    LIST B

    1. Dunhill The Willow Brook (Stainer & Bell H221: published with Alla Sarabanda)
    2. Grieg Arietta (from Lyric Pieces, Op. 12). Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1, arr. Bass and Harris (ABRSM)
    3. Humperdinck Evening Prayer (from Hansel and Gretel). No. 18 from First Repertoire for Viola, Book 3, arr. Wilkinson and Hart (Faber)
    4. Howard Shore In Dreams (from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring). Classic Movie Instrumental Solos for Viola, arr. Galliford, Neuburg and Edmondson (Alfred 35128)
    5. Tchaikovsky Waltz (from The Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66). More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1, arr. Lamb and Meredith (ABRSM)
    6. Vaughan Williams Andante sostenuto (‘Spurn Point’): No. 2 from Six Studies in English Folksong. Solos for Young Violists, Vol. 4 (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 18750X) or Vaughan Williams Six Studies in English Folksong (Stainer & Bell H49: piano accomp. published separately, H47)

    LIST C

    1. Kathy and David Blackwell Show Stopper. No. 23 from Viola Time Sprinters, arr. Blackwell (OUP: piano accomp. published separately)
    2. Mary Cohen Saturday Night Stomp: No. 2 from Superstudies for Solo Viola, Book 2 (Faber)
    3. Gearen Big Foot Lou. No. 11 from First Repertoire for Viola, Book 3, arr. Wilkinson and Hart (Faber)
    4. Gershwin I got plenty o’ nuttin’ (from Porgy and Bess). More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1, arr. Lamb and Meredith (ABRSM)
    5. Noack Trio section only: from Heinzelmännchens Wachtparade (Flibbertigibbets), Op. 5 (Schott ED0 9793)
    6. Monty Norman James Bond Theme. Classic Movie Instrumental Solos for Viola, arr. Galliford, Neuburg and Edmondson (Alfred 35128)

    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 Viola Grades 1-5 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 Viola 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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