Your grade 5 violin 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. J. S. Bach Andante: 3rd movt from Sonata in B minor, BWV 1014 Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 5 (ABRSM)
    2. attrib. Handel Allegro: 4th movt from Sonata in E, HWV 373 Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 5 (ABRSM)
    3. Matteis Ground after the Scotch Humour, arr. Huws Jones Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 5 (ABRSM)
    4. Mozart Minuet (omitting DC). No. 5 from Classical and Romantic Pieces, Book 3, arr. Forbes (OUP)
    5. Telemann Allegro: 2nd movt from Sonata in G, TWV 41:G1. No. 4 from Telemann Six Sonatas for Violin (Schott ED 4221)
    6. Vivaldi Allegro: 1st movt from Concerto in G, Op. 3 No. 3, RV 310 (violin to play in tuttis) (Bärenreiter BA 8980)

    LIST B

    1. Ireland The Holy Boy (A Carol of the Nativity) (mute optional) Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 5 (ABRSM)
    2. Kreisler Rondino on a Theme of Beethoven Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 5 (ABRSM)
    3. Shostakovich Romance: from The Gadfly, arr. Fraser Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 5 (ABRSM)
    4. Carse Rigaudon. Classic Carse, Book 2 (Stainer & Bell H355)
    5. Liszt No. 1 and No. 2 from Two Waltzes (Hardie Press: published with Romance oubliée)
    6. Peguri An Evening of Romance (violin melody). The French Fiddler, arr. Huws Jones (Boosey & Hawkes)

    LIST C

    1. Gordon Kerry Dream Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 5 (ABRSM)
    2. Malcolm Miles Bathwater Blues: No. 10 from Creative Variations for Violin, Vol. 1 Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 5 (ABRSM)
    3. Kodály Intermezzo: from Háry János, arr. Kolman Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 5 (ABRSM)
    4. M. Arnold No. 1 from Four Scottish Dances, Op. 59, arr. Gedge (Novello NOV090882)
    5. Ives Allegro: 1st movt from Sonata No. 4, ‘Children’s Day at the Camp Meeting’ (AMP GS22419) (double-stops in bb. 48 and 69 optional; ignoring octave ad lib. in bb. 70–77)
    6. Trad. Russian Two Guitars. The Gipsy Violin, arr. Russ-Bovelino (Bosworth BOE004518)

    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 Violin Grade 5 Scales 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 Violin 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 4-5 Book (a guide with tests) and/or ABRSM Specimen Sight-Reading Tests Grades 4-5 Book (specimen tests).

     

    *Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16


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