Your grade 6 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. Corelli Preludio: 1st movt from Sonata in A, Op. 5 No. 9 (observing repeats and with Geminiani’s embellishments on the repeats) Violin Exam Pieces 2016-2019, Grade 6 (ABRSM)
    2. Beethoven Scherzo and Trio: 3rd movt from Sonata in C minor, Op. 30 No. 2 Violin Exam Pieces 2016-2019, Grade 6 (ABRSM)
    3. Locatelli Allegro: 2nd movt from Sonata in D minor, Op. 6 No. 12 Violin Exam Pieces 2016-2019, Grade 6 (ABRSM)
    4. J. S. Bach Allegro: 4th movt from Sonata in B minor, BWV 1014. Bach Six Sonatas for Violin, Vol. 1 (Bärenreiter BA 5118 or Wiener Urtext UT 50018)
    5. Mozart Allegro: 2nd movt from Sonata in G, K. 301. No. 1 from Mozart Sonatas for Piano and Violin, Vol. 1 (Henle HN 77) or Mozart Complete Works for Piano and Violin, Vol. 1 (Bärenreiter BA 5761)
    6. Telemann Adagio and Allegro assai: 1st and 2nd movts from Sonatina in A, TWV 41:A2. No. 4 from Telemann Six Sonatinas for Violin (Amadeus BP 0480)

    LIST B

    1. Mascagni Intermezzo: from Cavalleria rusticana Violin Exam Pieces 2016-2019, Grade 6 (ABRSM)
    2. Paganini Rondeau: 3rd movt from Sonata Concertata, arr. Huws Jones Violin Exam Pieces 2016-2019, Grade 6 (ABRSM)
    3. Elgar Idylle, Op. 4 No. 1 Violin Exam Pieces 2016-2019, Grade 6 (ABRSM)
    4. Dancla 5th Air varié on a Theme by Weigl, Op. 89 No. 5. Solos for Young Violinists, Vol. 3 (Alfred–SummyBirchard 0990)
    5. Mazas Study in C, Op. 36 No. 7 (accompanied). Selected Studies 3, arr. Dezaire and Van Rompaey (De Haske DHP 1074433-400)
    6. Schubert Allegro molto: 1st movt from Sonatina in D, Op. 137 No. 1, D. 384. Schubert Sonatinas for Piano and Violin (Henle HN 6) or Schubert Sonatas for Piano and Violin (Wiener Urtext UT 50004)

    LIST C

    1. Bartók Este a székelyeknél (An Evening in the Village), arr. Fülep Violin Exam Pieces 2016-2019, Grade 6 (ABRSM)
    2. Nigel Hess Theme from Ladies in Lavender Violin Exam Pieces 2016-2019, Grade 6 (ABRSM)
    3. Trad. Russian Black Eyes, arr. Waterfield Violin Exam Pieces 2016-2019, Grade 6 (ABRSM)
    4. Richard Lane Elegy (Editions BIM VN22)
    5. Martinů No. 1 from Five Madrigal Stanzas (H. 297) (AMP GS23440)
    6. Nazareth Apanhei-te, cavaquinho (violin melody). The Latin-American Fiddler, arr. Huws Jones (Boosey & Hawkes)

    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 6 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 6-8 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 6-8 Book (a guide with tests) and/or ABRSM Specimen Sight-Reading Tests Grade 6 Book (specimen tests).

     

    *Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16


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