Your bassoon 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. Beaumont Carmencita. No. 9 from 16 Progressive Pieces for Bassoon, arr. Denwood (Emerson E683)
    2. Böhm Minuet. No. 14 from 16 Progressive Pieces for Bassoon, arr. Denwood (Emerson E683)
    3. Byrd Lord Willobies Welcome Home Sounds Classical for Bassoon, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 362-400)
    4. Grieg Gratitude (from Op. 62) Sounds Classical for Bassoon, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 362-400)
    5. R. Farnaby Fayne would I wedd. No. 3 from Going Solo for Bassoon, arr. Sheen (Faber)
    6. Schubert Trio (from Symphony No. 5). No. 4 from Going Solo for Bassoon, arr. Sheen (Faber)
    7. L. Fischer The Cellarman’s Song. P. 58 from Learn as You Play Bassoon, arr. Wastall (Boosey & Hawkes: piano accomp. published separately)
    8. Mozart The Birdcatcher’s Song (from The Magic Flute) Time Pieces for Bassoon, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM: standard/mini-bassoon)
    9. O’Carolan Princess Royal Time Pieces for Bassoon, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM: standard/mini-bassoon)

    LIST B

    1. Keith Bartlett Tango or Rudolph’s Rag: from Just for Fun! for Bassoon (UMP)
    2. Bizet Entr’acte (from Carmen). No. 8 from Going Solo for Bassoon, arr. Sheen (Faber)
    3. Brahms Poco Allegretto (from Symphony No. 3). No. 13 from Sounds Classical for Bassoon, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 362-400)
    4. John Burness Friday: from Five Day Week (Paterson’s PAT60502)
    5. Colin Cowles Ragoon or Thumb a Lift: No. 19 or No. 21 from 25 Fun Moments for Bassoon (Studio Music)
    6. Christopher Norton Inter City Stomp: No. 12 from Microjazz for Bassoon (Boosey & Hawkes)
    7. Prokofiev Two Themes from Peter and the Wolf. Classic Experience Collection for Bassoon, arr. Lanning (Cramer)
    8. Michael Rose Ballad or Intrada or Sea Shanty: from A Miscellany for Bassoon, Book 1 (ABRSM)
    9. Weissenborn Arioso: from Arioso and Humoreske, Op. 9 (ABRSM)

    LIST C

    1. Concone Study No. 1 or Study No. 7 (omitting DC) or Study No. 9: from The Singing Bassoon, arr. Emerson (Emerson E281)
    2. Dave Gale The Latin Eighth: from Jazz FX for Bassoon (Brass Wind)
    3. Gariboldi Study No. 1 or Study No. 4. P. 42 or P. 54 from Learn as You Play Bassoon, arr. Wastall (Boosey & Hawkes)
    4. Loeschhorn Study in C (Op. 65 No. 21). No. 29 from 44 Progressive Studies for Bassoon, arr. Denwood (Emerson E689)
    5. Michael Rose Cantilena or Merry Andrew: from A Miscellany for Bassoon, Book 1 (ABRSM)
    6. Philip Sparke In the Black Mountains or Trumpet Tune: No. 28 or No. 29 from Skilful Studies for Bassoon (Anglo Music AMP 365-401)
    7. Weissenborn Study in E minor (P. 9 No. 4) or Study in D minor (P. 10 No. 4): from Bassoon Studies, Op. 8, Vol. 1 (Peters EP 2277a)

    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 Bassoon 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 Bassoon 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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