Your grade 1 cello 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. Anon. French Bourrée. No. 9 from Violoncello Music for Beginners 1, arr. Lengyel and Pejtsik (Editio Musica Budapest Z.6312)
    2. Arbeau Branle des Sabots (from Orchésographie). Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 1, arr. Black and Harris (ABRSM)
    3. Kathy and David Blackwell Patrick’s Reel. No. 43 from Cello Time Joggers, arr. Blackwell (OUP: piano accomp. published separately)
    4. Haydn Divertimento (Hob. II:14). P. 2 from Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven for Cello, arr. Erhart-Schwertmann (Doblinger DOBL 33756)
    5. Haydn Poco adagio (from String Quartet, Op. 76 No. 3, ‘Emperor’). More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 1, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)
    6. Suzuki Andantino. No. 12 from Suzuki Cello School, Vol. 1 (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 0479S: piano accomp. published separately, 0480S)

    LIST B

    1. T. H. Bayly Long, Long Ago. No. 10 from Suzuki Cello School, Vol. 1 (Alfred—Summy-Birchard 0479S: piano accomp. published separately, 0480S)
    2. Kathy and David Blackwell Rocking Horse. No. 42 from Cello Time Joggers, arr. Blackwell (OUP: piano accomp. published separately)
    3. Katherine and Hugh Colledge Full Moon: No. 22 from Waggon Wheels for Cello (Boosey & Hawkes)
    4. Fauré Berceuse (from Dolly, Op. 56). More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 1, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)
    5. Saint-Saëns The Elephant (from The Carnival of the Animals). Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 1, arr. Black and Harris (ABRSM)
    6. Schubert Waltz. No. 20 from Violoncello Music for Beginners 1, arr. Lengyel and Pejtsik (Editio Musica Budapest Z.6312)

    LIST C

    1. Katherine and Hugh Colledge Waggon Wheels: No. 23 from Waggon Wheels for Cello (Boosey & Hawkes)
    2. Sheila Nelson Mad as a Hatter. No. 10 from Piece by Piece 1 for Cello, arr. Nelson (Boosey & Hawkes)
    3. Ros Stephen Stoppin’ o in Louisiana (easier version): No. 2 from Cello Globetrotters (OUP: piano accomp. printable from companion CD)
    4. Trad. Congolese Banaha. More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 1, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)
    5. Tim Wells The Ghost: from Cello Scenes (Cramer)
    6. Frank Wunsch Dorian Blue. No. 19 from My First Concert for Cello, arr. Deserno (Schott ED 20881)

    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 Cello 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 Cello 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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