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
- Anon. French Bourrée. No. 9 from Violoncello Music for Beginners 1, arr. Lengyel and Pejtsik (Editio Musica Budapest Z.6312)
- Arbeau Branle des Sabots (from Orchésographie). Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 1, arr. Black and Harris (ABRSM)
- Kathy and David Blackwell Patrick’s Reel. No. 43 from Cello Time Joggers, arr. Blackwell (OUP: piano accomp. published separately)
- Haydn Divertimento (Hob. II:14). P. 2 from Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven for Cello, arr. Erhart-Schwertmann (Doblinger DOBL 33756)
- Haydn Poco adagio (from String Quartet, Op. 76 No. 3, ‘Emperor’). More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 1, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)
- Suzuki Andantino. No. 12 from Suzuki Cello School, Vol. 1 (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 0479S: piano accomp. published separately, 0480S)
LIST B
- T. H. Bayly Long, Long Ago. No. 10 from Suzuki Cello School, Vol. 1 (Alfred—Summy-Birchard 0479S: piano accomp. published separately, 0480S)
- Kathy and David Blackwell Rocking Horse. No. 42 from Cello Time Joggers, arr. Blackwell (OUP: piano accomp. published separately)
- Katherine and Hugh Colledge Full Moon: No. 22 from Waggon Wheels for Cello (Boosey & Hawkes)
- Fauré Berceuse (from Dolly, Op. 56). More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 1, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)
- Saint-Saëns The Elephant (from The Carnival of the Animals). Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 1, arr. Black and Harris (ABRSM)
- Schubert Waltz. No. 20 from Violoncello Music for Beginners 1, arr. Lengyel and Pejtsik (Editio Musica Budapest Z.6312)
LIST C
- Katherine and Hugh Colledge Waggon Wheels: No. 23 from Waggon Wheels for Cello (Boosey & Hawkes)
- Sheila Nelson Mad as a Hatter. No. 10 from Piece by Piece 1 for Cello, arr. Nelson (Boosey & Hawkes)
- Ros Stephen Stoppin’ o in Louisiana (easier version): No. 2 from Cello Globetrotters (OUP: piano accomp. printable from companion CD)
- Trad. Congolese Banaha. More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 1, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)
- Tim Wells The Ghost: from Cello Scenes (Cramer)
- 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