Your grade 2 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. J. S. Bach Air (from the Peasant Cantata). More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 1, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)
    2. Handel Hallelujah (from Messiah). P. 3 from Play Baroque!, arr. East (Stainer & Bell H479)
    3. Haydn Divertimento (Hob. XIV:3). P. 4 from Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven for Cello, arr. Erhart-Schwertmann (Doblinger DOBL 33756)
    4. Haydn Minuet and Trio (omitting DC). No. 25 from Piece by Piece 1 for Cello, arr. Nelson (Boosey & Hawkes)
    5. Milán Pavane. No. 2 from Violoncello Music for Beginners 1, arr. Lengyel and Pejtsik (Editio Musica Budapest Z.6312) or No. 1 from My First Concert for Cello, arr. Deserno (Schott ED 20881)
    6. Trad. German The Little Fiddle. Solos for Young Cellists, Vol. 1 (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 20810X)

    LIST B

    1. Carse A Bumpkin’s Dance or At Dawn: from The Fiddler’s Nursery for Cello (Stainer & Bell H434)
    2. Marie Dare Serenade (Schott ED 10738)
    3. Donizetti Bella siccome un angelo (from Don Pasquale) More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 1, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)
    4. Dvořák Slavonic Dance, Op. 46 No. 8 More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 1, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)
    5. P.-M. Dubois Tendresse: No. 1 from En Vitesse (Durand)
    6. Mozart Papageno’s Song (from The Magic Flute). Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 2, arr. Black and Harris (ABRSM)

    LIST C

    1. M. Hajdu No. 2 (Allegro): from Two Pieces for Violoncello. No. 24 from Violoncello Music for Beginners 1, arr. Lengyel and Pejtsik (Editio Musica Budapest Z.6312)
    2. Daniel Kemminer Shana Tova (Happy New Year) (observing upper line in ossia). No. 25 from My First Concert for Cello, arr. Deserno (Schott ED 20881)
    3. Caroline Lumsden and Ben Attwood Melted Mouse & Roasted Rat in Choc’late Sauce: from Wizard’s Potion for Cello (Peters EP 7679A: piano accomp. published separately, EP 7679B)
    4. H. Mancini The Pink Panther More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 1, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)
    5. Tim Wells Happy Places More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 1, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)
    6. Trad. North American Old Joe Clark. O Shenandoah! for Cello, arr. Waterfield and Beach (Faber)

    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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