Your grade 3 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. English Watkins’ Ale (cello melody). The Fiddler Playalong Cello Collection, arr. Huws Jones (Boosey & Hawkes)
    2. Beethoven Deutscher Tanz (WoO 8/4). P. 10 from Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven for Cello, arr. Erhart-Schwertmann (Doblinger DOBL 33756)
    3. Cirri Menuetto: 3rd movt from Sonata in C (Schott CB 192) or No. 1 from Cirri Three Sonatas for Cello (Heinrichshofen N1283)
    4. Corelli Gavotta (from Violin Sonata, Op. 5 No. 10) (observing both repeats). Play Baroque! arr. East (Stainer & Bell H479 )
    5. D. Gallo Moderato (from Trio Sonata No. 1). More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 1, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)
    6. B. Marcello Largo: 3rd movt from Sonata in E minor, Op. 2 No. 2 (Stainer & Bell H436)

    LIST B

    1. Brahms St Anthony Chorale. Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 2, arr. Black and Harris (ABRSM)
    2. Alan Gout Barcarolle. First Repertoire for Cello, Book 1, arr. Legg and Gout (Faber)
    3. Holst Jupiter (from The Planets). The Classic Experience for Cello, arr. Lanning (Cramer)
    4. Edward Jones Glwysen (The Fairest One) (cello melody). The Fiddler Playalong Cello Collection, arr. Huws Jones (Boosey & Hawkes)
    5. Smetana Vltava (from Má vlast). More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 1, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)
    6. Trad. North American Simple Gifts. O Shenandoah! for Cello, arr. Waterfield and Beach (Faber)

    LIST C

    1. Carey Cheney Budapesto. Solos for Young Cellists, Vol. 1 (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 20810X)
    2. M. Simons The Peanut Vendor. More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 1, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)
    3. Ros Stephen ‘Hole in My Shoe’ Blues: No. 10 from Cello Globetrotters (OUP: piano accomp. printable from companion CD)
    4. Trad. Hungarian Folksong. First Repertoire for Cello, Book 1, arr. Legg and Gout (Faber)
    5. Tim Wells Melancholy Waltz: from Cello Scenes (Cramer)
    6. John Williams Hedwig’s Theme (from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone). Classic Movie Instrumental Solos for Cello, arr. Galliford, Neuburg and Edmondson (Alfred 35131) or Harry Potter Instrumental Solos for Cello, arr. Galliford, Neuburg and Edmondson (Alfred 39241)

    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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