Your clarinet grade 2 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. Mozart Könnte jeder brave Mann: from Die Zauberflöte, K. 620, arr. Hunt et al. Clarinet Exam Pieces, Grade 2 (ABRSM)
    2. Purcell Lilliburlero, arr. Harris Clarinet Exam Pieces, Grade 2 (ABRSM)
    3. Trad. Spiritual Deep River, arr. Heim Clarinet Exam Pieces, Grade 2 (ABRSM)
    4. Diabelli Ländler. No. 13 from The Really Easy Clarinet Book, arr. Davies and Harris (Faber: Bb or C editions)
    5. Handel The Harmonious Blacksmith. Music Through Time for Clarinet, Book 1, arr. Harris (OUP)
    6. Schubert Hommage aux belles Viennoises. Clarinet Basics Repertoire, arr. Harris (Faber)
    7. Schubert Ländler (D. 366 No. 6). Time Pieces for Clarinet, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
    8. Trad. English Country Garden. Cool Clarinet Repertoire, Book 2, arr. Hammond (Kevin Mayhew: piano accomp.published separately)
    9. Trad. English Early One Morning or The Mermaid. One More Time! for Clarinet, arr. Watts (Kevin Mayhew)

    LIST B

    1. Mark Cropton Shhhh!: No. 1 from Ten to Go Clarinet Exam Pieces, Grade 2 (ABRSM)
    2. G. & I. Gershwin Oh, Lady be Good!: from Lady, be Good!, arr. Davies and Harris Clarinet Exam Pieces, Grade 2 (ABRSM)
    3. Anthony Hedges Moderato ma con moto: No. 4 from Beginners Please! Clarinet Exam Pieces, Grade 2 (ABRSM)
    4. S. Foster Serenade: Beautiful Dreamer (observing repeat). No. 12 from First Book of Clarinet Solos, arr. Davies and Reade (Faber: Bb or C editions)
    5. Paul Harris Whiling Away the Time on Those Long Summer Afternoons: from I Hate Crossing the Break! (Queen’s Temple Publications QT119)
    6. Joplin I Am Thinking of My Pickaninny Days. Music Through Time for Clarinet, Book 1, arr. Harris (OUP)
    7. Christopher Norton Gloomy: No. 10 from The Microjazz Clarinet Collection 1 (Boosey & Hawkes)
    8. Weiner A-B-C. Time Pieces for Clarinet, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
    9. Jeffery Wilson Dixie: No. 2 from Jazz Album (Camden Music CM097)

    LIST C

    1. Bizet Prelude: from L’Arlésienne, arr. Lawrance Clarinet Exam Pieces, Grade 2 (ABRSM)
    2. Demnitz Study in C: from Elementary School for Clarinet [No. 1: Dynamic Markings] Clarinet Exam Pieces, Grade 2 (ABRSM)
    3. Chris Gumbley Skedaddle: from Cool School for Clarinet Clarinet Exam Pieces, Grade 2 (ABRSM)
    4. Richard Benger Bach-Lark: from 30 Tuneful Studies (Spartan Press SP317)
    5. Demnitz Study in G (P. 5 No. 9): from Elementary School for Clarinet (Peters EP 2417). Also available as: No. 21 from 80 Graded Studies for Clarinet, Book 1 (Faber)
    6. Roger Purcell Hop, Skip and Jump: No. 10 from Scaling the Heights (Astute Music)
    7. James Rae Pieces of Eight or Rock Summit: No. 16 or No. 19 from 38 More Modern Studies for Solo Clarinet (Universal UE 21554)

    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 Clarinet 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 Clarinet 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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