Your clarinet grade 7 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. Brahms Andantino–Presto non assai: 3rd movt from Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115 Clarinet Exam Pieces, Grade 7 ABRSM)
    2. Devienne Adagio: 2nd movt from Sonata in Bb, Op. 70 No. 1 Clarinet Exam Pieces, Grade 7 ABRSM) 
    3. Klosé Rondo: 2nd movt from Deuxième Solo, Op. 10 Clarinet Exam Pieces, Grade 7 ABRSM) 
    4. Dimler Rondeau (Allegretto grazioso): 3rd movt from Concerto in Bb (Kunzelmann GM 131)
    5. Donizetti Allegretto: 2nd movt from Concertino in Bb, reconstructed Meylan (Peters EP 8206)
    6. Hurlstone Scherzo: No. 4 from Four Characteristic Pieces (Emerson E97)
    7. L. Kozeluch Allegro molto: 1st movt from Concerto in Eb (Kunzelmann GM 264)
    8. Saint-Saëns Allegretto: 1st movt from Sonata in Eb, Op. 167 (Henle HN 965 or Durand)
    9. C. Stamitz Allegro moderato (observing cadenza): 1st movt from Concerto No. 3 in Bb (Peters EP 4859 or Dowani)

    LIST B

    1. Taran Carter Poisoned Sketches Clarinet Exam Pieces, Grade 7 ABRSM) 
    2. Head Echo Valley Clarinet Exam Pieces, Grade 7 (ABRSM)
    3. Hindemith Lebhaft: 2nd movt from Sonata Clarinet Exam Pieces, Grade 7 ABRSM)
    4. Christopher Ball Allegro (observing cadenza): 1st movt from Concerto (Emerson E521a)
    5. Paul Carr Fairly fast and agitated: 1st movt from Sonatina (Emerson E560)
    6. Brian Chapple Allegro giocoso with swing: No. 1 from A Bit of a Blow (Bosworth BOE005035)
    7. Gál Andantino: 2nd movt from Sonata, Op. 84 (Schott KLB 44)
    8. Poulenc Romanza: 2nd movt from Sonata (Chester CH70972)
    9. James Rae Off to the Nelson!: 3rd movt from Southwold Sonatina (Reedimensions RD001)

    LIST C

    1. J. S. Bach Courante: 3rd movt from Suite in D, BWV 1012, trans. Giampieri Clarinet Exam Pieces, Grade 7 ABRSM)
    2. R. R. Bennett Night Thoughts: 2nd movt from Sonatina Clarinet Exam Pieces, Grade 7 ABRSM) 
    3. Kroll Study in G: No. 2 from 30 Etüden für Klarinette Clarinet Exam Pieces, Grade 7 ABRSM) 
    4. Randall Cunningham Etude in C: No. 1 from 15 Advanced Etudes (Woodwindiana)
    5. Roger Purcell High-Fives: No. 61 from Scaling the Heights (Astute Music)
    6. James Rae Hard Rock Blues (growl & sub-tone optional) or Oiled Wheels: No. 36 or No. 40 from 40 Modern Studies for Solo Clarinet (Universal UE 19735)
    7. C. Rose after Ferling Study in C minor: No. 26 from 32 Etudes for Clarinet (Carl Fischer). Also available as: No. 70 from 80 Graded Studies for Clarinet, Book 2 (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 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 6-8 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 6-8 Book (a guide with tests) and/or ABRSM Specimen Sight-Reading Tests Grade 7 Book (specimen tests).

     

    *Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16


    You’ve recently looked at...