Your grade 1 double bass 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. Estonian Lament to the Moon (in either key) Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1, arr. Slatford (ABRSM)
    2. Blow Gavott (from Musick’s Hand-maid) Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1, arr. Slatford (ABRSM)
    3. Anon. German The More the Merrier. No. 67 from Ready Steady Go, arr. Elliott (Bartholomew 502: piano accomp. published separately, 502a)
    4. Suzuki Allegretto. No. 11 from Suzuki Bass School, Vol. 1, Revised Edition (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 0370S: piano accomp. published separately, 0372S)
    5. Trad. John Grumlie, arr. Elliott. P. 25 from The Essential String Method, Double Bass Book 3 (Boosey & Hawkes: piano accomp. published separately)
    6. Trad. Peruvian Dance Tune. Amazing Solos for Double Bass, arr. Schofield (Boosey & Hawkes)

    LIST B

    1. Catherine Elliott Carnival Waltz. P. 4 from The Essential String Method, Double Bass Book 3 (Boosey & Hawkes: piano accomp. published separately)
    2. Tony Osborne Bass Bridges of Paris or Alpen Song: No. 14 or No. 18 from The Really Easy Bass Book (Faber)
    3. Michael Rose Ballad II Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1, arr. Slatford (ABRSM)
    4. Schumann A Little Piece (from Op. 68) Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1, arr. Slatford (ABRSM)
    5. Taki Moon Over the Ruined Castle. No. 8 from Suzuki Bass School, Vol. 2, Revised Edition (Alfred–SummyBirchard 0371S: piano accomp. published separately, 0374S)
    6. Tchaikovsky Old French Song, arr. Nelson. P. 27 from The Essential String Method, Double Bass Book 4 (Boosey & Hawkes: piano accomp. published separately)

    LIST C

    1. Anon. Corn Rigs Quadrille Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1, arr. Slatford (ABRSM) solo or accomp.
    2. Steve Berry A Little Blue (without improvisation) Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1, arr. Slatford (ABRSM) accomp.
    3. T. Morley Now is the month of Maying (in either key) Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1, arr. Slatford (ABRSM) solo or accomp.
    4. I. Carroll Gigue: from Five Simple Pieces (Stainer & Bell 2310) accomp.
    5. Tony Osborne And Y Not: No. 22 from The Really Easy Bass Book (Faber) accomp.
    6. Regner Lied des Schlafes: No. 5 from Kontra-Spass (Schott KBB 11) accomp.
    7. Trad. Hatikvah, arr. Elliott. P. 22 from The Essential String Method, Double Bass Book 3 (Boosey & Hawkes: piano accomp. published separately) solo or accomp.

    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 Double Bass 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 Double Bass 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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