Your flute grade 1 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
- Hook Minuetto: 2nd movt from Sonata in Eb, Op. 99 No. 3, arr. Wastall Flute Exam Pieces, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
- Purcell Rigaudon, Z. 653, arr. Stuart Flute Exam Pieces, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
- Trad. Irish The Rakes o’ Mallow, arr. Denley Flute Exam Pieces, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
- A. M. Bononcini Bella Vittoria. Music Through Time for Flute, Book 1, arr. Harris and Adams (OUP)
- Daquin Noël. Harlequin, Book 1, arr. McDowall (Cramer)
- Schubert Waltz No. 16 (from D. 146). Time Pieces for Flute, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
- Sholom Secunda Donna Donna (observing repeat). Winner Scores All for Flute, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately)
- Trad. English Blow the Wind Southerly. One More Time! for Flute, arr. Watts (Kevin Mayhew)
- Trad. Welsh The Ash Grove. Funky Flute Repertoire, Book 2, arr. Hammond (Kevin Mayhew: piano accomp. published separately)
LIST B
- Keith Amos Lupin, the Pot-Bellied Pig: No. 9 from The First Amos Flute Album Flute Exam Pieces, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
- Ros Stephen Guanabara Bay: No. 1 from Flute Globetrotters Flute Exam Pieces, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
- Rodgers & Hammerstein Edelweiss: from The Sound of Music, arr. Thomson Flute Exam Pieces, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
- Heather Hammond Funk Factory. Funky Flute Repertoire, Book 2, arr. Hammond (Kevin Mayhew: piano accomp. published separately)
- Alan Haughton Partying: from Fun Club for Flute, Grade 1–2 (Kevin Mayhew: piano accomp. and part published in Teacher Copy)
- Cecilia McDowall Moulin Rose. Harlequin, Book 1, arr. McDowall (Cramer)
- Aldo Rossi Un dolce sogno (A Sweet Dream): No. 5 from 18 composizioni facili e progressive (Ricordi)
- R. & R. Sherman Truly Scrumptious (from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). Winner Scores All for Flute, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately)
- Sullivan Prithee, Pretty Maiden (from Patience). Music Through Time for Flute, Book 1, arr. Harris and Adams (OUP)
LIST C
- Nikki Iles Jazz Waltz Flute Exam Pieces, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
- E. Köhler Exercise in G: No. 30 from Schule für Flöte, Part 1 Flute Exam Pieces, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
- Oliver Ledbury Itchy Feet (arpeggio in final bar optional): from Flute Salad Flute Exam Pieces, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
- Alan Bullard Hungarian Flute or Marching Flute: No. 4 or No. 7 from Fifty for Flute, Book 1 (ABRSM)
- Paul Harris Study in C or Study in G or Study in F. No. 4 or No. 5 or No. 7 from 76 Graded Studies for Flute, Book 1 (Faber)
- Mike Mower Straight to the Point or Knock Knock: from The Modern Flute Player (Itchy Fingers Publications 054)
- Philip Sparke Modal Melody or Shalom!: No. 3 or No. 14 from Skilful Studies for Flute (Anglo Music AMP 094-401)
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 Flute 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 Flute 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