Your oboe grade 3 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. Corranto in G. Three Elizabethan Pieces, arr. H. Craxton (Emerson E169)
    2. S. Arnold Siciliana (from Sonata Op. 12 No. 3) (observing upper line in bb. 7–8). Airs and Dances, arr. Blood (Gonzaga)
    3. Gluck Aria (from Orfeo ed Euridice). Winner Scores All for Oboe, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately)
    4. Handel Air (HWV 467) Time Pieces for Oboe, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
    5. Mozart Menuett (K. 2) Time Pieces for Oboe, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
    6. Pleyel Andante and Rondo. Oboe Music to Enjoy, arr. Francis and Gray (Boosey & Hawkes)
    7. Purcell When I am Laid in Earth (from Dido and Aeneas) Sounds Classical for Oboe, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 361-400)
    8. Telemann Aria (from Kleine Kammermusik) Sounds Classical for Oboe, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 361-400)
    9. Trad. Welsh The Ash Grove. 22 Traditional Tunes for Oboe, arr. Ramsay (Fentone F485A-401)

    LIST B

    1. Keith Bartlett Romance or Rudolph’s Rag: from Just for Fun! for Oboe (UMP)
    2. Bernstein America or I Feel Pretty (from West Side Story) Winner Scores All for Oboe, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately)
    3. Andrew Lloyd Webber The Music of the Night (from Phantom of the Opera) Winner Scores All for Oboe, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately)
    4. Brahms Poco Allegretto (from Symphony No. 3). No. 13 from Sounds Classical for Oboe, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 361-400)
    5. Grieg Tempo di minuetto or Andante sostenuto. No. 5 or No. 6 from Norwegian Suite, arr. Kelly (Spartan Press SP828)
    6. Mussorgsky Tränen (observing repeat). Oboe Music to Enjoy, arr. Francis and Gray (Boosey & Hawkes)
    7. Christopher Norton Folk Tale or Beach-front: No. 3 or No. 8 from Stepping Out (Boosey & Hawkes)
    8. Duncan Reid The Inebriated Swan. No. 6 from Duncan and Paul’s Shopping List for Oboe (Sunshine Music SUN304)
    9. Sarah Watts Waltz for One Day or Shrimps Ahoy: from Fresh Air for Oboe (Kevin Mayhew)

    LIST C

    1. Dave Gale Puddle Hopping or Mission Incredible: from Jazz FX for Oboe (Brass Wind)
    2. Hinke Study in C (P. 9 No. 8) or Study in G (P. 19 No. 3): from Elementary Method for Oboe (Peters EP 2418)
    3. Langey Study in A minor (omitting DC). No. 23 from 80 Graded Studies for Oboe, Book 1 (Faber)
    4. Mike Mower Flat Feet or Le petit chien: from The Good-Tempered Oboe (Itchy Fingers Publications 058)
    5. James Rae 100 Metres or Discus: No. 4 or No. 5 from Track and Field for Oboe (Reedimensions RD063)
    6. Graham Salter Spring in the Air or Gnome: from 35 Melodic Studies for Oboe (Emerson E413)
    7. Philip Sparke My Country or Tyrolean Tune: No. 26 or No. 27 from Skilful Studies for Oboe (Anglo Music AMP 095-401)

    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 Oboe 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 Oboe 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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