Your soprano/tenor saxophone grade 4 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. Bizet Habanera. Selected Solos for Soprano/Tenor Saxophone, Grades 4–6 (Faber)
    2. Singelée Allegro vivace (from Premier Quatuor, Op. 53) Selected Solos for Soprano/Tenor Saxophone, Grades 4–6 (Faber)
    3. Dvořák Grandpa Dances with Grandma (No. 2 from Two Little Pearls) Time Pieces for Bb Saxophone, Vol. 2, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
    4. Fučik Entry of the Gladiators (Op. 68) Time Pieces for Bb Saxophone, Vol. 2, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
    5. Elgar Chanson de Matin Classic Experience Collection for Tenor Saxophone, arr. Lanning (Cramer)
    6. Mozart Turkish Rondo (from Piano Sonata in A) Classic Experience Collection for Tenor Saxophone, arr. Lanning (Cramer)
    7. Prokofiev Two Themes from Peter and the Wolf Classic Experience Collection for Tenor Saxophone, arr. Lanning (Cramer)
    8. Schubert Marche militaire. No. 16 from Skilful Solos for Tenor Saxophone, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 368-400)
    9. Vivaldi Largo from ‘Winter’. No. 12 from Skilful Solos for Tenor Saxophone, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 368-400)

    LIST B

    1. Gershwin Summertime (from Porgy and Bess). The Jazz Sax Collection for Tenor or Soprano Saxophone, arr. Bennett (Faber)
    2. Antonio Jobim & Newton Mendonça Desafinado. Selected Solos for Soprano/Tenor Saxophone, Grades 4–6 (Faber)
    3. Richard Kershaw Lengthening Shadows or End of a Perfect Day: from Latin Nights for Tenor Saxophone (Hunt Edition HE91)
    4. Christopher Norton Dixie or I Saw Three Ships: No. 5 or No. 10 from The Christopher Norton Concert Collection for Tenor Saxophone (Boosey & Hawkes)
    5. James Rae Rachel and the Boys: from Blue Saxophone (Universal UE 19765: Eb/Bb edition)
    6. Philip Sparke Scales of Justice. No. 11 from Skilful Solos for Tenor Saxophone, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 368-400)
    7. Ros Stephen A Nacht in Nyu York: No. 5 from Bb Saxophone Globetrotters (OUP: piano accomp. printable from companion CD)
    8. Pam Wedgwood The Friends: from After Hours for Tenor Saxophone (Faber)
    9. Weill Tango-Ballade (from The Threepenny Opera). Time Pieces for Bb Saxophone, Vol. 2, arr. Denley (ABRSM)

    LIST C

    1. C. Baermann Study in C. No. 32 from 80 Graded Studies for Saxophone, Book 1 (Faber)
    2. Gariboldi Study in Bb. No. 31 from 80 Graded Studies for Saxophone, Book 1 (Faber)
    3. Alan Bullard Plaintive Sax or Show-Stopping Sax: No. 29 or No. 32 from Sixty for Sax (ABRSM)
    4. Robin Grant On the Line: from Mambo Merengue for Saxophone (Brass Wind: Bb edition)
    5. Mike Mower Drifting Off: from The Good-Tempered Saxophone (Itchy Fingers Publications 057)
    6. James Rae Coastal Route or February March: No. 17 or No. 19 from 36 More Modern Studies for Solo Saxophone (Universal UE 21613)
    7. Karen Street Standby for Action! No. 15 from Double Click!! for Solo Saxophone (Gumbles Publications)

    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 Saxophone 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 Saxophone 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 4-5 Book (a guide with tests) and/or ABRSM Specimen Sight-Reading Tests Grades 4-5 Book (specimen tests).

     

    *Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16


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