Your soprano/tenor saxophone grade 6 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. Granados Playera, Op. 5 No. 5. No. 7 from Solos for the Tenor Saxophone Player, arr. Teal (G. Schirmer GS33057)
    2. Schumann Romance No. 1 (from Op. 94). No. 13 from Solos for the Tenor Saxophone Player, arr. Teal (G. Schirmer GS33057)
    3. Handel Allegro (from Violin Sonata in A). Klassische Saxophon-Soli, arr. Both (tenor or soprano saxophone) (Schott ED 7330)
    4. Ravel Bolero. No. 1 from Saxophone Solos for Bb Tenor, Vol. 2, arr. Harvey (Chester CH55208)
    5. Philip Sparke Little Overture: No. 1 from Super Solos for Tenor Saxophone (Anglo Music AMP 369-400)
    6. Telemann Siciliana (Andante) and Spiritoso, or Andante and Vivace: 1st and 2nd movts, or 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata in C minor (TWV 41:a3), trans. Londeix for soprano saxophone (Leduc AL 25864)
    7. Tchaikovsky Perce-Neige. Six pièces russes, Vol. 2, arr. Ivanov (tenor or soprano saxophone) (Lemoine 26507)
    8. Vivaldi Allegro: 3rd movt from Concerto in A minor (RV 461), trans. Kynaston for soprano saxophone (Leduc AL 28950)
    9. Vivaldi Andante and Allegro: 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata in C minor, RV 53, trans. Leonard for soprano or tenor saxophone (Christina Leonard Publications CLP034)

    LIST B

    1. John Robert Brown Tangram for tenor saxophone (Warwick Music)
    2. Rob Buckland Travellin’ Light. No. 5 from Café Europa for Tenor Saxophone (Astute Music)
    3. Colin Cowles Bala Breeze and Bala Bounce (Nos 1 and 3 from Three Sketches from Bala). No. 4 from Saxophone Solos for Bb Tenor, Vol. 2, arr. Harvey (Chester CH55208)
    4. Martin Ellerby Richmond and Wymondham: 1st and 4th movts from Albion Dances for tenor saxophone (Studio Music)
    5. Paul Harris Music of the Spheres. Selected Solos for Soprano/Tenor Saxophone, Grades 4–6 (Faber)
    6. Christopher Norton Black Sheep of the Family: No. 14 from The Christopher Norton Concert Collection for Tenor Saxophone (Boosey & Hawkes)
    7. Andy Scott And Everything is Still… for soprano or tenor saxophone (Astute Music)
    8. Andy Scott Zebra Crossing for tenor saxophone (Astute Music)
    9. Trad. Amazing Grace or The Ash Grove. No. 2 or No. 4 from Songs of the British Isles, arr. Rickards (Saxtet Publications: Eb/Bb edition)

    LIST C

    1. C. Baermann Study in D. No. 61 from 80 Graded Studies for Saxophone, Book 2 (Faber)
    2. Ferling Study in D or Study in F# minor. No. 58 or No. 65 from 80 Graded Studies for Saxophone, Book 2 (Faber)
    3. Alan Bullard Expressive Sax or Impetuous Sax: No. 46 or No. 47 from Sixty for Sax (ABRSM)
    4. P. M. Dubois Paso-doble: No. 13 from 17 Études dansantes for solo saxophone (Billaudot GB5740)
    5. Chris Gumbley Tongue Twister: No. 9 from 15 More Crazy Jazz Studies for Solo Saxophone (Gumbles Publications)
    6. James Rae Return Flight or Breakaway: No. 26 or No. 31 from 36 More Modern Studies for Solo Saxophone (Universal UE 21613)
    7. Andy Scott Henry’s Banquet. Changing Times for Solo Saxophone (Astute Music)

    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 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 6 Book (specimen tests).

     

    *Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16


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