Your treble (alto) recorder 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

    1. Blow Air Easy Baroque Repertoire for Treble Recorder, arr. Hooker (Peacock Press P200)
    2. Purcell Minuet in G Easy Baroque Repertoire for Treble Recorder, arr. Hooker (Peacock Press P200)
    3. Handel Gavotte arr. Bergmann. Concert Repertoire for Recorder, arr. Adams (Faber)
    4. Paisible Minuet arr. Bergmann. Concert Repertoire for Recorder, arr. Adams (Faber)
    5. Handel Menuet in F. Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks, arr. Robinson (Peacock Press PAR124)
    6. Haydn Poco adagio (from String Quartet, Op. 76 No. 3, ‘Emperor’) Time Pieces for Treble/Alto Recorder, Vol.1, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    7. Shield The Ploughboy (from The Farmer), arr. Bullard Time Pieces for Treble/Alto Recorder, Vol.1, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    8. Susato Ronde (incl. Aliud). No. 5 from Susato Danserye: Selected Dances, arr. Robinson (Peacock Press PAR128)
    9. Trad. Polish Krakowiak. Solo Pieces for the Beginning for Treble Recorder (Mel Bay)

    LIST B

    1. Walter Bergmann Pony Trot. Concert Repertoire for Recorder, arr. Adams (Faber)
    2. Elgar Land of Hope and Glory Winners Galore for Treble Recorder, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately)
    3. Trad. English Drunken Sailor or Portsmouth Winners Galore for Treble Recorder, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately)
    4. Terry Gilkyson The Bare Necessities (from The Jungle Book). Winner Scores All for Treble Recorder, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately)
    5. Alan Haughton One Step at a Time or Calm Seas: from Fun Club for Treble Recorder, Grade 0–1 (Kevin Mayhew)
    6. Duncan Reid Techno Dance. No. 5 from Duncan and Paul’s Shopping List for Treble Recorder (Sunshine Music SUN306)
    7. Ridout Lingering by the Wayside or Stepping Out Along a Road: No. 2 or No. 6 from A Day in the Country for Treble Recorder (ABRSM)
    8. Schubert Entr’acte (from Rosamunde) Time Pieces for Treble/Alto Recorder, Vol. 1, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    9. Schumann Melody (from Album for the Young, Op. 68), arr. Bullard (observing repeats) Time Pieces for Treble/Alto Recorder, Vol. 1, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)

    LIST C

    1. Sally Adams Study No. 1 or Study No. 2 Treble Recorder Studies, Book 1 (Cramer)
    2. Doris da Costa Study No. 4 Treble Recorder Studies, Book 1 (Cramer)
    3. Anon. No. 3 from Tunes for the Canary Bird or No. 1 from Tunes for the Parrot. The Bird Fancyer’s Delight (Schott ED 10442)
    4. Kathryn Bennetts Chalk and Cheese. Time Pieces for Treble/Alto Recorder, Vol. 1, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    5. Hans Keuning Moderato or Allegretto: No. 2 or No. 12 from 25 Studies for Treble Recorder (Harmonia XHU2164)
    6. M. Praetorius Gavotte 1. No. 45 from 50 Renaissance Dance Tunes, arr. Capek (Schott ED 12266)
    7. Trad. Welsh Men of Harlech. Winner Scores All for Treble Recorder, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind)

    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 Recorder 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 Recorder 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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