Your grade 2 viola 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. J. S. Bach Rondeau (from Orchestral Suite in B minor, BWV 1067). More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1, arr. Lamb and Meredith (ABRSM)
    2. J. S. Bach Minuet No. 1. No. 15 from Suzuki Viola School, Vol. 1 (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 0241S: piano accomp. published separately, 0245S)
    3. Charpentier Prelude (from Te Deum). No. 24 from Viola Time Runners, arr. Blackwell (OUP: piano accomp. published separately)
    4. J.-F. Dandrieu Les bergers rustiques. No. 11 from First Repertoire for Viola, Book 2, arr. Wilkinson and Hart (Faber)
    5. G. B. Martini Gavotte. No. 1 from First Repertoire for Viola, Book 2, arr. Wilkinson and Hart (Faber)
    6. Playford The Twenty-Ninth of May (from The Dancing Master). Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1, arr. Bass and Harris (ABRSM)

    LIST B

    1. Katherine and Hugh Colledge Snake Charmer: No. 21 from Fast Forward for Viola (Boosey & Hawkes)
    2. Edward Jones Glwysen (The Fairest One) (viola melody). The Fiddler Playalong Viola Collection, arr. Huws Jones (Boosey & Hawkes)
    3. Mozart Theme from Andante grazioso (from Piano Sonata in A, K.331). Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1, arr. Bass and Harris (ABRSM)
    4. Schumann The Happy Farmer. No. 18 from Suzuki Viola School, Vol. 1 (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 0241S: piano accomp. published separately, 0245S)
    5. J. Strauss II Emperor Waltz, Op. 437. More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1, arr. Lamb and Meredith (ABRSM)
    6. Trad. North American Simple Gifts. O Shenandoah! for Viola, arr. Waterfield and Beach (Faber)

    LIST C

    1. Kathy and David Blackwell Mean Street Chase. No. 20 from Viola Time Runners, arr. Blackwell (OUP: piano accomp. published separately)
    2. Katherine and Hugh Colledge The Ceilidh: No. 20 from Fast Forward for Viola (Boosey & Hawkes)
    3. Offenbach Galop infernal (observing 1st repeat). No. 13 from First Repertoire for Viola, Book 2, arr. Wilkinson and Hart (Faber)
    4. Stravinsky Shrove-Tide Fair Themes (from Petrushka). More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1, arr. Lamb and Meredith (ABRSM)
    5. Trad. American Old Joe Clark. O Shenandoah! for Viola, arr. Waterfield and Beach (Faber)
    6. Trad. Scottish Mrs McLeod’s Reel (viola melody). The Fiddler Playalong Viola Collection, arr. Huws Jones (Boosey & Hawkes)

    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 Viola Grades 1-5 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 Viola 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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