Your grade 6 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
- J. S. Bach Menuets 1 and 2: from Cello Suite No. 1 in G, BWV 1007. Bach Six Cello Suites, trans. Rowland-Jones (Peters EP 7489 ) or trans. Forbes (Chester CH01401)
- Caix d’Hervelois La Marche du Czar. No. 17 from L’Alto classique, Vol. C, arr. Classens (Combre P04438)
- Fiocco Allegro, trans. Arnold (Viola World VWP000015)
- Mozart Allegro: 1st movt from Divertimento in C, trans. Piatigorsky. Solos for Young Violists, Vol. 2 (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 18590X)
- Telemann Allegro: 2nd movt from Concerto in G, TWV 51:G9 (Bärenreiter BA 5878-90)
- Telemann Courante and Double (viola to play in tuttis): 6th movt from Suite in D, arr. Bergmann and Forbes (Schott ED 10196)
LIST B
- Albéniz Tango. No. 12 from L’Alto classique, Vol. C, arr. Classens (Combre P04438)
- Brahms Andante: from String Sextet No. 1, Op. 18. More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2, arr. Lamb and Meredith (ABRSM)
- Bridge Serenade. Bridge Four Pieces for Viola (Faber)
- Kalliwoda No. 1: from Six Nocturnes, Op. 186 (Peters EP 2104)
- Seitz Allegro moderato: 1st movt from Student Concerto in D (transposed to G), Op. 22 (Bärenreiter BA 8986)
- Sitt No. 4: from Album Leaves, Op. 39. Solos for Young Violists, Vol. 4 (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 18750X) or Sitt Album Leaves, Op. 39 (IMC 1048)
LIST C
- Dancla Fantasia – La Cenerentola, Op. 86 No. 7, trans. Barber. Solos for Young Violists, Vol. 2 (Alfred–SummyBirchard 18590X )
- Ehrensperger Ma belle, si tu voulais: from Suite über französische Volkslieder (Amadeus BP 1926)
- B. Hummel Presto: 3rd movt from Kleine Suite, Op. 19c (Simrock EE 2954a)
- Joplin The Easy Winners (observing double-stops; upper line in bb. 83–84). Joplin Three Ragtimes, arr. Birtel (Schott ED 20459)
- Vaughan Williams Carol: No. 2 from Suite for Viola, Group 1 (OUP)
- Weill & Brecht Mack the Knife (from The Threepenny Opera), arr. Reiter. More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2, arr. Lamb and Meredith (ABRSM)
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 6-8 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 Viola 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