Your grade 1 violin 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
- Anon. L’homme armé (The Armed Man), arr. Huws Jones Violin Exam Pieces 2016-2019, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
- Anon. Minuet, BWV Anh. II 116, arr. Cohen Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
- Beethoven Écossaise, WoO 86, arr. Nelson Violin Exam Pieces 2016-2019, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
- Handel Finale (from the Water Music). No. 13 from Fiddle Time Runners, arr. Blackwell (OUP: piano accomp. published separately)
- Suzuki Andantino. No. 11 from Suzuki Violin School, Vol. 1 (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 0144S: piano accomp. published separately, 30097)
- Szervánszky Dance Song from the 17th Century. Violin Music for Beginners 1, arr. Lenkei (Editio Musica Budapest Z.6311)
LIST B
- Komorowski The Grey Dove, arr. de Keyser and Waterman Violin Exam Pieces 2016-2019, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
- Trad. Greek Greek Wedding, arr. Huws Jones Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
- Christopher Norton Pitlochry: No. 15 from The Microjazz Violin Collection 1 Violin Exam Pieces 2016-2019, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
- T. H. Bayly Long, Long Ago. No. 7 from Suzuki Violin School, Vol. 1 (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 0144S: piano accomp. published separately, 30097)
- Rodgers & Hammerstein Edelweiss (from The Sound of Music). Songs from the Shows, Violin Grade 1–3, arr. Thomson (Kevin Mayhew 3612406)
- Sugár Song: No. 1 from Song and Dance. Violin Music for Beginners 1, arr. Lenkei (Editio Musica Budapest Z.6311)
LIST C
- Ros Stephen Stoppin’ o in Louisiana: No. 2 from Violin Globetrotters Violin Exam Pieces 2016-2019, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
- Jim Henson and Sam Pottle The Muppet Show Theme, arr. Blackwell Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
- Trad. Bulgarian Elenke, arr. Waterfield Violin Exam Pieces 2016-2019, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
- Kathy and David Blackwell I Got those Fiddle Blues. No. 22 from Fiddle Time Runners, arr. Blackwell (OUP: piano accomp. published separately)
- Katherine and Hugh Colledge Polly’s Polka: No. 5 from Fast Forward for Violin (Boosey & Hawkes)
- Edward Huws Jones Hen-Coop Rag. Violin Star 2, arr. Huws Jones (ABRSM: piano accomp. published separately)
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 Violin Grade 1 Scales 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 Violin 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