Your grade 3 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

    1. attrib. Henry VIII Pastime with good company, arr. Huws Jones Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 3 (ABRSM)
    2. Mozart Polonaise: No. 4 from 12 Duos, K. 487, arr. Forbes Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 3 (ABRSM)
    3. Telemann Presto: 3rd movt from Sonatina No. 6 in F, TWV 41:F1 Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 3 (ABRSM)
    4. J. S. Bach Gavotte 1: from Gavotte in D. No. 6 from Suzuki Violin School, Vol. 3 (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 0148S: piano accomp. published separately, 30099)
    5. F. Duval Un peu gay. No. 3 from My First Concert for Violin, arr. Mohrs (Schott ED 21467)
    6. Handel Bourrée. No. 11 from The Young Violinist’s Repertoire, Book 4, arr. de Keyser and Waterman (Faber)

    LIST B

    1. Arlen & Harburg Over the Rainbow: from The Wizard of Oz, arr. Barnes Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 3 (ABRSM)
    2. Paganini Theme and Variation: from 24 Caprices, Op. 1, arr. Bornemann, (observing repeats) Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 3 (ABRSM)
    3. Trad. Irish The Lark in the Clear Air, arr. Kelly Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 3 (ABRSM)
    4. Neil Mackay German Folk Song and Swiss Air: from A Tuneful Introduction to the Third Position (Stainer & Bell 1857: piano accomp. published separately, H419)
    5. Moniuszko Baika. No. 3 from The Young Violinist’s Repertoire, Book 4, arr. de Keyser and Waterman (Faber)
    6. J. Strauss II The Beautiful Blue Danube (violin melody) (omitting DC). The Viennese Fiddler, arr. Huws Jones (Boosey & Hawkes)

    LIST C

    1. Trad. American Pig Ankle Rag, arr. Cooper (solo) Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 3 (ABRSM)
    2. Bernstein America: from West Side Story, arr. Lanning Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 3 (ABRSM)
    3. Trad. French The Folk from the Mountain, arr. Huws Jones Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 3 (ABRSM)
    4. Roy McCormack Louis: No. 10 from Let’s Swing for Violin (Spartan Press SP1280)
    5. Monty Norman James Bond Theme. James Bond 007 Collection for Violin, arr. Galliford, Neuburg and Edmondson (Alfred IFM0401CD)
    6. Ros Stephen Tango in San Telmo or African Jamboree: No. 7 or No. 12 from Violin Globetrotters (OUP: piano accomp. printable from companion CD)

    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 3 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


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