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Practical Session 2 Update - India
We appreciate how much the cancellation of our exams has affected learners and we are working hard on solutions to ensure learners can gain their qualifications at the earliest opportunity.
However, on the basis of official and local advice we will be cancelling Session 2 Practical exams scheduled for October-December. We are very sorry for the impact on teachers and candidates and we will continue to monitor the situation. Thank you for your loyalty and support while these restrictions remain in place.
We will be gradually rolling out remotely-assessed Performance Grades https://gb.abrsm.org/en/performancegrades/ internationally and will share exam dates and booking periods soon.
The booking period for online Music Theory exams at Grades 1 to 5 is now open. We are unable to offer Music Theory exams at Grades 6 to 8. The closing date is Monday 12 October. To book exams you will need to register and create an account with our new online booking service.
Practical Saxophone Grade 5 exams consist of three pieces, chosen by the candidate from the appropriate lists in the current syllabus, scales and broken chords, sight-reading and aural tests.
Total marks in all individual Practical exams are 150. 100 marks are required to achieve Pass, 120 marks to pass with Merit and 130 marks to pass with Distinction.
Find out about our Performance Grades and alternative route to a graded music exam.
Three pieces: one chosen by the candidate from each of the three Lists, A, B and C - 30 marks each
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alain Crépin |  Céline Mandarine
|
|
| 2 | Handel arr. Bullard |
La Paix (Peace) And La Réjouissance (Rejoicing) 3rd movt And 4th movt from Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 351 |
|
| 3 | Fauré arr. Blackwell |
Après un rêve (After a Dream) No. 1 from Trois mélodies, Op. 7 |
|
| 4 | J. S. Bach arr. Denley |
Sinfonia from Cantata No. 156 |
|
| 5 | Dvořák arr. Denley |
In a Ring! Or Grandpa Dances with Grandma No. 1 Or No. 2 from Two Little Pearls |
|
| 6 | Beethoven arr. Sparke |
Romanze from Sonatina No. 1 |
|
| 7 | Mozart arr. Sparke |
Adagio K. Anh. 94, K. 580a |
|
| 8 | Bizet arr. Lanning |
Chanson bohème from Carmen |
|
| 9 | Glinka arr. Ivanov |
Danse | |
| 10 | Tchaikovsky arr. Lanning |
Waltz from The Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66 |
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jim Parker | Bright Young Things
|
|
| 2 | H. Mancini arr. Iles |
The Pink Panther
|
|
| 3 | Richard Kershaw | Tango Till You Drop! from Latin Nights for Alto Saxophone |
|
| 4 | Appermont | Hymn & Dance (playing 8va in bb. 41–52) |
|
| 5 | József Balogh | Palotás And Friss (observing printed cadenza) |
|
| 6 | Ned Bennett | An Urge to Splurge | |
| 7 | Gershwin arr. Bennett |
But Not for Me | |
| 8 | Chris Gumbley | Extra Time | |
| 9 | Christopher Norton | Turkey in the Straw No. 1 from The Christopher Norton Concert Collection for Alto Saxophone |
|
| 10 | Ros Stephen | Transylvanian Stick Dance No. 12 from E♭ Saxophone Globetrotters |
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alan Bullard | Saxophone Stomp No. 39 from Sixty for Sax |
|
| 2 | Rossini arr. Lewin |
Aria from Il barbiere di Siviglia |
|
| 3 | Karen Street | Paradise Ballroom from Streetworks |
|
| 4 | Blémant | Study in G | |
| 5 | Ferling | Study in A minor | |
| 6 | Alan Bullard | Samba Sax No. 41 from Sixty for Sax |
|
| 7 | Chris Gumbley | Icon See Clearly Now | |
| 8 | Mike Mower | Small Town Swing Or Bucolic Bounce No. 15 Or No. 17 from The Good-Tempered Saxophone |
|
| 9 | James Rae | One O'clock Shuffle Or Beth's Bossa No. 21 Or No. 25 from 36 More Modern Studies for Solo Saxophone |
|
| 10 | Jeffery Wilson | Pres No. 1 from Jazz Paraphrase for Saxophone |
Three pieces: one chosen by the candidate from each of the three Lists, A, B and C - 30 marks each
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alain Crépin | Céline Mandarine | |
| 2 | Handel arr. Bullard |
La Paix (Peace) And La Réjouissance (Rejoicing) 3rd movt And 4th movt from Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 351 |
|
| 3 | Fauré arr. Blackwell |
Après un rêve (After a Dream) No. 1 from Trois mélodies, Op. 7 |
|
| 4 | Anon. arr. Calland and Harris |
Spanish Love Song | |
| 5 | J. S. Bach arr. Denley |
Sinfonia from Cantata No. 156 |
|
| 6 | Dvořák arr. Denley |
In a Ring! Or Grandpa Dances with Grandma No. 1 Or No. 2 from Two Little Pearls |
|
| 7 | Beethoven arr. Sparke |
Romanze from Sonatina No. 1 |
|
| 8 | Mozart arr. Sparke |
Adagio K. Anh. 94, K. 580a |
|
| 9 | Bizet arr. Lanning |
Farandole from L'arlésienne, Suite No. 2 |
|
| 10 | Musorgsky arr. Ivanov |
Larme |
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jim Parker | Bright Young Things | |
| 2 | H. Mancini arr. Iles |
The Pink Panther | |
| 3 | Richard Kershaw | Tango Till You Drop! from Latin Nights for Tenor Saxophone |
|
| 4 | Appermont | Hymn & Dance | |
| 5 | Ned Bennett | An Urge to Splurge | |
| 6 | Gershwin arr. Bennett |
But Not for Me | |
| 7 | Chris Gumbley | Extra Time | |
| 8 | Paul Harris | Saxsequential | |
| 9 | Christopher Norton | Turkey in the Straw No. 1 from The Christopher Norton Concert Collection for Tenor Saxophone |
|
| 10 | Ros Stephen | Transylvanian Stick Dance No. 12 from B♭ Saxophone Globetrotters |
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alan Bullard | Saxophone Stomp No. 39 from Sixty for Sax |
|
| 2 | Rossini arr. Lewin |
Aria from Il barbiere di Siviglia |
|
| 3 | Karen Street | Paradise Ballroom from Streetworks |
|
| 4 | Blémant | Study in G | |
| 5 | Ferling | Study in A minor | |
| 6 | Alan Bullard | Samba Sax No. 41 from Sixty for Sax |
|
| 7 | Chris Gumbley | Icon See Clearly Now | |
| 8 | Mike Mower | Small Town Swing Or Bucolic Bounce No. 15 Or No. 17 from The Good-Tempered Saxophone |
|
| 9 | James Rae | One O'clock Shuffle Or Beth's Bossa No. 21 Or No. 25 from 36 More Modern Studies for Solo Saxophone |
|
| 10 | Jeffery Wilson | Pres No. 1 from Jazz Paraphrase for Saxophone |
Candidates enter for an exam on Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Baritone saxophone. There are separate repertoire lists for the Eb and Bb instruments; all other requirements are common to the four instruments.
Related instrument option: At all grades, candidates for any of the four saxophones (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone) have the option of playing their List C piece on one of the other three. There is no advantage to be gained over other candidates in taking this option, and all the other requirements must be played using the saxophone on which the candidate has entered.
Download recordings of syllabus repertoire for Alto Saxophone.
A selection of pieces from the 2018-2021 Saxophone syllabus.
Volumes of well-crafted and idiomatic arrangements for saxophone.
Practice material for students preparing for Saxophone exams.
New editions offering support to teachers preparing students for Practical exams.
