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Latest exam updates
Practical Session 2 Update – Oman
We appreciate how much the cancellation of our exams has affected learners and we’re working hard on solutions to ensure they can gain their qualifications at the earliest opportunity. However, on the basis of official and local advice we will be postponing the entry period for Session 2 Practical exams and we will provide an update about the exams scheduled for November - December as soon as we can.
We will provide updates about future exams sessions as soon as we can and our Representative will provide further guidance in due course.
We are very sorry for the impact on teachers and candidates and thank you for your loyalty and support at this difficult time.
Candidates for Grade 6, 7 or 8 exams must already have passed ABRSM Grade 5 (or above) in Music Theory, Practical Musicianship or a solo Jazz instrument. For full details including a list of accepted alternatives, see Regulation 1d.
Practical Saxophone Grade 6 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 | Damase |   Vacances
|
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| 2 | Guilhaud arr. Strevens |
Andante religieux from Trois Pièces |
 Guilhaud: Trois Pièces, for Alto or Baritone Saxophone, arr. StrevensSamek Music (CSCP007) More details |
| 3 | Handel trans. Rascher |
Largo And Allegro 3rd movt And 4th movt from Sonata No. 3 |
|
| 4 | Dirko Juchem | Moderato Or Rondo 1st movt Or 3rd movt from Petite Suite |
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| 5 | Kalinnikov arr. Ivanov |
Chanson triste |
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| 6 | Koechlin | Pour la douceur des attaques from 15 études, Op. 188 |
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| 7 | Lantier | Sicilienne | |
| 8 | Massenet arr. Lanning |
Meditation from Thaïs |
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| 9 | Saint-Saëns trans. Rainford |
Andantino 1st movt from Sonata, Op. 166 |
|
| 10 | Philip Sparke | Little Overture No. 1 from Super Solos for Alto Saxophone |
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ned Bennett | Lamplight | |
| 2 | Binge | Romance 2nd movt from Concerto for Alto Saxophone |
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| 3 | Colin Crabb | Sax in the City (bb. 69–99 as written) |
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| 4 | Mick Foster | For Astor No. 2 from Five Contemporary Dances |
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| 5 | Lawson Lunde | Andantino cantabile 2nd movt from Sonata for Alto Saxophone |
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| 6 | Christopher Norton | Black Sheep of the Family No. 14 from The Christopher Norton Concert Collection for Alto Saxophone |
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| 7 | Roberto Pintos | Balada nocturna from Tangos |
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| 8 | Yuri Povolotsky | From the Sixties 3rd movt from Suite in Retro Style |
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| 9 | Pascal Proust | Paris Dance | |
| 10 | Andy Scott | And Everything is Still... |
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blémant | Study in G | |
| 2 | Karg-Elert | Cubana Or Giga
|
|
| 3 | Verroust | Study in G | |
| 4 | Alan Bullard | Expressive Sax Or Impetuous Sax No. 46 Or No. 47 from Sixty for Sax |
|
| 5 | P.-M. Dubois | Paso-doble No. 13 from 17 Études dansantes |
|
| 6 | Chris Gumbley | Tongue Twister No. 9 from 15 More Crazy Jazz Studies for Solo Saxophone |
 Chris Gumbley: 15 More Crazy Jazz Studies for Solo SaxophoneGumbles Publications (GP101) More details |
| 7 | James Rae | Jazz Waltz No. 4 from 18 Concert Etudes for Solo Saxophone |
|
| 8 | James Rae | Return Flight Or Breakaway No. 26 Or No. 31 from 36 More Modern Studies for Solo Saxophone |
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| 9 | Karen Street | Improve Your Groove from Streetworks |
|
| 10 | Jeffery Wilson | Take Desmond No. 6 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 | Clérisse | Sérénade variée | |
| 2 | J. H. Fiocco arr. Harvey |
Arioso | |
| 3 | Granados arr. Teal |
Playera Op. 5 No. 5 |
|
| 4 | Schumann arr. Teal |
Romance No. 1 from Three Romances, Op. 94 |
|
| 5 | Grétry arr. Bazelaire and Londeix |
Ariette Or Chasse from Suite Rococo (ending at b. 101 in Ariette) |
|
| 6 | Guilhaud arr. Strevens |
Andante religieux from Trois Pièces |
 Guilhaud: Trois Pièces, for Soprano or Tenor Saxophone, arr. StrevensSamek Music (CSCP006) More details |
| 7 | Philip Sparke | Little Overture No. 1 from Super Solos for Tenor Saxophone |
|
| 8 | Tchaikovsky arr. Ivanov |
Perce-Neige | |
| 9 | Telemann trans. Londeix |
Siciliana: Andante And Spiritoso 1st movt And 2nd movt from Sonata in C minor |
|
| 10 | Telemann trans. Londeix |
Andante And Vivace 3rd movt And 4th movt from Sonata in C minor |
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ned Bennett | Lamplight | |
| 2 | Martin Ellerby | Richmond And Wymondham 1st movt And 4th movt from Albion Dances for Tenor Saxophone |
|
| 3 | Mick Foster | For Astor No. 2 from Five Contemporary Dances |
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| 4 | Paul Harris | Music of the Spheres | |
| 5 | Graham Lyons | Shooting Stars over a Tropical Sea from Compositions for Tenor Saxophone, Vol. 2 |
 Graham Lyons: Compositions for Tenor Saxophone, Vol. 2 (piano accomp. printable from companion CD)Useful Music (U133) More details |
| 6 | Christopher Norton | Black Sheep of the Family No. 14 from The Christopher Norton Concert Collection for Tenor Saxophone |
|
| 7 | Andy Scott | And Everything is Still… |
 Andy Scott: And Everything is Still… for Soprano or Tenor SaxophoneAstute Music (am104-26) More details |
| 8 | Andy Scott | Zebra Crossing | |
| 9 | Trad. arr. Rickards |
Amazing Grace Or The Ash Grove |
 No. 2 Or No. 4 from Songs of the British Isles, arr. Rickards (E♭/B♭ edition )Saxtet Publications (Sax034) More details |
| 10 | Washington and Bassman arr. Ledbury |
I'm getting sentimental over you |
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blémant | Study in G | |
| 2 | Karg-Elert | Cubana Or Giga | |
| 3 | Verroust | Study in G | |
| 4 | Alan Bullard | Expressive Sax Or Impetuous Sax No. 46 Or No. 47 from Sixty for Sax |
|
| 5 | P.-M. Dubois | Paso-doble No. 13 from 17 Études dansantes |
|
| 6 | Chris Gumbley | Tongue Twister No. 9 from 15 More Crazy Jazz Studies for Solo Saxophone |
Chris Gumbley: 15 More Crazy Jazz Studies for Solo Saxophone Gumbles Publications (GP101) More details |
| 7 | James Rae | Jazz Waltz No. 4 from 18 Concert Etudes for Solo Saxophone |
|
| 8 | James Rae | Return Flight Or Breakaway No. 26 Or No. 31 from 36 More Modern Studies for Solo Saxophone |
|
| 9 | Karen Street | Improve Your Groove from Streetworks |
|
| 10 | Jeffery Wilson | Take Desmond No. 6 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.
Practice examples of the aural tests for Grade 6.
Practice material for students preparing for Saxophone exams.
New editions offering support to teachers preparing students for Practical exams.
