Please use the links below to find the titles recommended in the ABRSM Bassoon Grade 1 from 2022 Exam Syllabus:

Grade 1 Scales

ABRSM Bassoon Scales, Grades 1-5

Grade 1 Sight-Reading

ABRSM Bassoon Specimen Sight-Reading, Grades 1-5

Grade 1 Aural

Specimen Aural Tests, Grades 1-3 (book only)
Specimen Aural Tests, Grades 1-3 (book and CD)
Aural Training in Practice, Grades 1-3 (book and CD)

Grade 1 Pieces

One piece must be chosen from each of Lists A, B and C:

List A

1 Keith Amos Heavy Dance, Keith Amos: The CMA Notebook for Bassoon (CMA Publications)
2 Aubert Gavotte, arr. Hilling & Bergmann, First Book of Bassoon Solos (Faber)
3 attrib. J. S. Bach Minuet, arr. Harris & Newman, Bassoon Basics (Faber) 🎹 ♦
4 Maxwell Davies When I got out of bed (from Kirkwall Shopping Songs), arr. Denley, Time Pieces for Bassoon, Vol. 1 (ABRSM)*
5 Trad. Czech The Little Drummer Boy, arr. Denley Time Pieces for Bassoon, Vol. 1 (ABRSM) *
6 Jane Sebba Dawn Chorus, Abracadabra Bassoon (Collins Music)
7 Trad. North American Long-Legged Life, arr. Sebba, Abracadabra Bassoon (Collins Music)
8 Trad. The Mallow Fling, arr. Lawrance, Easy Winners for Bassoon (Brass Wind) Piano Accomp. ♦
9 Trad. French Sur le pont d’Avignon, upper part, arr. A. & J. Oosthuizen, Easy Traditional Duets for Two Bassoons or Mini-Bassoon and Bassoon (Wild Music Publications) or Tenoroon and Bassoon (Wild Music Publications)
10 Vivaldi Spring (from The Four Seasons), arr. A. & J. Oosthuizenupper part Easy Classic Bassoon Duets (Wild Music Publications) or Mini-Bassoon and Bassoon Duets (Wild Music Publications) or Tenoroon and Bassoon Duets (Wild Music Publications)

LIST B

1 Carol Barratt Safe Haven, Bravo! Bassoon (Boosey & Hawkes)
2 Colin Cowles Croonin’ ’oon (No. 6 from 25 Fun Moments for Bassoon) Colin Cowles: 25 Fun Moments for Bassoon (Studio Music)
3 Diabelli Serenade (from Op. 125), arr. Wastall P. 22 from Learn as You Play Bassoon (Boosey & Hawkes)
4 Gurlitt Andante (from First Steps, Op. 82), arr. Wastall P. 23 from Learn as You Play Bassoon (Boosey & Hawkes)
5 S. Scheidt O Little One Sweet, arr. Benoy, First Pieces for Bassoon, Book 1 (OUP archive)
6 Trad. American Aura Lee, arr. Harris & Newman Bassoon Basics (Faber) 🎹 ♦
7 Trad. Chinese Boat on Tai Lake, arr. A. & J. Oosthuizenupper part Easy Traditional Duets for Two Bassoons or Mini-Bassoon and Bassoon (Wild Music Publications) or Tenoroon and Bassoon (Wild Music Publications)
8 Trad. English Scarborough Fair, arr. A. & J. Oosthuizen upper part Easy Duets from Around the World for Bassoons or Mini-Bassoon and Bassoon or Tenoroon and Bassoon (Wild Music Publications)
9 Trad. German Wooden Heart, arr. Lawrance, Easy Winners for Bassoon (Brass Wind) Piano Accomp.♦
10 Sarah Watts Water Lilies, from Razzamajazz Bassoon (Kevin Mayhew)

LIST C

1 Siavash Beizai Damkol damkol (from Easy Piano Pieces on Persian Folksongs), arr. Denley high D in penultimate bar may be played 8vb Time Pieces for Bassoon, Vol. 1 (ABRSM)
2 Bruns & Atencio A Pirate’s Life for Me, arr. Lawrance, Winner Scores All for Bassoon (Brass Wind) Piano Accomp.
3 Colin Cowles Catchy Toon (No. 3 from 25 Fun Moments for Bassoon) Colin Cowles: 25 Fun Moments for Bassoon (Studio Music)
4 Karen Gourlay Another Apple, No. 4 from Dazzling Duos, Grade 1 Bassoon upper part  (Forton Music)
5 Paul Harris Haunted House Bassoon Basics (Faber) 🎹 ♦
6 Graham Lyons Eva’s Tango Graham Lyons: Compositions for Bassoon, Vol. 1 (Useful Music) or available in the separately published Selected Piano Accompaniments, Vol. 1, U240
7 Tom Paxton The Marvelous Toy, arr. Lawrance bottom Ds may be played 8va Easy Winners for Bassoon (Brass Wind) Piano Accomp ♦
8 James Rae Blue Bop, No. 4  from 16 Characteristic Studies for Bassoon (Reedimensions)
9 R. & R. Sherman Chim Chim Cher-ee (from Mary Poppins), arr. Sebba, Abracadabra Bassoon (Collins Music)
10 Trad. American O My Darling Clementine, arr. A. & J. Oosthuizen upper part for Two Bassoons or Mini-Bassoon and Bassoon (Wild Music Publications) or Tenoroon and Bassoon (Wild Music Publications)

🎹 Piano accompaniment printable separately, see www.abrsm.org/syllabusclarifications
♦ Includes mini-bassoon & tenoroon accompaniments
* Includes mini-bassoon accompaniment

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ABRSM Bassoon Grade 1 2022 Additional Resources & information

Theory of Music

ABRSM Music Theory Exam Materials
Additional Music Theory Resources

Syllabus amendments

The ABRSM will post updates to the syllabus – e.g. changes to publication details or other minor corrections or clarifications – at www.abrsm.org/syllabuscorrections.

Syllabus revision

The ABRSM has not scheduled the next revision of the Woodwind Syllabus. The ABRSM will post advance notice of planned changes to the Woodwind Syllabus (including syllabus overlap information) at www.abrsm.org/syllabusupdates.

Photocopies & downloads
Candidates should not perform from unauthorised photocopies (or other kinds of copies) or illegal downloads of copyright music in examinations. There are limited circumstances where can copies be used in an examination the UK. The MPA’s Code of Fair Practice gives further guidance. Before making a copy an application should be made to the copyright holder and evidence of permission should be brought to the exam. Candidates and Applicants must act within the law with regard to copyright.