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Please use the links below to find the titles recommended in the ABRSM ABRSM Double Bass Grade 1 from 2024 Syllabus:
Grade 1 Scales
ABRSM Double Bass Scales Grades 1-5
Grade 1 Sight-Reading
ABRSM Double Bass 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)
| List A | Composer | Piece Details | Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anon. German | The More the Merrier, arr. Elliott | Ready Steady Go (Bartholomew) |
| Ready Steady Go – Piano Accompaniment (Bartholomew) | |||
| 2 | E. P. Chédeville | March, arr. Close & Sassmannshaus DUET | Early Start on the Double Bass, Vol. 2 (Bärenreiter) |
| 3 | Rathgeber | Aria, arr. Close & Sassmannshaus DUET | Early Start on the Double Bass, Vol. 2 (Bärenreiter) |
| 4 | N. Chédeville | Gavotte, arr. Dehant | La Contrebasse classique, Vol. A (Combre) |
| 5 | Caroline Emery & John Leach | Knocking on the Door | Bass is Best! Yorke Mini-Bass Book 1 (Yorke) |
| 6 | Katrina Gordon | Penguin Parade (No. 6 from Feathered Friends) | Katrina Gordon: Feathered Friends (Recital Music) |
| Katrina Gordon: Feathered Friends (Recital Music) Digital Download Edition on our Digital site | |||
| 7 | T. Morley | Now is the month of Maying, arr. Slatford & Bullard in either key | Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1 (ABRSM) |
| 8 | C. Negri | Spagnoletta, arr. Magolt with repeats | Easy Concert Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1 (Schott) |
| 9 | S. Nelson | Fiddler’s Fancy (No.19 from Right from the Start), arr. Elliott | S. Nelson: Right from the Start for Double Bass (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 10 | Suzuki | Allegretto | Suzuki Bass School, Vol. 1, Revised Edition (Alfred) |
| Suzuki Bass School Vol. 1 – Piano Accompaniment (Alfred) | |||
| 11 | N. Chédeville | Fanfare, arr. Elliott DUET | Grade by Grade, Double Bass Grade 1 (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 12 | de Montéclair | Musette, arr. Elliott | Grade by Grade, Double Bass Grade 1 (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 13 | Trad. | At the Ballet, arr. Gregory | Vamoosh Double Bass, Book 2 (Vamoosh) |
| List B | |||
| 1 | T. H. Bayly | Long, Long Ago, arr. Elliott | Ready Steady Go (Bartholomew) |
| Ready Steady Go – Piano Accompaniment (Bartholomew) | |||
| 2 | Christine Donkin | Evening Star (No. 2 from Bass-Time Beginners) | Christine Donkin: Bass-Time Beginners (Recital Music) |
| 3 | Caroline Emery & Roger Steptoe | Sad Double Bass | Bass is Best! Yorke Mini-Bass Book 1 (Yorke) |
| 4 | Mahler | Canon on ‘Frère Jacques’, arr. Hartley DUET | Double Bass Solo 1, 2019 Edition (OUP) |
| Accompaniments for Double Bass Solo (OUP) | |||
| 5 | Christopher Norton | A Cool Day, arr. Elliott | Grade by Grade Double Bass Grade 1Grade 1 (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 6 | T. Osborne | Bass Bridges of Paris | The Really Easy Bass Book (Faber) |
| 7 | M. Reynolds | Morningtown Ride, arr. Lillywhite, Marshall, Hussey & Sebba with repeat – DUET/PIANO | Abracadabra Double Bass, Book 1 (Collins Music) |
| Abracadabra String Beginners Teacher's Book (Collins Music) | |||
| Abracadabra Strings Book 1 – Piano Accompaniment (Collins Music) | |||
| 8 | Michael Rose | Ballad II | Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1 (ABRSM) |
| 9 | Taki | Moon Over the Ruined Castle, arr. Suzuki | Suzuki Bass School, Vol. 2, Revised Edition (Alfred) |
| Suzuki Bass School Volume 2 – Piano Accompaniment (Alfred) | |||
| 10 | Trad. | Hatikvah, arr. Elliott | The Essential String Method, Double Bass Book 3 (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| Essential String Method Vol 3 and 4 Piano Accompaniment for Cello/Double Bass (Boosey & Hawkes) | |||
| 11 | Mark Wilson & Paul Wood | Light of the Moon | No. 34 from Wilson & Wood: Stringtastic Book 1 for Double Bass (Faber) |
| Stringtastic Book 1: Teacher's Accompaniment (Piano) (Faber) | |||
| List C | |||
| 1 | Steve Berry | A Little Blue without improvisation | Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1 (ABRSM) |
| 2 | I. Carroll | Gigue (from Five Simple Pieces) | I. Carroll: Five Simple Pieces (Stainer & Bell) |
| 3 | Peter Davey | Otf to France in the Morning, arr. Lillywhite, Marshall, Hussey & Sebba – DUET/PIANO | Abracadabra Double Bass, Book 1 (Collins Music) |
| Abracadabra String Beginners Teacher's Book (Collins Music) | |||
| Abracadabra Strings Book 1 – Piano Accompaniment (Collins Music) | |||
| 4 | Swann | The Hippopotamus Song, arr. Lillywhite, Marshall, Hussey & Sebba – DUET/PIANO | Abracadabra Double Bass, Book 1 (Collins Music) |
| Abracadabra String Beginners Teacher's Book (Collins Music) | |||
| Abracadabra Strings Book 1 – Piano Accompaniment (Collins Music) | |||
| 5 | Christine Donkin | The Ogre’s Dance (No.1 from Bass-Time Beginners) | Christine Donkin: Bass-Time Beginners (Recital Music) |
| Christine Donkin: Bass-Time Beginners (Recital Music) Digital Download Edition from our Digital site | |||
| 6 | Catherine Elliott | Carnival Waltz | The Essential String Method, Double Bass Book 3 (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| Essential String Method Vol 3 and 4 Piano Accompaniment for Cello/Double Bass (Boosey & Hawkes) | |||
| 7 | Thomas Gregory | Fiery Fiddler with repeats | Vamoosh Double Bass, Book 1 (Vamoosh) |
| 8 | Huws Jones | Toodle-Pip (No.18 from Ten O’Clock Rock), arr. Elliott | Grade by Grade, Double Bass Grade 1 (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 9 | T. Osborne | And Y Not | The Really Easy Bass Book (Faber) |
| 10 | T. Osborne | Samba | The Really Easy Bass Book (Faber) |
| 11 | Jemima Oosthuizen | Earwig Antics | Jemima Oosthuizen: Bees in the Belfry for Double Bass (Wild Music Publications) |
| 12 | Trad. Brazilian | Mama Paquita | Grade by Grade Double Bass Grade 1 Grade 1 (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 13 | Trad. Ukrainian | Gopak, arr. Dawe | Grade by Grade Double Bass Grade 1 Grade 1 (Boosey & Hawkes) |
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ABRSM Double Bass Grade 1 from 2024 additional resources & information
Theory of Music
ABRSM Theory of Music Exam Materials
Additional Theory of Music Resources
ABRSM Double Bass Grade 1 from 2024
Overlap
Bowed Strings candidates worldwide may play their three pieces from the 2020–2023 Bowed Strings Syllabus until 31 December 2024. All pieces must be from the same syllabus – candidates may not present a mixture from old and new syllabuses.
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.
Revision
The ABRSM has not scheduled the next revision of the Double Bass Syllabus. The ABRSM will post advance notice of planned changes to the Double Bass 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.