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Please use the links below to find the titles recommended in the ABRSM Percussion Exams from 2020 Tuned Percussion:
All Grades
The following icons are used, where necessary, and have the meanings below.
? at least one of the marked pieces must be played
?? has piano accompaniment (required)
?? has percussion accompaniment (required)
?? or ?? has piano and percussion accompaniment (one is required)
Books marked ?? may be unavailable in the U.K. Please contact us by email for more information
Grades 6 to 8 Prerequisite for entry: ABRSM Grade 5 (or above) in Music Theory, Practical Musicianship or any solo Jazz instrument.
The following codes are used in the appropriate instrument.
| Snare Drum MULTI for multi-percussion |
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| Timpani 3D three drums required 4D four drums required RETUNE contains retuning PED requires pedal drum(s) |
Tuned Percussion 4M four mallets required MAR must be played on marimba XYL must be played on Xylophone VIB must be played on Vibraphone |
Three pieces must chosen by the candidate from the appropriate grade list below;
Pieces marked ?? can be found in Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies from 2020, Grade 1 (ABRSM)
Lizzie Davis, Tightrope Tricks (d'�g�) ??
Alex Neal, Smooov (d'-g�) ??
Zara Nunn, Tiptoe on the Ice (c'�f�)?? ?? ?
Arthur C.Lipner, Morning Sunlight (b-c� ?? or ? marimba) ?? ?
Andrew J. Smith, The Soldier�s Return (d'�f�) ?? ?? ?
Anon., Dona nobis pacem, arr. Sewrey, Hans & Schneller (c'�d�) Modern School for Mallet-Keyboard Instruments (Hal Leonard)
Peter R. Birkby, Clocking On, (g'-b�, ? separate tuned percussion) from Dozens of Duets for Keyboard Percussion, Book 1 (Peter Birkby) ?
Jan Faulkner, A Crazy Cowboy Jan Faulkner: Simply Seven (Southern Percussion) ?? ?
Nebojsa Jovan Zivkoic, Polka ( c'-a' ?? or ? marimba) No. 2 from My First Book for Xylophone and Marimba (Gretel Verlag) ?
Nebojsa Jovan Zivkoic, Walzer (without D.C., (c'�c� ?? or ? marimba), No. 3 from My First Book for Xylophone and Marimba (Gretel Verlag) ?
Pieces marked ?? can be found in Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies from 2020, Grade 2 (ABRSM)
Clive Malabar, Sea Blues (c'�f�) ??
Alan Bullard, Summer Sunshine (g'-b♭� ? separate tuned percussion) ?? ?
Cameron Sinclair, Turn the Key, Unlock the Door (c'�e�)?? ?? ?
Alex Neal, , Blue Stix (c'�g�) ??
Andrew J. Smith, A Winter�s Night (g'�g�) ?? ?? ?
attrib.J. S. Bach, Minuet in G, arr. Moore (d'-b� if glock: without rolls) Bach for Marimba (Kendor Music)
J. S. Bach, Polonaise arr. Whaley (g'�g� with first repeat, if glock: without rolls) Fundamental Studies for Mallets (Joel Rothman Publications)
Tchaikovsky, The New Doll, arr. Whaley (f'-b♭� without rolls) Fundamental Studies for Mallets (Joel Rothman Publications)
Haydn, Two German Dances, arr. Houllif (a�b� without rolls) Melodic Mallets (Kendor Music)
David Hext, Church Ope Waltz (c'-f�) (Southern Percussion) ?? ?
Pieces marked ?? can be found in Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies from 2020, Grade 3 (ABRSM)
Alan Bullard, Spring Awakening (e'�b�) ??
David Hext, Spicy Sauce (c�-a� ? untuned percussion) ?? ?
William Edwards, After Dark (c'�c'”) ??
Arthur C. Lipner, Swing Steps (c'�b♭�) ?? ?? ?
Cameron Sinclair, Spiral (c'�c'”) ?? ?? ?
G. Bruce & D. Emmett, The Downfall of Paris, arr. Sewrey, Hans & Schneller (d'�b� with repeats), Modern School for Mallet-Keyboard Instruments (Hal Leonard)
Napier, Raggedy Ragtime Rag, arr. Sewrey, Hans & Schneller (f'�b♭� with repeats), Modern School for Mallet-Keyboard Instruments (Hal Leonard)
Gounod, Funeral March of a Marionette, arr. Balent (a�d�), Classical Solos for Mallets (Ludwig Masters)
Mozart, Allegro arr. Whaley (c‗c�' with first repeat, ? separate tuned percussion), P. 33 from Musical Studies for the Intermediate Mallet Player (Meredith Music) ?
Nebojsa Jovan Zivkoic, Holzschuh � Tanz, No.11 from My First Book for Xylophone and Marimba, (a�e� ?? or ? marimba, with repeats)(Gretel Verlag) ?
Pieces marked ?? can be found in Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies from 2020, Grade 4 (ABRSM)
Alan Bullard, Night Ride (c'�c'”) ??
William Edwards, Gladius (g?-g?�) ??
Rachel Gledhill, Star Gazing (g?�b�, if mar/xyl: with ossias) ??
Zara Nunn, Snow Day (c'�b♭�)?? ??
Ney Rosauro, Minor Journey (a�c�‘) ??
J. S. Bach, Two�Part Invention in A minor arr. Sewrey, Hans & Schneller (g�c'”), Modern School for Mallet-Keyboard Instruments (Hal Leonard)
Joplin, Rag Time Dance arr. Cowles (g'�f‘), Joplin: Ragtime Favourites � Mallets (Fentone) ??
Pitfield, Intermezzo, 2nd movt from Sonata for Xylophone Solo (g�e”‘)(Peters)
Senaill�, Allegro, arr. Weijmans (d'�b♭�), Masters on Marimba (De Haske)
Ivo Weijmans, Tango per due (g��c�”, ? separate tuned percussion), No.12 from Mallet Minded, (De Haske)
Damien Harron, Leap-Frog Funk (a♭�e♭��) ??
Bernard Hughes, Habanera (a-e��) ??
Jill Jarman, Carnival (g�f�') ??
Zara Nunn, Afternoon Sorcery (a♭-c'”)?? ??
Ney Rosauro, Brazilian Dance (g�e� 4M )?? ??
J. S. Bach, Gigue, from Partita No. 3 arr. Whaley (a-b�), Recital Pieces for Mallets (Hal Leonard)
Breuer (and Anderson & Spivack), Rag Doll Rag, from Harry Breuer�s Ragtime Solos (f?�f�', with grace notes) Harry Breuer�s Ragtime Solos (Hal Leonard) ??
Humperdinck, Evening Prayer, arr. Pimental & Moore (c�a”‘, 4M), The Solo Marimbist, Vol. 2 (Per�Mus Publications)
Arthur C. Lipner, Second Wind (Abridged Version), from Places to Visit (f�d�')(Southern Percussion) ??
Pitfield, Reel, 3rd movt from Sonata for Xylophone Solo (g�e”, 4M) (Peters)
Chris Stock, �Jasmine� on the Breeze, from Cross Sticks (f?-f�', 4M) (Woodsmoor Press)J. S. Bach, Prelude (g?�e‒ MAR/XYL), from Partita No. 3 for Violin Solo arr. Sewrey, Hans & Schneller, Modern School for Mallet-Keyboard Instruments (Hal Leonard)
J. S. Bach, Prelude (C�g' MAR 4M), from Suite No. 1 in C, BWV 1007), trans. Stevens, J. S. Bach: Six Suites for Marimba (Keyboard Percussion Publications)
Chris Baron, Mucho Gusto (b�e'”, MAR), Principal Percussion (ABRSM) ??
G.H. Green, Jovial Jasper (g?�e�”, XYL), George Hamilton Green�s Xylophone Rags (Hal Leonard) ??
Arthur C. Lipner, Carib� Vibe (Abridged Version) (f-f�', VIB 4M), from Places to Visit (Southern Percussion) ??
Miyoshi, Tender Talk (with repeats, c'�b', MAR 4M), No.1 from Conversation: Suite for Marimba, Modern Japanese Marimba Pieces 2 (Ongaku)
Ney Rosauro, My Dear Friend (f?�e', VIB 4M), from Vibes Etudes and Songs (2nd edition) (Pro Percussao)
Ney Rosauro, Preludio No. 1 Mi menor (A- g”‘, MAR 4M, with repeats, without D.S. (go to 5th bar of coda), from Three Preludes for Solo Marimba (Pro Percussao)
Cameron Sinclair, Tarantella (d�d♭�', MAR/XYL)(Scottish Music Centre) ??
Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovi�, Johnny�s Shuffle (G-b�, MAR 4M), from Funny Marimba, Book 2 (Gretel Verlag)
Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovi�, Macedonia (f-b♭�, MAR, with repeats) (Studio 4 Music) ??
J. S. Bach, Sarabande (g-b♭� MAR/VIB 4M), from Parfita No.2, arr. Whaley, Recital Pieces for Mallets (Hal Leonard)
Breuer (and Anderson & Spivack), Waltz in Ragtime (f?-g', MAR/XYL/VIB), from Harry Breuer�s Ragtime Solos (Hal Leonard) ??
Pius Cheung, Prelude in G minor (A �g”�, MAR 4M), (Pius Cheung)
Daquin, Cou-Cou, arr. E. & I. Finkel (b�d�' XYL), Ian Finkel�s Classical Encores for Xylophone and Piano (Southern Percussion) ??
Dinicu, trans. Heifetz, Hora staccato, arr. Goldenberg (g�e♭�� XYL), Dinicu & Heifetz: Hora staccato (Carl Fischer) ??
Michael Zev Gordon, Folkish (f�f', MAR/XYL/VIB), Principal Percussion (ABRSM)
G. H. Green, Triplets (c'�f�', XYL), George Hamilton Green�s Xylophone Rags (Hal Leonard) ??
David Hext, No. 4 (A-d��, MAR 4M), from Four Graded Pieces for Multi�Mallet Marimba (Southern Percussion)
Ney Rosauro, Baiao (d�g', MAR 4M, with repeats), No. l from Suite Popular Brasileira (Music for Percussion)
Eric Sammut, Hombre d�aout (A-a�, MAR 4M, with repeats) (Billaudot)
Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic, Il canto dei gondolieri (F�d�', MAR 4M), from Funny Marimba, Book 2 (Gretel Verlag)
J. S. Bach, Fugue (g�d”�, MAR, 4M), from Sonata in A minor arr. Moore, Bach for Marimba (Kendor Music) ?
Breuer (and Anderson & Spivack), Joplin on Wood(f-e♭', XYL, 3D), from Harry Breuer�s Ragtime Solos (Hal Leonard) ??
Michael Burritt, Sara�s Song (C�c�', MAR, 4M) (Keyboard Percussion Publications) ?
Ross Edwards, No. l from Marimba Dances (d-d', MAR) (Australian Music Centre) ??
Ross Edwards, No. 3 from Marimba Dances (c?�c?‒, MAR, 4M) (Australian Music Centre) ?? ?
George H. Geldard, Tween Heather and Sea (complete, f?'�g”‘, XYL) (Oertel Musikverlag) ??
Anthony Kerr, Exact Change Please (f�e', VIB, 4M) Principal Percussion (ABRSM) ?
Kreisler, Tambourin chinois, arr. Green (g-b♭‒, XYL) (Carl Fischer) ??
Igor Lesnik, First Toy (with printed cadenza,f-e”‘, VIB, 4M), No.1 from Midnight Pieces (Zimmermann) ?
Ney Rosauro, Greeting (with repeats,- cut bb. 91-98, A�c””, MAR, 4M, ID), 1st movt from Concerto No.1 for Marimba (Pro Percussao) ?? ?
Eric Sammut, Spiral 2 (with repeat, A-e♭‒, MAR, 4M), from Three Spirals (Keyboard Percussion Publications) ?
Emmanuel S�journe, Nancy (E�e”‘, MAR, 4M) (PM Europe Publications) ?
Gordon Stout, Mexican Dance No. 1 (with final repeat, c�b', MAR, 4M), from Two Mexican Dances for Marimba (Studio 4 Music) ?
Trad., The Absent-Minded Woman, arr. Daughtrey (f?-e”‘, XYL), The Celtic Xylophone, Book 1 (C. Alan Publications)< Back to Exam Essentials
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< Back to ABRSM ExamsAdditional Resources & information for ABRSM Combined Percussion Exams from 2020
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 Percussion Syllabus. The ABRSM will post advance notice of planned changes to the Percussion Syllabus (including syllabus overlap information) at www.abrsm.org/percussion.
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.