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Please use the links below to find the titles recommended in the ABRSM Percussion Exams from 2020 Snare Drum:
All Grades
The following icons are used, where necessary, and have the meanings below.
β― at least one of the marked pieces must be played
πΉ has piano accompaniment (required)
π₯ has percussion accompaniment (required)
πΉ or π₯ has piano and percussion accompaniment (one is required)
Pre-requisite 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 |
|
| 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 |
ABRSM Percussion Exams from 2020 Snare Drum Pieces
Three pieces must chosen by the candidate from the appropriate grade list below;
Kevin Hathway, Tandem (β low tom) π β―
William Edwards, Step ’n’ March π
Jan Bradley, Mind the Gap π
David Hext, Madison March π πΉ β―
Zara Nunn, Journeying Home from the Hills π πΉ β―
Keith Bartlett, Three and Easy♭!, No. 42 from 50 Short Pieces for Snare Drum (UMP)
Peter R. Birkby, Fanfarette, from Dozens of Duets for Drums Book 3 (? unpitched percussion) (Peter R. Birkby) β―
Richard Charles, Chicken and Chips, from Beat This! (Southern Percussion)
Ian Faulkner, A Charlie’s Caterpillar, Simply Seven (Southern Percussion) πΉ β―
Edward Freytag, Just a Little Bit, Just Desserts (Row-Loff Productions)
Peter R. Birkby, Fantastic Clock (β woodblock) π β―
Jan Bradley, Smoothly Does It π πΉ β―
Damien Harron, March of the Octopus π πΉ β―
Kevin Hathway, Vector π
Alex Neal, Swaggerit π
Keith Bartlett, Fives Alive!, No. 44 from 50 Short Pieces for Snare Drum (UMP)
Gert Bomhof, Father and Son, from 21 Solos for Snare Drum (De Haske)
Richard Charles, Spicy Noodles (snare drum), from Beat This! (Southern Percussion) β―
Edward Freytag, The Witch is Dead!, Just Desserts (Row-Loff Productions)
James L. Moore, Du-Du-Bubba, No.18 from Solo Time for the Intermediate Snare Drummer (Per-Mus Publications)
William Edwards, Out of Line π
Rachel Gledhill, Jazz Waltz for Two (MULTI low tom) π
Kevin Hathway, Stick Insect (β low tom) π β―
David Hext, Tango Twister π πΉ β―
Zara Nunn, Clock-watching π πΉ β―
Keith Bartlett, Spanish Accents, No. 47 from 50 Short Pieces for Snare Drum (UMP)
Gert Bomhof, Little March & Dance, from 21 Solos for Snare Drum (De Haske)
Edward Freytag, What a Drag! (with repeats) Just Desserts (Row-Loff Productions)
John Pollard, Good Times, from Shazam! (Row-Loff Productions)
Wolfgang Sonntag, Alternativo, (? tenor drum) No.1 from Magic Sticks (Zimmermans) β―
Alan Bullard, Sarabande and Gigue π
Damien Harron, Gigue Gig (MULTI cowbell & low tom) π
Kevin Hathway, Super Samba (MULTI low tom ) π
Cameron Sinclair, Marche CassΓ©οΏ½ π
Zara Nunn, Dodging the Cracks in the Pavement π πΉ
Fred Albright, Study No. 3, from Contemporary Studies for the Snare Drum (Alfred)
Ted Atkatz, For Aaron, No. 3 from Tributes for Snare Drum (Row-Loff Productions)
Richard Charles, Mickey, from Beat This! (MULTI 3 tom-toms, no snare drum)(Southern Percussion)
Murray Houllif, It's Rudimental, No. 2 from Multiplicities ( with D.C., without repeats, MULTI tenor drum or small tom) (Kendor Music)
Weinberger, The Phantom Drummer, Solos for the Percussion Player (G. Schirmer) πΉ
Ian Bradley, On-Off-On (MULTI high bongo & low bongo) π
Peter R. Birkby, Into a Vortex π
Rachel Gledhill, On a Mission π πΉ
Alex Neal, Stamping Ground π
Cameron Sinclair, Vaya Puente (MULTI cowbell) π
Ted Atkatz, For Maurice, No. 18 from Tributes for Snare Drum (Row-Loff Productions)
Gert Bomhof, Raggedy Rhythm, from 21 Solos for Snare Drum (De Haske)
William Kraft, Allemande, No. 1 from French Suite For Percussion Solo (MULTI high & low snare, field & tenor drum) (Presser)
John OοΏ½Reilly, Introduction and Rondo, Solos for the Percussion Player (G. Schirmer)
John Pollard, Oh Well!, from Shazam! (MULTI muted tom, cymbal & cowbell)(Row-Loff Productions)
Ted Atkatz, For Fripp, No.14 from Tributes for Snare Drum (Row-Loff Productions)
Colgrass, Allegro con spirito, No. l from Unaccompanied Solos for Snare Drum (Alfred) or P. 4 from Solos for the Percussion Player (G. Schirmer)
John O'Reilly, Fireworks (MULTI 2 tom-toms, cymbal, bass drum with pedal), Solos for the Percussion Player (G. Schirmer) β―
Brett William Dietz, Abduction (MULTI cowbell & high tom-tom), No. 5 from Reflex (C. Alan Publications) β―
Murray Houllif, Tribalism (MULTI Small, medium, large tom & cowbell), No. 7 from Multiplicities (Kendor Music) β―
Jill Jarman, New Orleans Sunrise, Principal Percussion (ABRSM) πΉ
Keith Larson, Study No. 25, from Artistic Studies for Snare Drum, (C. Alan Publications)
David Mancini, Celebration (MULTI 4 concert tom-toms, no snare drum), (Per-Mus Publications) β―
Wolfgang Sonntag, The Crazy Snare Drum (with repeats at bb. 4 & 28), No.19 from Magic Sticks (Zimmermann)
Garwood Whaley, Essay for Snare Drum (Hal Leonard)
W. Benson, Cretan Dance, No.1 from Three Dances for Solo Snare Drum (Hal Leonard)
James Campbell, Taiko (with repeats, without D.S., MULTI low, medium, high drum & cymbals, no snare drum), Music for Multi-Percussion: A World View (Alfred) β―
Anthony J. Cirone, Study No.32, from Portraits in Rhythm (Alfred)
Guy G. Gauthreaux II, Movement IV, from American Suite (Meredith Music)
Rachel Gledhill, Battercada (MULTI 2 drums) (Southern Percussion) β―
William Kraft, Prelude (MULTI bass, tenor, field drum & bongos), Part 1 from English Suite (Alfred) β―
Clive Malabar, Up Sticks, Principal Percussion (ABRSM)
Cameron Sinclair, Zonal I (MULTI bongos & tom-tom) (Scottish Music Centre) β―
Wilcoxon, The New Downfall (with repeats), from Modern Rudimental Swing Solos (Ludwig Masters)
Wilcoxon, Swinging the '26', from Modern Rudimental Swing Solos (Ludwig Masters)
W. Benson, Fox Trot and Fandango, Nos 2 and 3 from Three Dances for Solo Snare Drum (Hal Leonard)
Jan Bradley, Dance for Five Drums (Abridged Version) (with repeats, MULTl 3 tom-toms & 2 boo-bams/bongos, no snare drum) (Jan Bradley) β―
James Campbell, Engine Room (MULTI bongos, 2 toms, bass drum & hand percussion no snare drum) (Row-Loff Productions) β―
Stacey Duggan, Popeye (aerial flip optional), Just Desserts (Row-Loft Productions)
Michael Lynch, It's About Time (visual enhancement optional), Just Desserts (Row-Loff Productions)
Guy G. Gauthreaiix II, Movement II (with repeats), from American Suite (Meredith Music)
Anthony Kerr, Pontiac, Principal Percussion (ABRSM) πΉ
Glenn Kotche, Cave Dance, (without cuts, MULTI, foot pedal instrument)(Alfred) β―
Alex Neal, Gorymdaith (MULTI tenor drum & pedal bass drum) (Southern Percussion) β―
Cameron Sinclair, Antrieb (Scottish Music Centre)
Additional Resources for ABRSM Percussion Exams from 2020 Snare Drum
Theory of Music
ABRSM Music Theory Exam Materials
Additional Music Theory Resources
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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.