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Initial Grade Pieces
Four pieces; at least one chosen by the candidate from each of the three Lists, A, B and C, and a fourth of the candidate’s own choice; for further programming requirements, see the ABRSM Exam Syllabus.
Please use the links below to find the titles recommended in the ABRSM Exam Syllabus.
Please note the first three pieces in each list are in ABRSM Piano Exam Pieces 2027 & 2028 Initial Grade
Books marked with 📖 are currently unavailable in the UK.
Initial Grade Scales & Arpeggios
ABRSM Piano Scales & Arpeggios Initial Grade
Initial Grade Sight-Reading
ABRSM Piano Sight-Reading Initial Grade
Initial Grade Aural
ABRSM Specimen Aural Tests Initial Grade
Additional Resources
Initial Grade Scale & Arpeggios
Improve Your Scales Initial Grade
Initial Grade Sight Reading
Improve Your Sight-Reading Initial Grade
Initial Grade Aural
ABRSM Aural Training in Practice, Grades 1-3
Theory of Music
ABRSM Music Theory Exam Materials
Additional Music Theory Resources
Initial Grade 2027 & 2028 List A
1. J. Rowcroft, Fairground (No. 7 from Bigger Picture Piano, Pre-grade), Piano Exam Pieces 2027 & 2028, Initial Grade (ABRSM)
2. Trad. Namibian, arr. Claiborne, Halima pakasholo, Piano Exam Pieces 2027 & 2028, Initial Grade (ABRSM)
3. A. Robertson, Busy, Buzzy Bumblebee, Piano Exam Pieces 2027 & 2028, Initial Grade (ABRSM)
4. G. Berryman, J. Buckland, W. Champion & C. Martin, arr. Dunlop, Clocks, Pop Performer: Grades Initial - 3 (ABRSM)
5. W. Carroll, Raindrops, The Countryside (Forsyth)
6. Diabelli, arr. Kern, Alla turca, Op. 149 No. 26, Hal Leonard Student Piano Library – Piano Lessons, Book 3 (Hal Leonard)
7. Diabelli, Scherzo primo part, Piano Lessons, Book 1 (Faber)
8. Gurlitt, Dance (No. 2 from Das kleines Konzert, Op. 227), Music Pathways: Repertoire, Level 3A (Carl Fischer)
9. P. Hall, Hornpipe, Piano Time Book 2 (OUP)
10. Kabalevsky, A Little Scherzo, 24 Little Pieces, Op. 39 (Boosey & Hawkes)
11. R. Maxner, Zonko’s Big Adventure primo part, Rock This Town (Rebekah Maxner) 📖
12. A. Reinagle, Allegretto, 24 Short and Easy Pieces, Op. 1 (Schott) or Pianissimo – Piano Piccolo (Schott) or Piano Time Pieces 1 (OUP)
13. B. Schattel, Racing Against Each Other primo part, For Rosalie and Finn (Breitkopf & Härtel)
14. Trad. Irish, arr. Blackwell, John Ryan’s Polka, Piano Star 2 (ABRSM)
15. P. Wedgwood, Mission Impossible, Up-Grade! Piano Grades 0–1 (Faber)
16. E. Wells, Donkey Ride (from Sea Pictures, Set 1) primo part, Duets with a Difference – Piano Time Duets, Book 1 (OUP)
Initial Grade 2027 & 2028 List B
1. L. Drewett, The Manta Ray, Piano Exam Pieces 2027 & 2028, Initial Grade (ABRSM)
2. D. Howard, Why Me?, Piano Exam Pieces 2027 & 2028, Initial Grade (ABRSM)
3. Lili‘uokalani, arr. Harris, Aloha ‘oe, Piano Exam Pieces 2027 & 2028, Initial Grade (ABRSM)
4. Agay, Moonlit Pagoda, More Classics to Moderns, Book 1 (Yorktown Music Press)
5. J. Armstrong, Butterfly primo part, Piano Star Duets (ABRSM)
6. L. Chamberlain, The Sad Little Pig, Step It Up! Piano Grades 0–1 (Faber)
7. C. Donkin, Mystery, Piano Pieces Vol. 1 – Elementary (Second Edition) (Christine Donkin) 📖
8. P. Hall, The Secret Garden pedalling optional, Piano Time Pieces 1 (OUP)
9. A. Haughton, Budgie, Fun Club Piano Grades 0–1 (Kevin Mayhew)
10. K. Marshall, Sprinkling Stardust, Piano Star 2 (ABRSM) or Encore Plus, Book 1 (ABRSM) 📖
11. A. Mathews, Sailing Under a Moonlit Sky una corda optional, Mosaic, Vol. 1 (Editions Musica Ferrum)
12. C. Norton, Enchanted Castle primo part, The Microjazz Duets Collection 1 (Boosey & Hawkes)
13. Orff, No. 1 (from Two Pieces), From Bartók to Stravinsky (Schott)
14. P. Peskett, A Dream on the Prairie, Nikki Iles & Friends, Easy to Intermediate (ABRSM)
15. Trad. Chinese (Jiangsu), arr. N. & R. Faber, Crescent Moon student part, ShowTime Piano, Music from China, Level 2A (Faber Piano Adventures)
16. P. Wedgwood, Whirleybird, Up-Grade! Piano Grades 0–1 (Faber) or Piano for Fun (Faber)
Initial Grade 2027 & 2028 List C
1. L. Chamberlain, The Sky at Night, Piano Exam Pieces 2027 & 2028, Initial Grade (ABRSM)
2. V. Proudler, In the Dark, Piano Exam Pieces 2027 & 2028, Initial Grade (ABRSM)
3. H. Zimmer, R. Rubin & A. Gibson, arr. Atkins, Day One (from Interstellar), Piano Exam Pieces 2027 & 2028, Initial Grade (ABRSM)
4. G. Barnett, J. Laslett Pott & F. Gibson, arr. Thomson, Shotgun, Pop Performer: Grades Initial - 3 (ABRSM)
5. B. Withers, arr. Önaç, Lean on Me, Pop Performer: Grades Initial - 3 (ABRSM)
6. P. Hall & P. Drayton, Stegosaurus Stomp, Prehistoric Piano Time (OUP)
7. H. Hammond, Action Stations, Piano Star 2 (ABRSM)
8. M. Tanner, Wonkey Donkey, Piano Star 2 (ABRSM)
9. A. Haughton, Treading Carefully, Piano Time Going Places (OUP)
10. E. John, arr. N. & R. Faber, I Just Can’t Wait to Be King (from The Lion King) student part; with repeat, Faber Studio Collection – Selections from ShowTime Piano, Level 2A (Faber Piano Adventures)
11. C. Klose, Those Creepy Crawly Things on the Cellar Floor, Hal Leonard Student Piano Library – Piano Solos 2 (Hal Leonard)
12. J. Knerr, Hague Detective Wombat Blues, Piano Safari Pattern Pieces 1 (Piano Safari) or Encore Plus, Book 1 (ABRSM) 📖
13. J. M. Last, Ducks in the Pond, Piano Time Pieces 3 (OUP)
14. G. Martin, Boogie No. 1, The Joy of Boogie and Blues (Yorktown Music Press)
15. J. Sebba, The Grand Waltz primo part, Piano Magic Duets, Book 1 (Collins Music)
16. C. Stier, Tomato Tango, Kitchen Suite, Op. 26 (Piano Safari)
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