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Please use the links below to find the titles recommended in the ABRSM Viola Grade 1 from 2024 Syllabus:
Grade 1 Scales
ABRSM Viola Scales Grades 1-5
Grade 1 Sight-Reading
ABRSM Viola 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 | Composer | Piece details | Publications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kathy & David Blackwell | Patrick’s Reel DUET/PIANO | Viola Time Joggers with CD (OUP) |
| Viola Time Joggers with Online Audio (OUP) | |||
| Viola Time Joggers, Piano Accompaniment (3rd Edition) (OUP) | |||
| 2 | Byrd | La Volta (from Fitzwilliam Virginal Book), arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1 (ABRSM) |
| 3 | J. Clarke | Minuet, arr. Brodszky | Early Music for Viola (EMB Zeneműkiadó) |
| 4 | Losy | Bourrée, arr. Brodszky | Early Music for Viola (EMB Zeneműkiadó)v |
| 5 | Katherine & Hugh Colledge | Polka Dots (No.15 from Waggon Wheels) | Katherine & Hugh Colledge: Waggon Wheels for Viola, Piano, Online Audio (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 6 | Handel | Menuet (from Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 351), arr. Salter | Starters for Viola (ABRSM) |
| 7 | Purcell | Rigadoon, arr. Nelson with repeat | Piece by Piece 1 for Viola (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 8 | Trad. | Dance to your daddy, arr. Nelson | Piece by Piece 1 for Viola (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 9 | Suzuki | Allegretto, trans. Preucil & arr. Stuen-Walker – DUET/PIANO | Suzuki Viola School, Vol. 1 (Alfred) |
| 10 | Trad. English | London Bridge, arr. Sparke | Starter Solos for Viola, with piano accompaniment (Anglo Music) |
| 11 | Celia Cobb & Naomi Yandell | Pony Trek (No. 5 from Top Banana) | Celia Cobb & Naomi Yandell: Top Banana for Viola (Stainer & Bell) |
| Celia Cobb & Naomi Yandell: Top Banana for Viola (Stainer & Bell) With piano accmpt. | |||
| 12 | Chevalier de Saint-Georges | Chevalier’s Rondeau (from String Quartet, Op.1 No. 3), arr. K. & D. Blackwell DUET/PIANO | Viola Mix 1 (ABRSM) 🕮 |
| 13 | Sancho | Gavotta, arr. K. & D. Blackwell DUET/PIANO | Viola Mix 1 (ABRSM) 🕮 |
| List B | |||
| 1 | Beethoven | Hymn to Joy (from Symphony No. 9), arr. Wilkinson & Hart | First Repertoire for Viola, Book 1 (Faber) |
| 2 | Kathy & David Blackwell | Rocking Horse DUET/PIANO | Viola Time Joggers with CD (OUP) |
| Viola Time Joggers with Online Audio (OUP) | |||
| Viola Time Joggers, Piano Accompaniment (3rd Edition) (OUP) | |||
| 3 | Katherine & Hugh Colledge | Full Moon (No. 22 from Waggon Wheels) | Katherine & Hugh Colledge: Waggon Wheels for Viola, Piano, Online Audio (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 4 | Katherine & Hugh Colledge | On the Wing (No. 25 from Waggon Wheels) | Katherine & Hugh Colledge: Waggon Wheels for Viola, Piano, Online Audio (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 5 | Elgar | Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4 (from Op. 39), arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1 (ABRSM) |
| 6 | Eleanor Murray & Sebastian Brown | Melody (No. 3 from Tunes for my Viola) | Murray & Brown: Tunes for my Viola (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 7 | Christopher Norton | Hebridean Song (No.11 from Microjazz for Starters) upper note optional in b. 21 | Christopher Norton: Microjazz for Starters for Viola (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 8 | Rodgers & Hammerstein | Edelweiss (from The Sound of Music), arr. Davey, Hussey & Sebba DUET/PIANO | Abracadabra Viola Pupils Book (Third Edition) (Collins Music) |
| Abracadabra Viola Pupil's Book &2 CDs (Third Edition) (Collins Music) | |||
| Abracadabra String Beginners Teacher's Book | |||
| Abracadabra Strings Book 1 – Piano Accompaniment | |||
| 9 | Philip Sparke | Modal Melody | Starter Solos for Viola, with piano accompaniment (Anglo Music) |
| 10 | Trad. Scottish | Skye Boat Song, arr. K. & D. Blackwell with repeats DUET/PIANO | String Time Starters for Viola (OUP) |
| String Time Starters – Teacher's Book | |||
| List C | |||
| 1 | Mary Cohen | Rumba (No. 3 from Dance Duets) DUET | Mary Cohen: Dance Duets for Viola (Faber) |
| 2 | Thomas Gregory | Fiery Fiddler with repeats | Vamoosh Viola, Book 1 with online audio (Vamoosh) |
| Vamoosh String Book 1 – Piano Accompaniments (Vamoosh) | |||
| 3 | Jim Henson & Sam Pottle | Muppet Show Opening, arr. Lawrance | Winners Galore for Viola (Brass Wind) |
| Winners Galore for Viola and Violin – Piano Accompaniment (Brass Wind) | |||
| 4 | Huws Jones | Hen-Coop Rag, trans. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1 (ABRSM) |
| 5 | Alan Menken & Ashman | Under The Sea (from The Little Mermaid), arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1 (ABRSM) |
| 6 | S. Nelson | Flag Dance | Piece by Piece 1 for Viola (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 7 | Christopher Norton | Popular Song (No.14 from Microjazz for Starters) | Christopher Norton: Microjazz for Starters for Viola (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 8 | Trad. | What shall we do with the drunken sailor♭, arr. Scott | Play it Again for Viola with piano accompanient(Faber) |
| 9 | Trad. American | Yankee Doodle, arr. Sparke | Starter Solos for Viola, with piano accompaniment (Anglo Music) |
| 10 | Celia Cobb & Naomi Yandell | Tango Waltz (No.12 from Cool Beans) DUET | Celia Cobb & Naomi Yandell: Cool Beans Viola Duets (Stainer & Bell) |
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ABRSM Viola Grade 1 from 2024 additional resources & information
Theory of Music
ABRSM Theory of Music Exam Materials
Additional Theory of Music Resources
ABRSM Viola 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 Viola Syllabus. The ABRSM will post advance notice of planned changes to the Viola 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.