Books for ABRSM Exam
This page will help you to purchase the correct books for your ABRSM Exam! You will need the following:
1) Buy the book(s) of pieces
2) Buy a sight reading book
3) Buy a scale book (Serenity Students DO NOT need to purchase a scale book!)
4) Subscribe to the aural tests website
5) Download and purchase the ‘Complete Music Reading Trainer’ app
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE ‘HOW TO PASS YOUR ABRSM EXAM’ PAGE FOR MORE HELPFUL HINTS ON HOW BEST TO USE YOUR PRACTICE TIME WISELY!
SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE IF YOU WANT TO DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE CURRENT SYLLABUS SO YOU CAN VIEW EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO LEARN FOR YOUR EXAM
FIVE ESSENTIAL PURCHASES
1) Purchase Your Books of Pieces for ABRSM Exam
Number 1 – Books for ABRSM Exam – PIECES!
Choose your pieces! One from each of List A, List B and List C (Titles of Pieces are clickable below!)
It is really important to remember that, in each grade, List A, B and C Numbers 1, 2 and 3 are in the same book!
GRADE 1
LIST A
LIST B
LIST C
GRADE 2
LIST A
LIST B
- B1: Alexis Ffrench The Singing Swan
- B6: Ed Sheeran, Samuel Roman, Johnny McDaid, Taylor Swift & Fred Gibson The Joker and the Queen, arr. Önaç
- B12: Steibelt Adagio in A minor (from Sonatina in C)
- B16: John Williams Hedwig’s Theme (from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s/Philosopher’s Stone), arr. Harris
LIST C
GRADE 3
LIST A
LIST B
LIST C
GRADE 4
LIST A
LIST B
LIST C
- C2: Julian Nott Wallace and Gromit Theme, arr. L’Estrange
- C5: Grieg In the Hall of the Mountain King (from Peer Gynt, Suite No. 1, Op. 46), arr. White
- C9: Martha Mier Worrisome Blues (from Jazz, Rags & Blues, Book 3)
- C11: F Price The Goblin and the Mosquito
- Waller, Razaf & H. Brooks Ain’t Misbehavin’, arr. Iles
2) Purchase a Sight Reading Book
Number 2 – Books for ABRSM Exam – SIGHT READING!
If you are taking the ‘practical‘ exam, you will need to purchase a sight reading book. The picture above shows the cover for the grade 1 sight reading book. All of the sight reading books have the same cover, just with the grade of the exam changed. Please click a link below to buy the sight reading book that you need. The link goes to Amazon but you can purchase the book from your chosen shop.
3) Purchase a Scale and Arpeggios Book (optional for Serenity Students)
Number 3 – Books for ABRSM Exam – SCALES AND ARPEGGIOS
If you are taking the ‘practical‘ exam, you will need to purchase a scales and arpeggios book. The picture above shows the cover for the grade 1 scales and arpeggios book. All of the scales and arpeggios books have the same cover, just with the grade of the exam changed. Please click a link below to buy the scales book that you need. The link goes to Amazon but you can purchase the book from your chosen shop. THIS IS OPTIONAL FOR SERENITY STUDENTS AS YOUR SCALES ARE NOTED IN THE BACK OF YOUR PRACTICE BOOK.
4) Subscribe to this Aural Tests Site
Number 4 – AURAL TESTS SUBSCRIPTION!
If you are taking the ‘practical’ exam, I advise all my students to subscribe to the aural tests website by clicking the link below. There is one free aural test to try and then it costs £3.99 per month to have as many tries at the aural tests as you like. This is superb value for money. The aural tests are worth 18 marks in your exam and these 18 marks can really make all the difference. Although I do aural tests with my student in lessons, time is very limited and subscribing to this site will give students a chance to work on these at home. Once your exam is over, you can unsubscribe!
5) Download the 'Complete Music Reading Trainer' app
Number 5 – COMPLETE MUSIC READING TRAINER APP!
If you are taking the ‘practical’ exam, I recommend purchasing the ‘Complete Music Reading Trainer’ app. This is is a fantastic app which you can use to learn your music notes, or to refresh your knowledge, which, in turn, will help with your sight reading. Some parts of the app are free but I recommend purchasing the app for £4.49. Click the image below to find it on Google Play. The app would also be useful to anyone taking the ‘performance’ exam, to help you access the music more easily.
Once the app is downloaded onto your phone (or onto your child’s phone if they are old enough), spend 10 minutes a day working through the exercises. “Little and often” is an old saying but it really does work in terms of note reading.
If you scroll down to the next section, there are more websites listed which can help with note reading.
CURRENT SYLLABUS
You may wish to download the current syllabus for the practical and performance exams. Click a link below