ABRSM Grade 1 Keyboard Percussion

General Info

• Glockenspiel / Xylophone / Vibraphone / Marimba may be used in exam.
• Candidates must not alter a piece at any grade to suit the range of an instrument (unless indicated in the music).
• Scales and Arpeggios must be played on a single instrument. Sight reading may be played on the same or a different instrument.
• Candidates must choose three pieces from the repertoire list, including at least one piece marked with #.
• Candidates must play the upper part when pieces that are published as duets.
• Candidates must provide their own accompanist(s).
• Pieces accompanied by percussion must be played on a separate instrument from the candidates'.

Song List

Item	Works	Composer	Accompany	Publication	Publisher	Video Performance
1	Tightrope Tricks	Lizzie Davis	No	Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies, ABRSM Grade 1	Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
2	Smooov	Alex Neal	No	Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies, ABRSM Grade 1	Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
3	#Tiptoe on the Ice	Zare Nunn	Piano	Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies, ABRSM Grade 1	Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
4	#Morning Sunlight	Arthur Lipner	Piano	Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies, ABRSM Grade 1	Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
5	The Soldier's Return	Andrew Smith	No	Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies, ABRSM Grade 1	Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
6	Dona nobis pacem	Traditional	No	Modern School for Mallet-Keyboard Instruments	Hal Leonard
7	#Clocking On	Peter Birkby	Piano	Dozens of Duets for Keyboard Percussion (Book 1)	Peter Birkby Publishing
8	#Crazy Cowboy	Jan Faulkner	Piano	Simply Seven	Southern Percussion
9	#Polka	Nebojša Jovan Živkovic	Piano	My First Book for Xylophone and Marimba	Gretel Verlag
10	# Walzer	Nebojša Jovan Živkovic	Piano	My First Book for Xylophone and Marimba	Gretel Verlag

Technical Requirements

Playing scales and arpeggios is important for building strong technical skills such as reliable hand movement and position, co-ordination and fluency. It also helps to develop pitch and interval awareness, and familiarity with keys and their related patterns. This leads to greater confidence and security when sight-reading, learning new pieces and performing- from a score or from memory, as a solo musician or with others.
Memory: All requirements should be played from memory.
Ranges: Candidates are free to start at any octave, provided the required ranges are covered.
Patterns: Arpeggios and Dominant Sevenths are required in root position only.
Instruments: Requirements may be played on Glockenspiel / Xylophone / Vibraphone / Marimba. Scales played on the vibraphone should be played without pedal.
Scales: C / F / G Major (One Octave) and A / D / E Minor (One Octave)
Arpeggios: C / F / G Major (One Octave) and A / D / E Minor (One Octave)
Sticking: All requirements should be played by hand to hand. Candidates may lead with either hand.
Supporting Publications: Percussion Scales & Arpeggios, ABRSM Grades 1-5

Demonstration Video:

Sight Reading

Sight-reading is a valuable skill with many benefits. Learning to sight-read helps to develop quick recognition of common rhythm patterns and tonality. Strong Sight-reading skills make learning new pieces quicker and easier, and also help when making music with others, so that playing in an ensemble becomes more rewarding and enjoyable. Candidates will be asked to play a short unaccompanied piece of music which they have not seen before. They will be given half a minute to look through and, if they wish, try out all or any part of the test before they are asked to play it for assessment.