ABRSM Grade 5 Keyboard Percussion

General Info

• 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	Leap-Frog Funk	Damien Harron	No	Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies, ABRSM Grade 5	Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
2	Habanera	Bernard Hughes	No	Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies, ABRSM Grade 5	Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
3	Carnival	Jill Jarman	No	Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies, ABRSM Grade 5	Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
4	Afternoon Sorcery	Zara Nunn	Piano	Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies, ABRSM Grade 5	Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
5	Brazilian Dance	Ney Rosauro	Piano	Percussion Exam Pieces & Studies, ABRSM Grade 5	Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
6	Gigue	Garwood Whaley	No	Recital Pieces for Mallets	Meredith Music
7	Rag Doll Rag	Harry Breuer	Piano	Ragtime Solos	Meredith Music
8	Evening Prayer	Humperdinck	Piano	The Solo Marimbist (Volume 2)	Per-Mus Publications
9	Second Wind	Arthur Lipner	Piano	Places to Visit	Southern Percussion
10	Reel #3	Thomas Pitfield	No	Sonata for Xylophone	Edition Peters
11	"Jasmine" on the Breeze	Chris Stock	No	Cross Sticks	Woodsmoor Press

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 Xylophone / Vibraphone / Marimba. Scales played on the vibraphone should be played without pedal.
Scales: Ab / E / Db / B / F# Major (Two Octave) and F / C# / Bb / G# / Eb Minor (Two Octave)
Chromatic Scales: Starting on Ab (Two Octave)
Arpeggios: Ab / E / Db / B / F# Major (Two Octave) and F / C# / Bb / G# / Eb Minor (Two Octave)
Dominant Seventh (resolving on tonic): in the keys of Ab / E (One Octave)
Diminished Seventh: starting on B (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

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.