What's in the exam?
- Pieces
- Scales and arpeggios
- Aural tests
- Sight-reading
Prerequisite
Candidates for Grade 6, 7 or 8 exams must already have passed ABRSM Grade 5 (or above) in Music Theory, Practical Musicianship or a solo Jazz instrument. For full details including a list of accepted alternatives, see Regulation 1d.
Syllabus
Saxophone 6
Practical Saxophone Grade 6 (2018-2021)
Alto or Baritone Saxophone pieces
Three pieces: one chosen by the candidate from each of the three Lists, A, B and C - 30 marks each
List A
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Damase |   Vacances
|
|
| 2 | Guilhaud arr. Strevens |
Andante religieux from Trois Pièces |
 Guilhaud: Trois Pièces, for Alto or Baritone Saxophone, arr. StrevensSamek Music (CSCP007) More details |
| 3 | Handel trans. Rascher |
Largo And Allegro 3rd movt And 4th movt from Sonata No. 3 |
|
| 4 | Dirko Juchem | Moderato Or Rondo 1st movt Or 3rd movt from Petite Suite |
|
| 5 | Kalinnikov arr. Ivanov |
Chanson triste |
|
| 6 | Koechlin | Pour la douceur des attaques from 15 études, Op. 188 |
|
| 7 | Lantier | Sicilienne | |
| 8 | Massenet arr. Lanning |
Meditation from Thaïs |
|
| 9 | Saint-Saëns trans. Rainford |
Andantino 1st movt from Sonata, Op. 166 |
|
| 10 | Philip Sparke | Little Overture No. 1 from Super Solos for Alto Saxophone |
List B
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ned Bennett | Lamplight | |
| 2 | Binge | Romance 2nd movt from Concerto for Alto Saxophone |
|
| 3 | Colin Crabb | Sax in the City (bb. 69–99 as written) |
|
| 4 | Mick Foster | For Astor No. 2 from Five Contemporary Dances |
|
| 5 | Lawson Lunde | Andantino cantabile 2nd movt from Sonata for Alto Saxophone |
|
| 6 | Christopher Norton | Black Sheep of the Family No. 14 from The Christopher Norton Concert Collection for Alto Saxophone |
|
| 7 | Roberto Pintos | Balada nocturna from Tangos |
|
| 8 | Yuri Povolotsky | From the Sixties 3rd movt from Suite in Retro Style |
|
| 9 | Pascal Proust | Paris Dance | |
| 10 | Andy Scott | And Everything is Still... |
List C
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blémant | Study in G | |
| 2 | Karg-Elert | Cubana Or Giga
|
|
| 3 | Verroust | Study in G | |
| 4 | Alan Bullard | Expressive Sax Or Impetuous Sax No. 46 Or No. 47 from Sixty for Sax |
|
| 5 | P.-M. Dubois | Paso-doble No. 13 from 17 Études dansantes |
|
| 6 | Chris Gumbley | Tongue Twister No. 9 from 15 More Crazy Jazz Studies for Solo Saxophone |
 Chris Gumbley: 15 More Crazy Jazz Studies for Solo SaxophoneGumbles Publications (GP101) More details |
| 7 | James Rae | Jazz Waltz No. 4 from 18 Concert Etudes for Solo Saxophone |
|
| 8 | James Rae | Return Flight Or Breakaway No. 26 Or No. 31 from 36 More Modern Studies for Solo Saxophone |
|
| 9 | Karen Street | Improve Your Groove from Streetworks |
|
| 10 | Jeffery Wilson | Take Desmond No. 6 from Jazz Paraphrase for Saxophone |
Soprano or Tenor Saxophone pieces
Three pieces: one chosen by the candidate from each of the three Lists, A, B and C - 30 marks each
List A
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clérisse | Sérénade variée | |
| 2 | J. H. Fiocco arr. Harvey |
Arioso | |
| 3 | Granados arr. Teal |
Playera Op. 5 No. 5 |
|
| 4 | Schumann arr. Teal |
Romance No. 1 from Three Romances, Op. 94 |
|
| 5 | Grétry arr. Bazelaire and Londeix |
Ariette Or Chasse from Suite Rococo (ending at b. 101 in Ariette) |
|
| 6 | Guilhaud arr. Strevens |
Andante religieux from Trois Pièces |
 Guilhaud: Trois Pièces, for Soprano or Tenor Saxophone, arr. StrevensSamek Music (CSCP006) More details |
| 7 | Philip Sparke | Little Overture No. 1 from Super Solos for Tenor Saxophone |
|
| 8 | Tchaikovsky arr. Ivanov |
Perce-Neige | |
| 9 | Telemann trans. Londeix |
Siciliana: Andante And Spiritoso 1st movt And 2nd movt from Sonata in C minor |
|
| 10 | Telemann trans. Londeix |
Andante And Vivace 3rd movt And 4th movt from Sonata in C minor |
List B
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ned Bennett | Lamplight | |
| 2 | Martin Ellerby | Richmond And Wymondham 1st movt And 4th movt from Albion Dances for Tenor Saxophone |
|
| 3 | Mick Foster | For Astor No. 2 from Five Contemporary Dances |
|
| 4 | Paul Harris | Music of the Spheres | |
| 5 | Graham Lyons | Shooting Stars over a Tropical Sea from Compositions for Tenor Saxophone, Vol. 2 |
 Graham Lyons: Compositions for Tenor Saxophone, Vol. 2 (piano accomp. printable from companion CD)Useful Music (U133) More details |
| 6 | Christopher Norton | Black Sheep of the Family No. 14 from The Christopher Norton Concert Collection for Tenor Saxophone |
|
| 7 | Andy Scott | And Everything is Still… |
 Andy Scott: And Everything is Still… for Soprano or Tenor SaxophoneAstute Music (am104-26) More details |
| 8 | Andy Scott | Zebra Crossing | |
| 9 | Trad. arr. Rickards |
Amazing Grace Or The Ash Grove |
 No. 2 Or No. 4 from Songs of the British Isles, arr. Rickards (E♭/B♭ edition )Saxtet Publications (Sax034) More details |
| 10 | Washington and Bassman arr. Ledbury |
I'm getting sentimental over you |
List C
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blémant | Study in G | |
| 2 | Karg-Elert | Cubana Or Giga | |
| 3 | Verroust | Study in G | |
| 4 | Alan Bullard | Expressive Sax Or Impetuous Sax No. 46 Or No. 47 from Sixty for Sax |
|
| 5 | P.-M. Dubois | Paso-doble No. 13 from 17 Études dansantes |
|
| 6 | Chris Gumbley | Tongue Twister No. 9 from 15 More Crazy Jazz Studies for Solo Saxophone |
Chris Gumbley: 15 More Crazy Jazz Studies for Solo Saxophone Gumbles Publications (GP101) More details |
| 7 | James Rae | Jazz Waltz No. 4 from 18 Concert Etudes for Solo Saxophone |
|
| 8 | James Rae | Return Flight Or Breakaway No. 26 Or No. 31 from 36 More Modern Studies for Solo Saxophone |
|
| 9 | Karen Street | Improve Your Groove from Streetworks |
|
| 10 | Jeffery Wilson | Take Desmond No. 6 from Jazz Paraphrase for Saxophone |
Instruments
Candidates enter for an exam on Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Baritone saxophone. There are separate repertoire lists for the Eb and Bb instruments; all other requirements are common to the four instruments.
Related instrument option: At all grades, candidates for any of the four saxophones (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone) have the option of playing their List C piece on one of the other three. There is no advantage to be gained over other candidates in taking this option, and all the other requirements must be played using the saxophone on which the candidate has entered.
Publications & audio
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Audio downloads
Download recordings of syllabus repertoire for Alto Saxophone.
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Specimen Aural Tests
Practice examples of the aural tests for Grade 6.
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Scales and Arpeggios for Saxophone
Practice material for students preparing for Saxophone exams.
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Aural Training in Practice
New editions offering support to teachers preparing students for Practical exams.