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.
Practical Saxophone Grade 7 exams consist of three pieces, chosen by the candidate from the appropriate lists in the current syllabus, scales and arpeggios, sight-reading and aural tests.
Total marks in all individual Practical exams are 150. 100 marks are required to achieve Pass, 120 marks to pass with Merit and 130 marks to pass with Distinction.
Find out about our Performance Grades and alternative route to a graded music exam.
Practical Saxophone Grade 7 exams consist of three pieces, chosen by the candidate from the appropriate lists in the current syllabus, scales and broken chords, sight-reading and aural tests.
Total marks in all individual Practical exams are 150. 100 marks are required to achieve Pass, 120 marks to pass with Merit and 130 marks to pass with Distinction.
Find out about our Performance Grades and alternative route to a graded music exam.
Three pieces: one chosen by the candidate from each of the three Lists, A, B and C - 30 marks each
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. S. Bach trans. Harle |
 Allegro1st movt from Sonata in G minor, BWV 1020 |
 J. S. Bach: Sonata in G minor, BWV 1020, trans. Harle (E♭/B♭ edition)Universal (UE17774) More details |
| 2 | Bozza | Aria |
|
| 3 | Guilhaud arr. Strevens |
Madrigal from Trois Pièces |
 Guilhaud: Trois Pièces, for Alto or Baritone Saxophone, arr. StrevensSamek Music (CSCP007) More details |
| 4 | Handel trans. Rascher |
Adagio And Allegro 1st movt And 2nd movt from Sonata No. 3 (observing repeat) |
|
| 5 | Koechlin | Pour les traits rapides from 15 études, Op. 188 |
|
| 6 | P. Maurice | Farandoulo di chatouno Or Dis Alyscamps l'amo souspire No. 1 Or No. 4 from Tableaux de Provence |
|
| 7 | Saint-Saëns trans. Rainford |
Ad libitum–Allegretto 2nd movt from Sonata, Op. 166 |
|
| 8 | Singelée | 5e Solo de concert Op. 91 (complete; observing printed cadenza) |
 Singelée: 3e et 5e Solos de concert / Concertino Op. 78, for Alto SaxophoneLemoine (26259) More details |
| 9 | Philip Sparke | Moto Perpetuo No. 6 from Super Solos for Alto Saxophone |
|
| 10 | D. Stone | Idyll |
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Binge | Rondo 3rd movt from Concerto for Alto Saxophone |
|
| 2 | Creston | With tranquility 2nd movt from Sonata, Op. 19 |
|
| 3 | Mick Foster | Witney's Lament No. 4 from Five Contemporary Dances |
|
| 4 | Milhaud | Danse |
|
| 5 | Roberto Pintos | Calle abajo from Tangos |
|
| 6 | Yuri Povolotsky | Armenian Montmartre 2nd movt from Suite in Retro Style (observing printed cadenza) |
|
| 7 | James Rae | Toccata Latino 1st movt from Sonatina for Alto Saxophone |
|
| 8 | Ravel trans. Viard |
Pièce en forme de Habanera |
|
| 9 | Thomys | No. 2 And No. 3 from Miniatures in Various Styles |
|
| 10 | P. Woods | Slowly 2nd movt from Sonata for Alto Saxophone (lowest line in bb. 67–68) |
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. S. Bach trans. Londeix |
Courante from Suite No. 1 in G |
|
| 2 | Ned Bennett | Oxford Street |
|
| 3 | Alan Bullard | Saxophone Comique Or Reflective Sax No. 50 Or No. 55 from Sixty for Sax |
|
| 4 | P.-M. Dubois | Polka No. 7 from 17 Études dansantes |
|
| 5 | Ferling | Study in A minor |
|
| 6 | Chris Gumbley | Hopscotch No. 11 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 | Leggiero No. 15 from 18 Concert Etudes for Solo Saxophone |
|
| 8 | James Rae | Scale Force Or Hocus Pocus No. 28 Or No. 34 from 36 More Modern Studies for Solo Saxophone |
|
| 9 | Karen Street | Not Strictly Tango from Streetworks |
|
| 10 | Jeffery Wilson | Fly Bird No. 9 from Jazz Paraphrase for Saxophone (subtone optional) |
Three pieces: one chosen by the candidate from each of the three Lists, A, B and C - 30 marks each
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. S. Bach trans. Harle |
Allegro 1st movt from Sonata in G minor, BWV 1020 |
J. S. Bach: Sonata in G minor, BWV 1020, trans. Harle (E♭/B♭ edition) Universal (UE17774) More details |
| 2 | Balay arr. Mourey |
Andante et Allegretto |
 Balay: Andante et Allegretto, for Tenor Saxophone, arr. MoureyEditions Marc Reift (EMR 21203) More details |
| 3 | Devienne trans. Jaeckel |
Adagio from Sonata No. 4 (ending at b. 41) |
 Devienne: Adagio and Rondo for Tenor Saxophone, trans. JaeckelSouthern Music (HL03775259) More details |
| 4 | Glinka arr. Ivanov |
Nocturne 'La Séparation' | |
| 5 | Grétry arr. Bazelaire and Londeix |
Tambourin from Suite Rococo |
|
| 6 | Guilhaud arr. Strevens |
Madrigal from Trois Pièces |
 Guilhaud: Trois Pièces, for Soprano or Tenor Saxophone, arr. StrevensSamek Music (CSCP006) More details |
| 7 | Saint-Saëns arr. Teal |
Allegro Appassionato Op. 43 |
|
| 8 | F. Schmitt | Songe de Coppélius | |
| 9 | Philip Sparke | Moto Perpetuo No. 6 from Super Solos for Tenor Saxophone |
|
| 10 | Vivaldi trans. Kynaston |
Allegro 1st movt from Concerto in A minor, RV 461 |
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | P.-M. Dubois | Vieille chanson et Rondinade (complete) |
|
| 2 | Mick Foster | Witney's Lament No. 4 from Five Contemporary Dances |
|
| 3 | Armando Ghidoni | Paysages... (observing printed cadenza) |
|
| 4 | Luc Grethen | Bon Voyage! (observing printed cadenza) |
|
| 5 | Mark Nightingale | Trigger-Happy | |
| 6 | Piazzolla trans. Isoda |
Café 1930 from Histoire du Tango |
|
| 7 | Amy Quate | Laguna Madre (observing printed cadenza) |
|
| 8 | Ravel trans. Viard |
Pièce en forme de Habanera | |
| 9 | Andy Scott | Fujiko | |
| 10 | Villa-Lobos | Lent 2nd movt from Fantasia for Saxophone |
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. S. Bach trans. Londeix |
Courante from Suite No. 1 in G |
|
| 2 | Ned Bennett | Oxford Street | |
| 3 | Alan Bullard | Saxophone Comique Or Reflective Sax No. 50 Or No. 55 from Sixty for Sax |
|
| 4 | P.-M. Dubois | Polka No. 7 from 17 Études dansantes |
|
| 5 | Ferling | Study in A minor | |
| 6 | Chris Gumbley | Hopscotch No. 11 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 | Leggiero No. 15 from 18 Concert Etudes for Solo Saxophone |
|
| 8 | James Rae | Scale Force Or Hocus Pocus No. 28 Or No. 34 from 36 More Modern Studies for Solo Saxophone |
|
| 9 | Karen Street | Not Strictly Tango from Streetworks |
|
| 10 | Jeffery Wilson | Fly Bird No. 9 from Jazz Paraphrase for Saxophone (subtone optional) |
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.
