Bassoon scale syllabus (proposals: May 2015) ABRSM Woodwind Review All requirements are to be played from the lowest tonic/starting note, unless otherwise indicated, and in even notes. Minor scales are to be prepared as follows: Grades 1 & 2: natural or harmonic or melodic Grades 3 5: harmonic or melodic Grades 6 8: harmonic and melodic Examples are given on p. 7 to clarify certain patterns/ranges found in this syllabus. GRADE 1 F, G majors; E minor 1 oct. Grade 1: Same three keys as in current syllabus (with additional option of natural minor). Highest note: G. GRADE 2 C major*; A minor 1 oct. D, F majors; D minor a 12th * starting an octave above lowest tonic Grade 2: The to a 12th range is introduced (one grade earlier than in current syllabus) as a stepping-stone between 1 and 2 octaves. Highest note: C. 2014 by ABRSM Woodwind Review (Bassoon) 1
GRADE 3 Bb*, G, A majors; E, A minors C major; D minor a 12th * starting an octave above lowest tonic Chromatic scale starting on G 1 oct. Grade 3: First appearance of 2-octave requirements (one grade later than in current syllabus). Introduction of chromatic scale, as in current syllabus. Highest note: F. GRADE 4 Bb, D, Eb, E, F majors; B, C, E, G minors Chromatic scale starting on F Dominant seventh (resolving on tonic) in the key of C Grade 4: Introduction of dominant seventh, as in current syllabus. In line with recent changes to other ABRSM syllabuses, dominant sevenths now to resolve on tonic (rather than ending on dominant) to illustrate the harmonic context. Highest note: G. 2014 by ABRSM Woodwind Review (Bassoon) 2
GRADE 5 B, C, Eb, Ab, A majors; Bb, C#, F, F#, A minors starting on C and Ab in the keys of F and D Diminished seventh starting on F Grade 5: Introduction of diminished seventh, as in current syllabus. Highest note: A. GRADE 6 Db, E, G majors; C#, E, G minors Bb, B majors; Bb, B minors starting on E and G starting on Bb in the keys of A and C in the key of Eb Diminished sevenths starting on E and G starting on Bb Scale in thirds F major 1 oct. Grade 6: For scales and arpeggios, five major-minor pairs are proposed, from which three are employed as the starting notes for the chromatic scales, dominant and diminished sevenths i.e. a tonal centre approach. Greater exploration of the upper register, including the first 3-octave requirements. Because of the reduction in the number of scales and arpeggios in this grade, a scale in thirds (1 octave) is proposed as a further pattern. Highest note: B. 2014 by ABRSM Woodwind Review (Bassoon) 3
GRADE 7 F, Ab, A majors; F, G#, A minors B, C majors; B, C minors legato-tongued, staccato and slurred starting on F, Ab and A starting on B in the keys of Bb, Db and D in the key of E Diminished sevenths starting on F, Ab and A starting on B Scale in thirds G major Extended-range scale E major Grade 7: As in Grade 6, five tonal centres are proposed, from which four are employed as the starting notes for the chromatic scales, dominant and diminished sevenths. In compensation for the removal of the all-keys emphasis of the current Grade 7, a requirement new to the syllabus an extended-range scale is added, for a wider exploration and consolidation of the instrument s compass. This is complemented by a scale in thirds (now over 2 octaves). Highest note: C. 2014 by ABRSM Woodwind Review (Bassoon) 4
GRADE 8 Eb, F# majors; Eb, F# minors C, Db, D majors; C, C#, D minors legato-tongued, staccato and slurred starting on Eb and F# starting on C, C# and D in the keys of Ab and B in the keys of F, F# and G Diminished sevenths starting on Eb and F# starting on C, C# and D Scales in thirds A major Bb major Extended-range scales and arpeggios Ab major and A harmonic minor Grade 8 requirements continue on p. 6 2014 by ABRSM Woodwind Review (Bassoon) 5
GRADE 8 (cont.) Whole-tone scales starting on Ab starting on B Grade 8: As in Grades 6 and 7, five tonal centres are proposed, all of which are employed in this grade as the starting notes for the chromatic scales, dominant and diminished sevenths. All keys have now been covered at least once in Grades 6 8. In compensation for the removal of the all-keys requirement of the current Grade 8, two examples of whole-tone scales are included, as in the current syllabus, alongside further examples of scales in thirds and extended-range scales (now with their arpeggios). Highest note: D. 2014 by ABRSM Woodwind Review (Bassoon) 6
2014 by ABRSM Woodwind Review (Bassoon) 7