Double Bass Syllabus Options

[MusicalNitWit]

I am trying to access the Double Bass Grade 1 syllabus on the ABRSM site but I can't open it for some strange reason as I have the correct Adobe installed. Could a kind member post the pieces on here? I can only access the 2003-09 syllabus, thanks. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

DS has been playing for a couple of months and really loves it, probably because he thinks he looks cool. He is already playing 2003-09 Grade 1 pieces so I don't think it will be too long until he sits the exam and then we are having an exam free zone for at least two years! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Juniper]

Here you go (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) All the best with it
LIST A
1 Anon. Estonian Lament to the Moon (in either key)
2 Blow Gavott (from Musick?s Hand-maid) Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1, arr. Slatford (ABRSM)? 
3 Anon. German The More the Merrier. No. 67 from Ready Steady Go, arr. Elliott (Bartholomew 502: piano
accomp. published separately, 502a)
4 Shinichi Suzuki Allegretto. No. 11 from Suzuki Bass School, Vol. 1, Revised Edition (Alfred?Summy-Birchard
0370S/FM Distribution: piano accomp. published separately, 0372S)
5 Trad. John Grumlie, arr. Elliott. P. 25 from The Essential String Method, Double Bass Book 3 (Boosey & Hawkes/
MDS: piano accomp. published separately)
6 Trad. Peruvian Dance Tune. Amazing Solos for Double Bass, arr. Schofield (Boosey & Hawkes/MDS)
LIST B
1 Catherine Elliott Carnival Waltz. P. 4 from The Essential String Method, Double Bass Book 3 (Boosey & Hawkes/
MDS: piano accomp. published separately)
2 Tony Osborne Bass Bridges of Paris or Alpen Song?: No. 14 or No. 18 from The Really Easy Bass Book (Faber)
3 Michael Rose Ballad II
4 Schumann A Little Piece (from Op. 68) Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1, arr. Slatford (ABRSM)? 
5 Taki Moon Over the Ruined Castle. No. 8 from Suzuki Bass School, Vol. 2, Revised Edition (Alfred?Summy-
Birchard 0371S/FM Distribution: piano accomp. published separately, 0374S)
6 Tchaikovsky Old French Song, arr. Nelson. P. 27 from The Essential String Method, Double Bass Book 4 (Boosey
& Hawkes/MDS: piano accomp. published separately)
LIST C
1 Anon. Corn Rigs Quadrille
2 Steve Berry A Little Blue (without improvisation) Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1,
3 T. Morley Now is the month of Maying(in either key)  arr. Slatford (ABRSM)?
4 I. Carroll Gigue: from Five Simple Pieces (Stainer & Bell 2310)
5 Tony Osborne And Y Not: No. 22 from The Really Easy Bass Book (Faber)
6 Regner Lied des Schlafes: No. 5 from Kontra-Spass (Schott KBB 11/MDS)
7 Trad. Hatikvah, arr. Elliott. P. 22 from The Essential String Method, Double Bass Book 3
(Boosey & Hawkes/MDS: piano accomp. published separately)

[Flossie]

Don't forget the scales - you don't want the same stress you've had with his bassoon exam... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

SCALES AND ARPEGGIOS*: from memory, in the keys specified in one of the following groups chosen by
the candidate:
GROUP I: Bb major; A minor (one octave)
GROUP II: G major; B minor (one octave)
Scales: in the keys of the chosen group above (minor in harmonic form only): separate bows, rhythm as
second example in Cello Grade 1
Arpeggios: the common chords of the keys in the chosen group above for the range indicated: separate
bows, even notes, as example in Cello Grade 1

A 'learn the scales before you start the pieces' rule might give him the incentive to actually learn his scales this time. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

Edit: I can't post the examples with the bowing because they are scored. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) It's basically a crotchet on the key note and then pairs of slurred quavers going up the scale, a crotchet on the key note at the top of the scale and then pairs of slurred quavers going back down and finishing with a minim on the key note (but i don't know if that makes sense without you being aboe to see it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)).

[MusicalNitWit]

Thank you so much. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) It is irritating though that the book he does have which had all the G1 2003-09 pieces in it is not used this time round. Looks like I need to purchase another book!

[MusicalNitWit]

Actually, would it be possible to have the G2&3 pieces, for although we have no intention of doing grades I did manage to purchase two books which covered G1-3 and some G4&5 pieces on the Bassoon and it would be good if I could do the same again on the off chance that DS does want to do another exam?

[Juniper]

Here you go (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) A safe bet tends to be Time Pieces as they are always in the syllabus
LIST A
1 attrib. J. S. Bach Musette (BWV Anh. II 126).
P. 9 from
The Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook for Double Bass, arr.
2 Petzold Minuet in D (BWV Anh. II 114).
Elliott (Bartholomew 009: piano accomp. published
P. 3 from
separately, 009a)
3 Boccherini Minuetto (from String Quartet, Op. 24 No. 4). Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1, arr. Slatford
(ABRSM)?
4 Handel Gavotte, arr. Elliott (upper line). P. 10 from The Essential String Method, Double Bass Book 4 (Boosey &
5 Trad. English Greensleeves, arr. Elliott. P. 26 from  Hawkes/MDS: piano accomp. published separately)
6 Mozart Passe-pied (observing repeats). No. 9 from La Contrebasse classique, Vol. A, arr. Dehant (Combre C05440/
UMP)
LIST B
1 Beethoven Andante cantabile (from String Quartet, Op. 18 No. 5) Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1,
2 Michael Rose Ballad I
 arr. Slatford (ABRSM)?
3 Rodgers & Hammerstein Edelweiss (from The Sound of Music). No. 50 from Abracadabra Double Bass, Book 1,
arr. Lillywhite et al. (Black: piano accomp. published separately)
4 Schubert Two German Dances, arr. Nelson (omitting DC). P. 23 from The Essential String Method, Double Bass
Book 4 (Boosey & Hawkes/MDS: piano accomp. published separately)
5 Schumann The Merry Peasant (The Happy Farmer). P. 18 (arr. Elliott) from The Essential String Method,
Double Bass Book 4 (Boosey & Hawkes/MDS: piano accomp. published separately) or No. 7 from Suzuki Bass School,
Vol. 2, Revised Edition (Alfred?Summy-Birchard 0371S/FM Distribution: piano accomp. published separately, 0374S)
6 Weber Ecossaise (upper line, observing repeats). P. 7 from Technitunes for Double Bass, arr. Nelson and Elliott
(Boosey & Hawkes/MDS: piano accomp. published separately)
LIST C
1 Arlen & Harburg We?re off to see the Wizard (from The Wizard of Oz). No. 70 from Abracadabra Double Bass, Book 1, arr. Lillywhite et al. (Black: piano accomp. published separately)
2 Christopher Field Ladye Broomleigh Her Pavane.
No. 45 from Yorke Studies for Double Bass, Vol. 1
3 Trad. Scottish Ye Banks and Braes, arr. Slatford. (Yorke YE0022/Spartan Press)
No. 73 from
4 Herz Galoppe Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1, arr. Slatford (ABRSM)?
5 Giles Swayne Lazybones
6 Regner Maitanz: No. 2 from Kontra-Spass (Schott KBB 11/MDS)
7 Trad. March of the Kings, arr. Elliott. P. 25 from The Essential String Method, Double Bass
Book 4 (Boosey & Hawkes/MDS: piano accomp. published separately)

Grade 3
LIST A
1 Aza?s Menuet. No. 22 from La Contrebasse classique, Vol. A, arr. Dehant (Combre C05440/UMP)
2 attrib. J. S. Bach First Minuet in D minor (BWV Anh. II 121) (observing 1st repeat). P. 9 from The Anna
Magdalena Bach Notebook for Double Bass, arr. Elliott (Bartholomew 009: piano accomp. published separately, 009a)
3 L. Couperin Menuet de Poitou (omitting DC) Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1,
4 Lully Air and Chaconne (from Le bourgeois gentilhomme)
 arr. Slatford (ABRSM)?
5 Gerhard Deutschmann Menuett and Trio. No. 9 from Yorke Solos for Double Bass, Vol. 1 (Yorke YE0087/Spartan
Press)
6 Mozart Allegro (K. 3). No. 2 from Subterranean Solos, arr. Hartley (Bartholomew 006: piano accomp. published
separately, 006a)
LIST B
1 Grieg Norwegian Dance (Op. 35). No. 5 from Subterranean Solos, arr. Hartley (Bartholomew 006: piano accomp.
published separately, 006a)
2 Gurlitt Voyage de nuit. No. 20 from La Contrebasse classique, Vol. A, arr. Dehant (Combre C05440/UMP)
3 Sheila Joynes The Old Sea Dog. No. 52 from Bass is Best! Yorke Mini-Bass Book 2, arr. Emery and Barratt (Yorke
YE0098/Spartan Press)
4 John Merle Mummers (Danse grotesque). Festival Performance Solos ? String Bass (Carl Fischer BF5/MDS:
piano accomp. published separately, BF6)
5 Schumann Melody (from Op. 68). Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1, arr. Slatford (ABRSM)?
6 Verdi Grand March (from A?da). Amazing Solos for Double Bass, arr. Schofield (Boosey & Hawkes/MDS)
LIST C
1 Aprile Solfeggio No. 3 (upper part) (ornaments optional). Time Pieces for Double Bass,
Vol. 1, arr. Slatford (ABRSM)?
2 Frederick Boaden Prelude: 1st movt from Petite Suite (Yorke YEC47358/Spartan Press)
3 Teppo Hauta-aho Scott: 3rd movt from Jazz Sonatine [No. 1]. No. 1 from Hauta-aho
Pizzicato Pieces, Book 1 (Recital Music RM097/Spartan Press)
4 Mozart, trans. Hindemith O Iso ed Osiro. Hindemith St?cke f?r Kontrabass solo
(Schott ED 8378/MDS)
5 Tony Osborne Bassa Nova (pizz or arco or combination): No. 3 from Junior Jazz Book 1
(Recital Music RM037/Spartan Press)
6 Michael Rose Jumbo Rag: from A Sketchbook for Double Bass (ABRSM)
7 David Tutt Spanish Dance. No. 8 from Bass is Best! Yorke Mini-Bass Book 2, arr. Emery and
Barratt (Yorke YE0098/Spartan Press)

[Flossie]

Juniper was faster than me. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

However, these syllabi are only until 2011 - so the grade 3 will almost certainly have changed by the time he's ready and the grade 2 may have as well (dependent on whether he's ready in the next year). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Juniper]

Only just Flossie (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)
Although it says 2011, the syllabus will be valid longer than that, although scales and sight reading for all bowed strings are changing from 2012, details are due in July 2011 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[MusicalNitWit]

I think I'll stick to Time Pieces and The Essential String Method unless the wise ones on the forum do not think they are up to much! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[Flossie]

Only just Flossie (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)
Although it says 2011, the syllabus will be valid longer than that, although scales and sight reading for all bowed strings are changing from 2012, details are due in July 2011 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

The syllabus is only valid until the 1st session in 2012...

[Juniper]

Only just Flossie (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)
Although it says 2011, the syllabus will be valid longer than that, although scales and sight reading for all bowed strings are changing from 2012, details are due in July 2011 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

The syllabus is only valid until the 1st session in 2012...

Admittedly they haven't made it very clear on the syllabus but the Double Bass syllabus tends to not change very often. The footnote on the syllabus page says

**The set pieces for viola, cello and double bass will be valid beyond 2011 (until 2015 for cello and until further notice for viola and double bass). However, there will be revised scale and sight-reading requirements for all bowed strings in 2012. Full details will be available in July 2011.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[gem5ie]

I really hate those Time Pieces books. IMHO the new AB syllabus for double bass sacrifices all the technical and musical aspects I would expect to nurture in a young bass player in favour of awkward arrangements of "tunes" that have little technical or musical merit and serve only as yet another cash cow for the Board in forcing everyone to buy the Time Pieces books. I have long used Trinity higher grades for their focus on orchestral as well as solo playing, in addition to the linking of scale requirements with relevant and rigorous technical work. Since the new syllabus came out the very real temptation is to abandon AB completely.

*rant over*