Hello, not sure if this question has been asked before - apols if it has.

I am a clarinet player & currently prepping for my DipABRSM in December.

My programme runs at roughly 30 mins. Is this long enough - I am really worried about being penalised for being too short. Also, is it correct that as a wind player you are granted up to 5 minutes (to be included as part of your performance time) for adjusting instrument, pausing between pieces etc. That would bring me up to 35 max. What's the recommended time you should aim for?? Thanks, Wayne

I am a pianist rather than a Woodwind player, but what you surmise is correct:

"You should plan your Recital so that it lasts approximately 35 minutes (it may be up to 10% longer or 10% shorter). This total duration includes any breaks between items, as well as one longer pause (of up to 5 minutes) for woodwind, brass and singing candidates." (ABRSM Diploma Syllabus)

So the entire Recital must be between 31.5 and 38.5 minutes, including your allowed break as a woodwind player.

Hopefully a fully-fledged Woodwind player will advise on whether you need a slightly longer programme than you have at present, but if, as you say, you have 30 minutes of material already, then together with a 4-5 minute break, suitably positioned, it would seem sufficient.


Woodwind players might find it useful to know what pieces you are playing for your Recital, before offering suitable advice.

Anyway, best of luck with your preparations.

Yes, we would

Thank you for your reply. My pieces are Finzi (Prelude, Romance and Fughetto from 5 Bagatelles), followed by Stanford 3 intermezzi and finishing off with Schumann's Fantasy Pieces Op 73 (Complete Cycle). I am really happy with my programme. Just wobbling a bit with timing!

Looks pretty good to me (though do give the correct name for the Fughetta ). Were it me, I'd possibly be inclined to go for something Classical instead of the Stanford, but that's largely me rather than something you must do. Hope all goes well

Well, having recordings of all those pieces, I'd enjoy accompanying your programme - although I'd have to learn to play the Stanford and get to grips with the Finzi Fughetta. I have accompanied the Prelude and Romance though and the outer two of the Schumann cycle.

barry-clari didn't say anything about the length of your programme being a problem though, so since he is essentially the Forum's clarinet guru, looks like you're in the clear!

I can't advise the best place for your extended break though; possibly after the Stanford?

I did a very unscientific add up in my head (so I can't vouch 100% for accuracy!), but I think all is well.

Thanks for your help - really useful. Yes, sorry about the spelling mistake - my keyboard isnt working properly - honest! Going to stick with Stanford, delightful pieces and good link between Finzi and Schumann.

Can't advise on diploma but to the forums.
Another clarinettist here

I played 2 of the Stanford for my AS level music back in 1992. I think it was 2 and 3 and I enjoyed them. Must have another look sometime. I also like the Finzi, though have not perfected the Fughetta yet - or indeed really worked on it.

Love the Schumann too. Playing on A or Bb? I remember one of them being rather tricky to finger on Bb, though again I've never seriously tackled these - just had a go for fun

My keyboard fails on numerous occasions

Fair enough, it's much more a 'me' thing than anything else, and I do agree, the Stanford is good.

Have fun with it all!

I took DipABRSM on wind instruments. From my understanding, 35 minutes include breaks between items (and a longer pause of up to 5 minutes), so I think timing-wise you are ok, just make sure you don't speed up because of nerves (therefore going under 35 minutes).

My concern is that there is not enough variety in your program. Finzi and Stanford are from the same country and same period. Schumann was only a couple of decades earlier. DipABRSM specifically asks for 3 different periods be represented. I would have included a classical piece and a more modern piece (Finzi and Stanford are really late Romantic, not 20th century, if you compare them with Stravinsky or Poulenc).

Finzi wasn't born until 1901 and his Five Bagatelles were written during WW2, about a century after the Schumann Fantasiestucke.

Agree with BM. I don't think you can regard Finzi as Romantic : he's what we used to call in A level music '20th century'. I wonder if they'll eventually give a posh name to that sort of era?...

My point was the Finzi set is not "modern" sounding enough, when compared to, say, Stravinsky or Stockhausen. The programme will not have enough variety. Of course it is only my personal opinion. In the 6 post grade 8 exams I took (on 3 different instruments) I have always picked pieces with more contrast and it always worked for me.
To drive home my point, once I was criticized for only using the alto recorder (not the soprano) for my DipABRSM, even though I played music from baroque to modern. I failed that exam, and that was after I passed my FRSM on the oboe.

Thank you everyone for your comments. Didn't mean to cause such a debate! I am aware that Finzi may not be as progressive as compared to Poulenc or Stravinsky but wanted a programme that sits comfortably together.

I have tried to plan my exam like I would a recital and my gut instinct is that they do sit well together. I have been lucky enough to have performed quite a few of the pieces that fall under the repetoire list over the years and tried to plan carefully what I wanted to play.

I think as long as i can justify why I have selected my pieces, is this not enough? There are definate links between Schumann, Stanford and Finzi, all of whom I have admired for a very long time. Finzi admired many of the composers that emerged as a direct result of the new 'English Renaissance' - an exciting time in music - RVW, Holst, Ireland, Gurney. Whilst not progressive his music is certainly not romantic like Schumann, just unashamedly English!

Thanks again for all your comments - I will no doubt be asking more questions nearer to my exam!

I think the programme is wonderful for a recital, but I am not sure what the examiner will think of it in an exam settings. The syllabus does require the pieces to be contrasted for the DipABRSM. For the FRSM, they can be more of the same. Perhaps you can ask for the Associated Board's opinion, just to play safe? I hope you will do well in your exam in any case. Happy practising!

Late to the debate, I have the same reservations as Wai Kit Leung: Lovely program for a recital in general terms (actually, I really like it) and no problem with timings but perhaps not the program for a DipABRSM recital, for the reasons already given: Insufficient range of period and style. Merely because you feel you can justify your program does not mean the examiners will agree with you! I like shellfish & I can easily justify moules marinieres in general terms, but if the recipe calls for cheesecake . . .

Nonetheless, good luck.

I would agree that the Stanford and Finzi are too similar in mood - apart from the last of the Schumann (and even that isn't much of a contrast) these are all very lyrical/romantic (in the mood rather than period sense). I would go for something from the 2nd half of the 20th century or something classical instead of one of the british isles - or at least something with a bit of attack if going for late romantic period. Trouble is, one could argue that the best repertoire is all in this style as it suits the sound of the instrument!

Re. the instrument on which to play the Schumann - when I first learnt the second 2 pieces I used to transpose them at sight. I played them more accurately transposing them on the A than playing them as written for the Bb!

Hi waw1969,

I would also say you are fine for timing once your programme is between 31 and 38 minutes long. I would also suggest that coming closer to your exam that you practice taking your breaks as well with the pieces in one recital so you know exactly how long things will take, and how tired you will be after!

I do agree also with some of the comments made with regard to your choice of programme. Based on my own experience I feel it would have had implications for my marks if I had chosen pieces by composers that were chronologically too close. Whilst you can draw reference to definite links between Schumann, Stanford and Finzi, to an audience this may not sufficiently display the diversity of styles that your instrument is capable of exhibiting, and your programme may come across as periodically biased.

Also, I'm not sure whether you are performing any pieces from memory. Speaking from my own perspective, the earlier the piece, the easier it was to perform from memory. Also, the examiners like playing from memory a lot.

Just some thoughts, either way I'm sure it will be a great programme. Best of luck.

I wouldn't worry too much about performing from memory for woodwind at DipABRSM level. It's still quite common for woodwind players to have the music, and it's not worth the risk of trying to perform without music unless it comes naturally to you. It's different for violin and piano, which are traditionally played from memory, and even there I don't think it's essential for the Dip.

I played from memory on all my diploma exams on the oboe, and not once was it commented that I did so. One of the two examiners for each exam would only listen to the tape, so he/she wouldn't have known. It is a good practice to play from memory in any case. Once my friend was performing a double concerto, and he had to stop the performance because his music dropped to the floor.