ABRSM launches new Piano and Brass syllabuses

27 June 2012 ABRSM, the world's leading music exam board, publishes new Piano and Brass syllabuses next week, which will take effect from 1 January 2013. The new syllabuses will feature exciting new repertoire for piano and brass teachers and learners.

New for Piano

ABRSM's new Piano syllabus comprises 158 newly selected pieces from a range of classical and contemporary composers. The syllabus will be supported by new Piano Exam Pieces sheet music and recordings, also to be published in July. Further support for piano teachers will be available through a series of seminars to introduce the new repertoire in late 2012. The Piano syllabus offers a colourful range of works from a diverse array of countries including Chinese pieces at Grades 2 and 6, a piece by Venezuelan composer, Federico Ruiz at Grade 4 (his first appearance on an ABRSM syllabus), and a rare Chopin arrangement of a Polish song at Grade 3.

New for Brass

ABRSM's new Brass syllabus will feature new set pieces for Horn, Eb Horn, Baritone/Euphonium and Tuba. New publications and recordings will also be available to support teachers and learners. In addition, teachers seeking an introduction to the new repertoire found on the syllabus can attend one of ABRSM's UK conference sessions in the autumn term. The new set pieces include a range of more instrument-specific pieces and a selection of pieces from brass band repertoire appears towards the syllabus's higher grades. These include repertoire associated with Gordon Higginbottom, Robert and David Childs and Steven Mead. Titles from Salvationist Publishing also appear for the first time on ABRSM's Brass syllabus.