New publications and apps

Available for Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass, Initial Grade Exam Pack from 2024 is a single book bringing together exam pieces, scales and arpeggios, sight-reading and access to audio recordings in one place. This resource is perfect to support beginners in the early stages of learning. 

Each pack includes a unique download code to access recordings of all nine pieces, plus piano accompaniment tracks to support practice or to use in Initial Grade Performance exam.

Featuring nine pieces per grade, Violin Exam Pieces from 2024 (for Grades 1 to 8), and Cello Exam Pieces from 2024 (for Grades 1 to 5) offer exciting repertoire, from new commissions to core classics and familiar tunes. The wide-ranging music in this series can help learners develop musicianship skills at every level.

Violin Exam Pieces from 2024 and Cello Exam Pieces from 2024 are available in three formats:

• Part only (Grade 1 to 5 only)
• Part and piano accompaniment
• Part, piano accompaniment and audio

The audio edition includes a unique download code to access recordings of all nine pieces, plus piano accompaniment tracks to support practice or use in Performance exams. These recordings are an excellent way for teachers and students to explore repertoire in the new syllabuses, and hear every detail of the pieces played by professional musicians.

As Practical Grades and Performance Grades share the same repertoire lists, our Exam Pieces books can be used to prepare for both types of exam.

For Practical Grades, the scale and arpeggio, sight-reading and aural test requirements remain unchanged from the 2020-2023 syllabus. The current publications for these supporting tests are still valid.

• Violin Scales & Arpeggios
• Violin Specimen Sight-Reading Tests
• Viola Scales & Arpeggios
• Viola Specimen Sight-Reading Tests
• Cello Scales & Arpeggios
• Cello Specimen Sight-Reading Tests
• Double Bass Scales & Arpeggios
• Double Bass Specimen Sight-Reading Tests
• Specimen Aural Tests 

A selection of pieces from the Violin Exam Pieces and Cello Exam Pieces books, as well as some cello and double bass repertoire are available as digital sheet music downloads.

As Practical Grades and Performance Grades share the same repertoire lists, the downloaded pieces can be used to prepare for both types of exam.

Audio recordings of all pieces from Violin Exam Pieces, Cello Exam Pieces, and Initial Grade Exam Packs are available as individual downloads (full performance track and backing track).

These pieces are recorded by professional musicians. They are an excellent way for teachers and students to explore the range of music in the syllabus and hear interpretations

Audio recordings of Violin Exam Pieces from 2024 (Grades Initial to 8) and Cello Exam Pieces from 2024 (Grades Initial to 5) are available in Violin Practice Partner and Cello Practice Partner as in-app purchases, for individual pieces or a selection for each Grade.

Our Violin Practice Partner and Cello Practice Partner apps allow you to hear the full recording, or practise with the piano accompaniment or string part in isolation. You can slow down or speed up the music to a tempo that suits you, for careful practice.