The current Tuba syllabus (from 2013) is valid until further notice.

Brass candidates should refer to the 2013 syllabus until at least 2022. New syllabuses (Practical and Performance) are being developed for all Brass subjects but release has been delayed due to COVID-19. Further updates will be published at www.abrsm.org/syllabusupdates when available.

from 2013

Tuba Grade 1

What's in the exam?

Pieces
Scales & arpeggios
Aural tests
Sight-reading

Download practical Syllabus (from 2013)

Instruments

This syllabus may be offered on an Eb , F, Bb or C tuba. The syllabus is suitable for three-valved instruments at all grades. For those pieces containing notes that require a 4th valve (and where an ossia is not published), candidates may adapt the affected passages.

The pieces set on this syllabus may be played on any of the above four tubas. Candidates may adapt passages or transpose parts and/or accompaniments as necessary for their instrument (NB many of the syllabus pieces are biased towards Eb tuba).

Other information

The repertoire lists indicate publication details, including clefs and where piano accompaniments are published separately. In addition, for pieces marked ‡ , further information about the publications (including where parts/accompaniments are issued in different keys) is available on our clarifications page.

Examiners will ask candidates whether they are bass- or treble-clef readers.