Flute scale syllabus (proposals: May 2015)

ABRSM Woodwind Review

All requirements are to be played from the lowest tonic/starting note, unless otherwise indicated, and
in even notes.

Minor scales are to be prepared as follows:

Grades 1 & 2: natural or harmonic or melodic
Grades 3–5: harmonic or melodic
Grades 6–8: harmonic and melodic

Examples are given on p. 7 to clarify certain patterns/ranges found in this syllabus.

GRADE 1

Scales and arpeggios tongued and slurred

F, G majors; E minor 1 oct.

Grade 1: Same three keys as in current syllabus (with additional option of natural minor).
□ Highest note: G.

GRADE 2

Scales and arpeggios tongued and slurred

C major*; A minor 1 oct.
F, G majors; E minor a 12th

* starting an octave above lowest tonic

Grade 2: The ‘to a 12th’ range is introduced (one grade earlier than in current syllabus) as a ‘stepping-stone’
between 1 and 2 octaves.
□ Highest note: D.

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GRADE 3
tongued and slurred
Scales and arpeggios
G, Bb majors; E, G minors a 12th
D, F majors; D minor 2 oct.

Chromatic scale
starting on G 1 oct.

Grade 3: First appearance of 2-octave requirements (one grade later than in current syllabus). Introduction of
chromatic scale, as in current syllabus.
□ Highest note: F.

GRADE 4
tongued and slurred
Scales and arpeggios
A, Bb majors; A, B minors a 12th
C, Eb, G majors; C, G minors 2 oct.

Chromatic scale
starting on D 2 oct.

Dominant seventh (resolving on tonic)

in the key of G 2 oct.

Grade 4: Introduction of dominant seventh, as in current syllabus. In line with recent changes to other ABRSM
syllabuses, dominant sevenths now to resolve on tonic (rather than ending on dominant) to illustrate the
harmonic context.
□ Highest note: G.

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GRADE 5
tongued and slurred
Scales and arpeggios
C, D, E, Ab, A majors; C, E, F, F#, A minors 2 oct.

Chromatic scales
starting on C# and F 2 oct.

Dominant sevenths (resolving on tonic)

in the keys of A and Bb 2 oct.

Diminished seventh
starting on Eb 2 oct.

Grade 5: Introduction of diminished seventh, as in current syllabus.

□ Highest note: A.

GRADE 6
tongued and slurred
Scales and arpeggios
Db, D, E, F, Bb majors; C#, D, E, F, Bb minors 2 oct.

Chromatic scales
starting on D, E and Bb 2 oct.

Dominant sevenths (resolving on tonic)

in the keys of G, A and Eb 2 oct.

Diminished sevenths
starting on D, E and Bb 2 oct.

Scale in thirds
C major (starting an octave above lowest tonic) 1 oct.

Grade 6: For scales and arpeggios, five major-minor pairs are proposed, from which three are employed as the
starting notes for the chromatic scales, dominant and diminished sevenths – i.e. a ‘tonal centre’ approach.
Because of the reduction in the number of scales and arpeggios in this grade, a scale in thirds (1 octave) is
proposed as a further pattern.
□ Highest note: Bb.

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GRADE 7
legato-tongued, staccato and slurred
Scales and arpeggios
Db, Eb, G, A, B majors; C#, Eb, G, A, B minors 2 oct.

Chromatic scales
starting on C#, G, A and B 2 oct.

Dominant sevenths (resolving on tonic)

in the keys of F#, C, D and E 2 oct.

Diminished sevenths
starting on C#, G, A and B 2 oct.

Scale in thirds
D major 2 oct.

Extended-range scale
F major

Grade 7: As in Grade 6, five tonal centres are proposed, from which four are employed as the starting notes for
the chromatic scales, dominant and diminished sevenths. In compensation for the removal of the all-keys
emphasis of the current Grade 7, a requirement new to the syllabus – an extended-range scale – is added, for a
wider exploration and consolidation of the instrument’s compass. This is complemented by a scale in thirds (now
over 2 octaves).
□ Highest note: B.

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GRADE 8
legato-tongued, staccato and slurred
Scales and arpeggios
Eb, E, F#, Ab majors; Eb, E, F#, G# minors 2 oct.
C major; C minor 3 oct.

Chromatic scales
starting on Eb, E, F# and Ab 2 oct.
starting on C 3 oct.

Dominant sevenths (resolving on tonic)

in the keys of Ab, A, B and Db 2 oct.
in the key of F 3 oct.

Diminished sevenths
starting on Eb, E, F# and Ab 2 oct.
starting on C 3 oct.

Scales in thirds
G and Bb majors 2 oct.

Extended-range scales and arpeggios

G major and F harmonic minor

Grade 8 requirements continue on p. 6

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GRADE 8 (cont.)

Whole-tone scales
starting on F 2 oct.
starting on C 3 oct.

Grade 8: As in Grades 6 and 7, five tonal centres are proposed, all of which are employed in this grade as the
starting notes for the chromatic scales, dominant and diminished sevenths. Further exploration of the upper
reaches of the instrument, including the first 3-octave requirements. All keys have now been covered at least
once in Grades 6–8. In compensation for the removal of the all-keys requirement of the current Grade 8, two
examples of whole-tone scales are included, as in the current syllabus, alongside further examples of scales in
thirds and extended-range scales (now with their arpeggios).
□ Highest note: C.

© 2014 by ABRSM Woodwind Review (Flute) 6

© 2014 by ABRSM Woodwind Review (Flute) 7