ABRSM Viola Grade 2 Syllabus 2026: Repertoire, Pieces and Scales

ABRSM Viola Grade 2 is still friendly in length and range, but the programme begins to ask for more reliable bow control, cleaner phrase endings, and clearer contrast between dance, song, and character pieces.

The 2026 guide below follows the official ABRSM Viola Practical Grades syllabus from 2024, which remains the current syllabus for this repertoire. For the practical exam, the candidate chooses three pieces: one from List A, one from List B, and one from List C.

For the broader exam pathway, read this with ABRSM viola repertoire by grade and ABRSM viola exams in Hong Kong: online or live. For scales, use the companion guide to ABRSM viola scales: how to practise them musically.

Other grades: Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5 | Grade 6 | Grade 7 | Grade 8

Cost-saving recommendation: before buying several separate song books, check whether your chosen pieces are available in More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1 (ABRSM) or, for higher grades, More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM). These ABRSM collections are often the most cost-effective options because one book can cover several useful syllabus choices. Where a suitable Suzuki Viola School item appears, I also include it as a practical pick because many students already use the Suzuki books during lessons.

Grade 2 difficulty summary

Grade 2 still uses short pieces, but the playing should feel more settled than Grade 1. Students need cleaner phrase endings, more reliable bow changes, and a clearer difference between dance, song, and character.

Best-value Grade 2 picks

These pieces are useful starting points if you want to avoid buying too many separate books for one exam.

No.	Composer	Piece	Book
A1	J. S. Bach	Rondeau, from Orchestral Suite in B minor, BWV 1067, arr. Lamb & Meredith	More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1 (ABRSM)
A2	J. S. Bach	Minuet No. 3, arr. Suzuki & trans. Preucil	Suzuki Viola School, Vol. 1 (Alfred)
B8	Schubert	To Music, D. 547, arr. Lamb & Meredith	More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1 (ABRSM)
C8	Stravinsky	Shrove-Tide Fair Themes, from Petrushka, arr. Lamb & Meredith	More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1 (ABRSM)

How to choose a Grade 2 programme

Choose pieces that let the student sound settled rather than rushed. A neat List A dance or Classical-style piece, a genuinely singing List B choice, and a lively List C work usually create a balanced Grade 2 programme.

At this stage, exam preparation should still support musicianship rather than shrink the lesson into a checklist. I explain that principle more fully in what ABRSM exams can and cannot teach.

Grade 2 repertoire: List A

No.	Composer	Piece	Publication
1	J. S. Bach	Rondeau, from Orchestral Suite in B minor, BWV 1067, arr. Lamb & Meredith	More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1 (ABRSM) - cost-effective ABRSM collection pick
2	J. S. Bach	Minuet No. 3, arr. Suzuki & trans. Preucil	Suzuki Viola School, Vol. 1 (Alfred) - common learning book pick
3	Besard	Ballet, arr. Brodszky	Early Music for Viola (EMB Zeneműkiadó)
4	M.-A. Charpentier	Prelude, from Te Deum, arr. K. & D. Blackwell	Viola Time Runners (OUP)
5	Kenneth Jones	Bourrée	New Pieces for Viola, Book 1 (ABRSM)
6	Krogmann	March, arr. C. & K. Sassmannshaus	Viola Recital Album, Vol. 2 (Bärenreiter)
7	G. B. Martini	Gavotte, arr. Wilkinson & Hart	First Repertoire for Viola, Book 2 (Faber)
8	Weber	Waltz, arr. Wilkinson & Hart	First Repertoire for Viola, Book 2 (Faber)
9	Trad.	Hornpipe, arr. Lawrance	Winners Galore for Viola (Brass Wind)
10	Trad. Irish	Red-Haired Boy, arr. Huws Jones	The Fiddler Playalong Viola Collection (Boosey & Hawkes)
11	Chevalier de Saint-Georges	Rondeau Theme, from Sonata for Flute and Harp, arr. K. & D. Blackwell	Viola Mix 2 (ABRSM)
12	Christoph Sassmannshaus & Melissa Lusk	Tip Toe	Viola Recital Album, Vol. 2 (Bärenreiter)

Grade 2 repertoire: List B

No.	Composer	Piece	Publication
1	Felipe Bajo	Habañera, arr. Wilkinson & Hart	First Repertoire for Viola, Book 2 (Faber)
2	Kathy & David Blackwell	Farewell to Skye	Viola Time Sprinters (OUP)
3	A. Clarke	Dark-Haired Marie, No. 2 from Four Love Songs, arr. Otty	A. Clarke: Four Love Songs (SJ Music)
4	Katherine & Hugh Colledge	The Misty Isle, No. 7 from Shooting Stars	Katherine & Hugh Colledge: Shooting Stars for Viola (Boosey & Hawkes)
5	Elgar	Andantino, No. 4 from Very Easy Melodious Exercises in the First Position, Op. 22	Elgar: Six Very Easy Pieces in the First Position, Op. 22 (Bosworth)
6	Edward Jones	Glwysen, arr. Huws Jones	The Fiddler Playalong Viola Collection (Boosey & Hawkes)
7	Reinecke	Primula veris, No. 2 from Zehn kleine Stücke, Op. 213, arr. Kreuzer	Reinecke: Ten Little Pieces for Viola and Piano, Op. 213 (Schott)
8	Schubert	To Music, D. 547, arr. Lamb & Meredith	More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1 (ABRSM) - cost-effective ABRSM collection pick
9	Tchaikovsky	Old French Song, No. 16 from Album pour enfants, Op. 39, arr. Salter	Starters for Viola (ABRSM)
10	Trad. North American	Simple Gifts, arr. Waterfield & Beach	O Shenandoah! for Viola (Faber)
11	Barbara Arens	The Sorceress, from Viola Collection I	Barbara Arens: Viola Collection I (Barbara Arens)
12	A. Beach	Pierrot and Pierrette, from Children’s Carnival, Op. 25, arr. K. & D. Blackwell	Viola Mix 2 (ABRSM)
13	Celia Cobb & Naomi Yandell	Daydreamer, No. 11 from Top Banana	Celia Cobb & Naomi Yandell: Top Banana for Viola (Stainer & Bell)

Grade 2 repertoire: List C

No.	Composer	Piece	Publication
1	Arlen & Harburg	We’re off to see the wizard, from The Wizard of Oz, arr. Davey, Hussey & Sebba	Abracadabra Viola, Third Edition (Collins Music)
2	Bartók	Play Song, No. 9 from 44 Duos, trans. Maurice & Bigelow	Bartók: 44 Duets for Two Violas (EMB Zeneműkiadó)
3	Kathy & David Blackwell	Jacob’s Dance	Viola Time Sprinters (OUP)
4	Katherine & Hugh Colledge	Morris Dancers, No. 3 from Shooting Stars; with repeat	Katherine & Hugh Colledge: Shooting Stars for Viola (Boosey & Hawkes)
5	Thomas Gregory	Smooth Operator	Vamoosh Viola, Book 2 (Vamoosh)
6	Laubach	Soldier’s March, arr. C. & K. Sassmannshaus	Viola Recital Album, Vol. 2 (Bärenreiter)
7	Philip Sparke	Pony and Trap	Skilful Solos for Viola (Anglo Music)
8	Stravinsky	Shrove-Tide Fair Themes, from Petrushka, arr. Lamb & Meredith	More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1 (ABRSM) - cost-effective ABRSM collection pick
9	Trad.	Mango Walk, arr. Nelson	Piece by Piece 2 for Viola (Boosey & Hawkes)
10	Trad. American	Old Joe Clark, arr. Waterfield & Beach	O Shenandoah! for Viola (Faber)
11	Hannah M. Bartel	Rainy Daze, from Kansas Memories Suite, arr. Cooper	Viola Music By Women - A Graded Anthology, Vol. 1 (Sleepy Puppy Press)
12	Celia Cobb & Naomi Yandell	Cool Beans, No. 14 from Cool Beans	Celia Cobb & Naomi Yandell: Cool Beans Viola Duets (Stainer & Bell)
13	Stéphanie Pons	Espièglerie	I Love My Alto (Leduc)
14	Trad. Ugandan	Dipidu, arr. K. & D. Blackwell	Viola Mix 2 (ABRSM)

Grade 2 scales and arpeggios

All scales and arpeggios are played from memory.

Keys	Range	Bowing and rhythm
Scales
F and B-flat majors; C and G minors, starting on open strings. Minor scales may be natural, harmonic, or melodic, at the candidate's choice.	1 octave	Separate bows or slurred, 2 quavers to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes or long tonic at the candidate's choice.
C, D, and E-flat majors	2 octaves	Separate bows or slurred, 2 quavers to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes or long tonic at the candidate's choice.
Arpeggios
F and B-flat majors; C and G minors, starting on open strings	1 octave	Separate bows, even notes.
C, D, and E-flat majors	2 octaves	Separate bows, even notes.

For the broader level-by-level view, return to the ABRSM viola repertoire by grade guide.