ABRSM Violin Grade 4 Syllabus 2026: Repertoire and Scales

ABRSM Violin Grade 4 marks a real change of scale. The pieces begin to ask for more structure, warmer tone, clearer projection, and a more grown-up sense of phrase. This is often the grade where simply playing the notes stops being enough.

The 2026 guide below follows the official ABRSM Violin Practical Grades syllabus from 2024, which remains the current syllabus for this repertoire.

For the broader level-by-level view, read this with ABRSM violin repertoire by grade. For the bigger teaching question behind exam preparation, see what ABRSM exams can and cannot teach.

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

Grade 4 difficulty summary

Grade 4 is a bridge into more independent playing. Students need stronger rhythm, more settled shifts where required, and clearer stylistic choices.

Practical Grade 4 picks

Before buying extra books, check whether the shortlisted pieces are already in the student’s current method books, school library copies, or ABRSM exam-piece collections. The most practical choice is the one the student can prepare musically and consistently.

How to choose a Grade 4 programme

Choose one piece with clear formal shape, one piece that develops tone and line, and one piece that shows character without rushing. The programme should feel grown-up, not inflated. If shifting, vibrato, or bow distribution are still developing, choose repertoire that helps those skills settle musically.

Grade 4 repertoire: List A

No.	Composer	Piece	Publication
1	Bacewicz	Prelude, from Easy Pieces, Book 1	Violin Exam Pieces from 2024, Grade 4 (ABRSM)
2	Trad. American	Ragtime Annie, arr. Huws Jones	Violin Exam Pieces from 2024, Grade 4 (ABRSM)
3	A. Veracini	Vivace, 4th movt from Sonata in G minor, Op. 3 No. 7, with first repeat	Violin Exam Pieces from 2024, Grade 4 (ABRSM)
4	Anon. Italian	Trotto, arr. Huws Jones	The Young Violinist’s Early Music Collection (Faber)
5	Beethoven	Menuetto, from Serenade No. 1 in D, Op. 8, arr. Nagy	Introduction to the Great Composers (Barenreiter)
6	Weber	Allegramente, from Rondo, Op. 3 No. 6, arr. Nagy	Introduction to the Great Composers (Barenreiter)
7	Handel	Rondeau, from Sonata in E minor, Op. 5 No. 3, arr. Forbes	First Violin, Book 3 (ABRSM)
8	L. Mozart	Presto, 3rd movt from Symphony in G, arr. Wade	The Young Symphonist, Vol. 2 (Clifton Edition)
9	Purcell	Rondeau, from Abdelazar, arr. Cohen	Encore Violin, Book 2 (ABRSM) or The Best of Grade 4 Violin (Faber)
10	N. Sokolovsky	Menuett	Small Concert Pieces, Vol. 1 (EMB Zenemukiado)
11	Anon. French	Estampie royal, arr. Huws Jones	The Early Music Fiddler (Boosey & Hawkes)
12	J. Gibbs	Aria and Variation 1, from Sonata in D minor, Op. 1 No. 1, arr. Nelson	Sheila M. Nelson’s Baroque Violinist (Boosey & Hawkes)
13	Rachel Laurin	The Sugar Shack, from Three Canadian Scenes, Op. 104	Lyrical Violin Legends (Allegro)

Grade 4 repertoire: List B

No.	Composer	Piece	Publication
1	Joe Hisaishi	The Legend of Ashitaka, from Princess Mononoke, arr. Shimazu	Violin Exam Pieces from 2024, Grade 4 (ABRSM)
2	F. Price	The Deserted Garden	Violin Exam Pieces from 2024, Grade 4 (ABRSM)
3	Holst	Landler, arr. Salter	Violin Exam Pieces from 2024, Grade 4 (ABRSM)
4	Y. Bowen	Melody	First Violin, Book 3 (ABRSM)
5	Bridge	Spring Song, No. 2 from Four Short Pieces, H. 104	Bridge: Spring Song and Lullaby (Stainer & Bell)
6	Carse	Chant de l’escarpolette	Classic Carse, Book 2 (Stainer & Bell)
7	J. P. E. Martini	Plaisir d’amour, arr. Danbe	J. P. E. Martini: Plaisir d’amour (Schott)
8	Martinu	Andante, No. 3 from Four Intermezzos, H. 261	Martinu: Intermezzo (Barenreiter Praha)
9	Mendelssohn	Andante con moto, 2nd movt from Symphony No. 4, The Italian, Op. 90, arr. Wade	The Young Symphonist, Vol. 2 (Clifton Edition)
10	Trad. Breton	Lament, arr. Huws Jones, violin melody	The French Fiddler (Boosey & Hawkes)
11	Toivo Kuula	Morning Song, arr. North	Lyrical Violin Legends (Allegro)
12	Schubert	Romanze, arr. Nagy	Introduction to the Great Composers (Barenreiter)
13	J. S. Skinner	The Cradle Song	Alastair Hardie’s Compliments to The King (Hardie Press)

Grade 4 repertoire: List C

No.	Composer	Piece	Publication
1	Ewa Iwan	Butterfly, from Musical Journeys, Book 1	Violin Exam Pieces from 2024, Grade 4 (ABRSM)
2	Lagye	Danse espagnole, Op. 102	Violin Exam Pieces from 2024, Grade 4 (ABRSM)
3	Bart Howard	Fly me to the moon, arr. Iles	Violin Exam Pieces from 2024, Grade 4 (ABRSM)
4	Gebirtig	Avreml der Marvikher, arr. Rowlands	Klezmer Fiddle Tunes (Schott)
5	Hadjiev	Rondino, arr. de Keyser & Waterman	The Best of Grade 4 Violin (Faber)
6	Kabalevsky	The Clowns, arr. de Keyser & Waterman	The Young Violinist’s Repertoire, Book 3 (Faber)
7	D. Obijalska & M. Wawruk	Gadabout Cat, from Fiddling Notes	Obijalska & Wawruk: Fiddling Notes (PWM)
8	G. M. Rodriguez	La cumparsita, arr. Huws Jones, violin melody	The Fiddler Playalong Violin Collection 2 (Boosey & Hawkes) or The Tango Fiddler (Boosey & Hawkes)
9	J. S. Skinner	MacPherson’s Blade	Alastair Hardie’s Compliments to The King (Hardie Press)
10	Trad. Russian	Chubchik, arr. Stephen, with final repeat SOLO	Russian Fiddle Tunes (Schott)
11	African-American Spiritual	Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, arr. Blackwell	Solo Time for Violin, Book 1 (OUP)
12	C. Bohm	Valse Lente, No. 2 from Moments musicaux, Op. 380	Encore Violin, Book 2 (ABRSM)
13	Christopher Norton	King Boogie, No. 6 from The Christopher Norton Concert Collection	The Christopher Norton Concert Collection for Violin (Boosey & Hawkes)

Grade 4 scales and arpeggios

All scales and arpeggios are played from memory.

Keys	Range	Bowing and rhythm
Scales
A-flat, B, C, and E majors; G, B, and C minors, harmonic or melodic at the candidate's choice	2 octaves	Separate bows or slurred, 2 beats to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes or long tonic at the candidate's choice.
Arpeggios
A-flat, B, C, and E majors; G, B, and C minors	2 octaves	Separate bows or slurred, 3 notes to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes.
Dominant sevenths
In the key of C, starting on open G string; in the key of D, starting on bottom A	1 octave	Separate bows, even notes.
Chromatic scales
Starting on A bottom A; starting on E bottom E	1 octave	Separate bows or slurred, 4 notes to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes.

Practical recommendation

Choose one piece with clear structure, one piece that invites a warmer sound, and one piece with character. Grade 4 should show musical growth without asking the student to pretend to be more advanced than they are.

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