Last updated on
ABRSM Violin Grade 6 Syllabus 2026: Repertoire and Scales
The 2026 ABRSM Violin Grade 6 syllabus: repertoire list and scale requirements, with practical notes for choosing an upper-grade exam programme.
ABRSM Violin Grade 6 is the first upper-grade violin exam. The repertoire becomes more exposed, and the candidate needs stronger shifting, clearer articulation, better projection, and enough stamina to sustain a whole musical argument.
The 2026 guide below follows the official ABRSM Violin Practical Grades syllabus from 2024, which remains the current syllabus for this repertoire. ABRSM also requires the Grade 5 theory/practical musicianship/jazz prerequisite, or an accepted alternative, for entry.
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 6 difficulty summary
Grade 6 is the first upper-grade step. Students need longer concentration, more reliable shifting, and a programme that sounds chosen rather than assembled.
Practical Grade 6 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 6 programme
Avoid choosing the most brilliant-looking piece unless the student can keep pitch, rhythm, and character together. A poised Baroque or Classical choice, a sincere lyrical work, and a vivid but controlled List C piece often make a stronger programme than three ambitious pieces that never fully settle.
Grade 6 repertoire: List A
| No. | Composer | Piece | Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bonporti | Giga, 3rd movt from Invention in B-flat, Op. 10 No. 5 | Violin Exam Pieces from 2024, Grade 6 (ABRSM) |
| 2 | Vivaldi | Allegro, 2nd movt from Sonata in G minor, RV 28 | Violin Exam Pieces from 2024, Grade 6 (ABRSM) |
| 3 | Bizet | Toreador Song, from Carmen, arr. Blackwell | Violin Exam Pieces from 2024, Grade 6 (ABRSM) |
| 4 | J. S. Bach | Auch mit gedampften, schwachen Stimmen, from Cantata, BWV 36, arr. K. & D. Blackwell | Bach for Violin (OUP) |
| 5 | Beethoven | Andante and Variations 1 and 6, from Andante and Variations, WoO 44b, arr. Isserlis | Beethoven: Andante con variazioni, for Violin (Faber) |
| 6 | Corelli | Allegro, 4th movt from Sonata in C, Op. 5 No. 3 | Corelli: Violin Sonatas, Op. 5, Vol. 1 (Wiener Urtext) or Corelli: 12 Sonatas, Op. 5, Vol. 1 (Schott) |
| 7 | Geminiani | Affettuoso and Allegro, 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata in C, Op. 4 No. 3 | Italian Violin Music of the Baroque Period, Vol. 1 (Henle) |
| 8 | J. Stamitz | Minuetto-Minore-Altro, 3rd movt from Sonata in D, Op. 6 No. 5 | Bohemian Violin Sonatas, Vol. 1 (Henle) |
| 9 | Telemann | Adagio and Allegro assai, 1st and 2nd movts from Sonatina in A, TWV 41:A2 | Telemann: Six Sonatinas (Amadeus) or Violinissimo: Concertino (Schott) |
| 10 | Vivaldi | Preludio and Allemanda, 1st and 2nd movts from Sonata in B-flat, Op. 5 No. 3, RV 33 | Vivaldi: Four Sonatas, Op. 5 Nos. 1-4 (European Music Archive) |
| 11 | Foulis | Allegro, 1st movt from Sonata No. 3 in E | Foulis: Six Sonatas for Violin (Hardie Press) |
| 12 | Gretry | Tambourin | Suzuki Violin School, Vol. 8 (Alfred) |
| 13 | F. M. Veracini | Giga, 3rd movt from Sonata Accademica in E minor, Op. 2 No. 8 | F. M. Veracini: Sonata Accademica in E minor (Peters) |
Grade 6 repertoire: List B
| No. | Composer | Piece | Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burleigh | Andante, No. 1 from Southland Sketches; mute optional | Violin Exam Pieces from 2024, Grade 6 (ABRSM) |
| 2 | Elgar | Chanson de nuit, Op. 15 No. 1 | Violin Exam Pieces from 2024, Grade 6 (ABRSM) |
| 3 | Pejacevic | Romance | Violin Exam Pieces from 2024, Grade 6 (ABRSM) |
| 4 | L. Boulanger | Nocturne | Encore Violin, Book 3 (ABRSM) |
| 5 | C. A. Gibbs | The Silent Pool, No. 3 from Three Pieces for Violin | C. A. Gibbs: The Silent Pool (Chester) |
| 6 | Nigel Hess | Theme, from Ladies in Lavender | Nigel Hess: Theme from Ladies in Lavender for Violin (Faber) |
| 7 | Kreisler | Andantino in the Style of Martini | Kreisler: Andantino in the Style of Martini (Schott) |
| 8 | Shostakovich | Romanze in D, arr. Fortunatov | No. 7 from Shostakovich: Albumstucke (Peters or Sikorski) |
| 9 | Tacchinardi | Romance, No. 11 from Dodici miniature | Tacchinardi: Dodici miniature, Book 2 (Dohr) |
| 10 | Mel Bonis | Andante religioso, No. 1 from Trois pieces | Mel Bonis: 3 Pieces for Violin (Lemoine) |
| 11 | Debussy | En bateau, No. 1 from Petite Suite, trans. Choisnel; mute optional | Debussy: En bateau for Violin (Durand) |
| 12 | Mozart | Andante, from Piano Sonata in C, K. 545, arr. Blackwell | Solo Time for Violin, Book 2 (OUP) |
| 13 | Pergolesi | Arietta | Singing Violin, Vol. 3 (PWM) |
Grade 6 repertoire: List C
| No. | Composer | Piece | Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marga Richter | Moderato, No. 1 from Three Pieces | Violin Exam Pieces from 2024, Grade 6 (ABRSM) |
| 2 | J. S. Skinner | The Deil amang the Tailors | Violin Exam Pieces from 2024, Grade 6 (ABRSM) |
| 3 | Trott | In a Spanish Garden | Violin Exam Pieces from 2024, Grade 6 (ABRSM) |
| 4 | C. Bohm | Bolero, No. 9 from Albumblatter | C. Bohm: Bolero (Simrock) or Encore Violin, Book 3 (ABRSM) |
| 5 | Szelenyi | Youngsters’ Dance, No. 19 from 24 Easy Little Concert Pieces | Encore Violin, Book 3 (ABRSM) or Szelenyi: 24 Easy Little Concert Pieces, Vol. 2 (EMB Zenemukiado) |
| 6 | Mistowski | Hornpipe | Mistowski: Hornpipe (Chester) |
| 7 | Nolck | Hungarian Dance, Op. 196 No. 5 | Sheila M. Nelson’s Romantic Violinist (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 8 | Rieding | Allegro, 3rd movt from Concertino in G, Op. 24 | Rieding: Concertino in G, Op. 24 (Bosworth) |
| 9 | Trad. Russian | Black Eyes, arr. Waterfield | Gypsy Jazz: Intermediate Level (Faber) |
| 10 | Pauline Viardot | Berceuse, No. 3 from Six morceaux | Pauline Viardot: Six morceaux (Hildegard) |
| 11 | Barns | Canzonetta | Barns: Selected Short Pieces (Sleepy Puppy Press) |
| 12 | Christopher Norton | Cycling, arr. Jennings | Christopher Norton: Microjazz Expansions for Violin (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 13 | Bright Sheng | Dream Song, No. 1 from Three Fantasies | Bright Sheng: Three Fantasies (Hal Leonard-Schirmer) |
Grade 6 scales and arpeggios
All scales and arpeggios are played from memory.
| Keys | Range | Bowing and rhythm |
|---|---|---|
| Scales | ||
| C, E-flat, and F-sharp majors and minors, minors harmonic and melodic | 2 octaves | Separate bows or slurred, 7 notes to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes or long tonic at the candidate's choice. |
| G and B-flat majors and minors, minors harmonic and melodic | 3 octaves | Separate bows or slurred, 7 notes to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes or long tonic at the candidate's choice. |
| Arpeggios | ||
| C, E-flat, and F-sharp majors and minors | 2 octaves | Separate bows or slurred, 6 notes to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes. |
| G and B-flat majors and minors | 3 octaves | Separate bows or slurred, 3 notes to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes. |
| Dominant sevenths | ||
| In the keys of C, E-flat, and F | 2 octaves | Separate bows or slurred, 4 notes to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes. |
| Diminished sevenths | ||
| Starting on G, B-flat, and C | 2 octaves | Separate bows or slurred, 4 notes to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes. |
| Chromatic scales | ||
| Starting on G, B-flat, and C | 2 octaves | Separate bows or slurred, 6 notes to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes. |
| Double-stop scale in broken steps | ||
| In sixths, in B-flat major | 1 octave | See page 16 of the official syllabus. |
Practical recommendation
At Grade 6, choose a programme that sounds intentionally balanced. One technically assertive piece is enough if the other choices give the student room to show line, colour, and control.
For the broader level-by-level view, return to the ABRSM violin repertoire by grade guide.
