Sliding changes with global appeal

Educator, Dr. Richard Jones, takes a look at the new Associated Board trombone syllabus.

In 2017, the new ABRSM Trombone Syllabus will see significant changes that may demonstrate a more global appeal to its entrants. As with the updates to the institution’s Trumpet Syllabus, there are at least five changes within each of the lists from Grade 1 through to Grade 8, and these certainly show a tendency towards more popular styles of repertoire and musical genres than the concerto or classical styles expected.

In the lower grades, we have the retention of popular books such as the Time Pieces for Trombone (Harris and Miller) and Winner Scores All (Lawrence), whilst seeing the omission of the Supplementary Studies for Trombone by both Endresen and Gregson. Surprisingly, the accessible and popular Easy Jazz ‘Tudes (Nightingale) has also been changed, but this has been offset by the inclusion of the composer’s Jazz@Etudes, Dance To The Beat Of The World (Mckenzie) and Tons of Tunes from the Classics (Adam and Hannickel). In addition to these, we have the inclusion of the Shining Brass series of books (ABRSM), which include a number of graded pieces within one publication.

Within the grade 4-5 brackets, we continue to see substantive changes to repertoire, significantly to the ‘List C’ category (informally seen as the studies section), where 30 Modern Studies for Trombone (Hudson) and again the Endreson publication are omitted. In their place, amongst other books, are Music Makes the World Go Around (McKenzie) and JazzFX for Trombone (Gale), the latter bridging back to the lower grades as well. In both list ‘A’ and ‘B’, there is a definite divergence of musical styles with the inclusion of The Victorian Trombone (Wills) and the increasingly popular Utlimate Movie Instrumental Solos for Trombone (Galliford, Neuburg and Edmonson).

Whilst grades 6-8 on the trumpet offer a nod to the brass band movement, the Trombone Syllabus explores different directions. In grades 6-7 we note the omission of the Trombone Concertino (Jacob) and Concert Variations (Lusher), and observe a clearly defined ‘orchestral’ ‘List A’ and ‘modern ‘List ‘B’ (with a few exceptions). Grade 8 does not have this definition. but has a refreshingly new feel to it, as it does throughout the grade syllabus.

Check out the syllabus online: www.abrsm.org/brass