Woodwind & Jazz Woodwind

Your performance. Your choice.

Build authentic skills
Develop the woodwind skills that are specific to your instrument and authentic to the performer you want to be.

Explore diverse repertoire
Discover pieces across a variety of styles and genres, and explore the directions you could take with your music-making.

Benefit from industry expertise
Use the syllabus, supporting books and online resources, developed with prominent brass players, to explore our exams and see where they can take you.

We offer woodwind and jazz woodwind exams from Grade 1 to 8. An initial exam (available for flute, clarinet and recorderin the woodwind syllabus) acts as an introduction to the exam system for new performers.

The Woodwind 2017-2022 Syllabus

• Wide range of repertoire featuring a variety of styles and periods, with the option to play an own composition
• Technical work develops a range of instrument-specific skills: as an alternative to scales & arpeggios, at lower grades candidates can opt to play specially-written exercises focusing on specific areas of technique; at higher grades candidates can opt to demonstrate technique through orchestral extracts
• Graded books for flute and clarinet featuring a wide range of accompanied and unaccompanied pieces, with audio demo versions and accompaniments
• A choice of supporting tests, including a unique improvisation option allowing learners to specialise according to their own unique interests and strengths

The Jazz Woodwind 2017-2022 Syllabus

Available for flute, clarinet and saxophone.

• Wide range of repertoire including well-known jazz standards alongside a range of other jazz styles, and offering plenty of opportunities to develop improvisation skills
• Technical work develops a range of jazz-specific skills: scales & arpeggios explore modes, pentatonics, blues and jazz scales, while candidates can alternatively demonstrate technique through exercises or studies
• A choice of supporting tests, including a unique improvisation option allowing learners to specialise according to their own unique interests and strengths

Further information

At the end of the syllabus’ validity a one year overlap arrangement will be in place, during which time candidates may offer pieces and technical work requirements from this syllabus until 31 December 2023. Full details (including our procedures, syllabus requirements, what to expect, and what to bring with you) can be found in our Information & Regulations.