ABRSM Scales

I'm preparing for my ABRSM Grade 8 and was wondering: what scales are most colleges usually keen on? Are there any that you particularly focused on?

Most colleges that require music auditions don't specify which specific scales from the ABRSM syllabus they're most interested in hearing — rather, they typically ask applicants to prepare all major, minor (both melodic and harmonic), chromatic scales and arpeggios, as well as dominant and diminished 7ths. That's because scales are fundamental to music theory and playing them demonstrates a student's technical proficiency and knowledge of key structure.

Each college might have their own specific expectations about the level of difficulty and performance style, but the Grade 8 level of ABRSM should provide a solid basis for any audition.

One piece of advice: practice your scales with varying articulations and dynamics since it doesn't just show technical skills but also artistic sensitivity. For example, practicing scales with dynamics such as crescendo and decrescendo can demonstrate your ability to control your instrument and also adds a level of musicality.

And remember, for any audition, it's not just about playing the notes precisely, but also about demonstrating tone quality, phrasing, intonation, and musicality.