2-year syllabus Options

[porilo]

Just wondering whether I am the only person who wishes that the piano syllabus would last for longer than 2 years. All the other instrumental syllabi last for much longer, some even for 6 years!! Why do they have to change the piano syllabus every 2 years, making everyone buy new books and learn new pieces? Is it just a money-making exercise or are there other hidden reasons?

[Czerny]

But presumably the pupils would be learning new pieces in any case, as they'd be progressing up the grades. It's only the teachers who have to do this and, personally, I don't find it that onerous. Besides, I don't think I could put up with Creepy Crawly or Bah-ba-doo bah for more than a couple of years...

I think the reason the syllabus lasts longer for most other instruments is that there simply isn't as much repertoire to choose from.

[sbhoa]

But presumably the pupils would be learning new pieces in any case, as they'd be progressing up the grades. It's only the teachers who have to do this and, personally, I don't find it that onerous. Besides, I don't think I could put up with Creepy Crawly or Bah-ba-doo bah for more than a couple of years...

I think the reason the syllabus lasts longer for most other instruments is that there simply isn't as much repertoire to choose from.

And there are far more piano exams taken than most other instruments.

[europeanpianist]

If I pass my grade 1 exam in March, so I start on the 2 book. If I take my grade 2 next March then Will I have to get the new 2 book for the exam? "It,s all very confusing".

[porilo]

If I pass my grade 1 exam in March, so I start on the 2 book. If I take my grade 2 next March then Will I have to get the new 2 book for the exam? "It,s all very confusing".

It depends when you take the exam next year. The pieces in the current books are valid for 2011-2012, but also include exam period A in 2013 so I think you should be fine. Otherwise if you are taking your exam after period A then you will need to use the new books for 2013-2014, which I think will be available in August.

[dolce@piano]

If I pass my grade 1 exam in March, so I start on the 2 book. If I take my grade 2 next March then Will I have to get the new 2 book for the exam? "It,s all very confusing".

If you live in Europe and you are taking your G2 in March 2013 then you can still use the 2012 G2 book.

(In France, I can use the old books for a full year after they've 'expired', i.e. the 2011/2012 ones are valid for all three 2013 sessions).

But presumably you won't be buying the G2 book straight after passing your G1 exam in March 2012 ?

I mean, it's not a good idea (at all!!!) to spend one year working on the exam pieces.

So, if you're thinking of taking your next exam in March 2013, buy the new book in August or September 2012 when it comes out.

If your teacher has a second-hand copy of the 2011/2012 syllabus to lend you, you can use that in 2013 no problem (although check with your ABRS rep all the same).

[owainsutton]

Besides, I don't think I could put up with Creepy Crawly or Bah-ba-doo bah for more than a couple of years...

I think the reason the syllabus lasts longer for most other instruments is that there simply isn't as much repertoire to choose from.

I was going to make these points. I guess strings have the most material after piano, hence the four-year syllabus. That's certainly long enough, I was so relieved to see the back of Through My Window last term, and that was actually a decent piece!

It's easy to be cynical and say it's a money-making exercise, but that leads to the opposite question, as a two-year violin syllabus would sell even more books...

[andante_in_c]

It's easy to be cynical and say it's a money-making exercise, but that leads to the opposite question, as a two-year violin syllabus would sell even more books...

It's also worth noting that the woodwind syllabus only increased to six years after the board began publishing the flute and clarinet books - they were four-year syllabuses before.

[owainsutton]

It's also worth noting that the woodwind syllabus only increased to six years after the board began publishing the flute and clarinet books - they were four-year syllabuses before.

This would fit with the economics of how big the print runs must be to have specially-edited collections at what is, after all, not all that great a cost for individual books.

[oldromola]

porilo you are lucky then you weren't around in the days when the piano syllabus was changed annually. As a teacher I think a change every second year is just about right and I can't wait until July!

[maggiemay]

porilo you are lucky then you weren't around in the days when the piano syllabus was changed annually. As a teacher I think a change every second year is just about right and I can't wait until July!

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I'm usually pretty well bored with the grade pieces by the second year - especially the lower grades that usually more people are doing.

[ViolinClarinetQueen]

porilo you are lucky then you weren't around in the days when the piano syllabus was changed annually. As a teacher I think a change every second year is just about right and I can't wait until July!

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I'm usually pretty well bored with the grade pieces by the second year - especially the lower grades that usually more people are doing.

I would think that the examiners will be bored too! Since there are more piano students, especially in the lower grades, listening to similar pieces for two whole days must be boring!

[porilo]

I don't think I would be bored if I were an examiner. After all, every performance is different and no two students play the same piece in exactly the same way. My feeling is that every 2 years we as teachers have to learn new pieces so that we can teach them to our students. I certainly do not teach anything unless I have thoroughly learnt it myself. Sometimes it takes several weeks to learn a piece properly, especially at the higher grades.

[Czerny]

Why would a music teacher not want to learn new pieces of music? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) Personally I find it quite exciting when the new syllabus is released.

[porilo]

Why would a music teacher not want to learn new pieces of music? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) Personally I find it quite exciting when the new syllabus is released.

Er ...... I think you've misunderstood what I wrote. Of course I enjoy learning new pieces of music, but it takes time which I find I don't always have. If I can learn something which I can use for the next 5 or 6 years, rather than just 2 years, then why not? Maybe that sounds lazy but there are only so many hours in day which I have free for my own study and learning, so economy of time is essential. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)