I have a 9 year old pupil who has been with me for a few months now, after beginning lessons with another teacher which didn't work out. Unfortunately, I think history may be repeating itself as she seems to have lost her initial enthusiasm and the amount of time spent practising has deteriorated substantially over the past month or so.

She is approaching Grade One standard and would like to sit her exam but the lack of practise over the past month or so has resulted in her exam preparation (which at the moment only extended to scales and sight reading, no pieces as yet) being neglected. I wouldn't feel happy suggesting she sit an exam any time in the next 6 months as I can't be confident in her determination and discipline.

I'm going to try to reignite the enthusiasm which used to be there by picking out music she is familiar with and songs she likes, such as pop songs or Disney songs. Jingle Bells has proved popular this week. Can anyone suggest a book or books which would be suitable for this standard?

Have you tried Making the Grade and More Making the Grade yet with any of your pupils? There are plenty of interesting arrangements in them.

Yes I'm a big fan of those books, however, the pupil's younger sister has played the preparatory book and I started the elder sister on the Grade One book but she really struggled with it. I'm not keen to give her the preparatory book which little sister has already completed and I don't think there is a More Making the Grade for the preparatory grade...?

Ideally, for a couple of months after Christmas time, we'd spend her lessons concentrating on pieces she knows and enjoys which would reinforce the enjoyment and sense of achievement which comes from playing a musical instrument, at which point hopefully she would be confident enough and focussed enough to try Making the Grade book one again.

What about the Up Grade series. They are popular with lots of students. Some of my students have a book by Louise Chamberlain (sorry, I'll post the name of it when I next see it!) with easy, tuneful and rhythmic pieces in it.

Thanks noodle. I'll go and root around in the local music shop and try to find that series, haven't heard of it before so thanks for bringing it to my attention!

I love the Up Grade books... definitely the one to get hold of if you can... there's some great pieces in there, and they range from jazz, to classical, to modern pieces.

These tunes aren't famous or familiar, but how about "Really Easy Jazzin About" by Pam Wedgwood? They are great fun, catchy and start off very easy.

Yes I use up grade with the kids I teach. For grade1 ish you need Upgrade 0-1 which is either yellow or blue. There are different styles in both books. If you look through you will see which is preferably for your students. Pam is such a wonderful composer !!

I use both of these in tandem with my lot.

Steve

There is a More Making the Grade for Prep grade - I actually find it starts a little harder than the regular Making the grade... It doesn't start in the 'middle c' position for example. For something a little different, the piano time series has a duets with a difference, a jazz and a prehistoric piano time which are all fun.

There's a series of books by Louise Chamberlain called "Step It Up!" 0-1, 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4.

You might like to try What Else Can I Play? - books go from Preparatory to grade 4, and include well known tunes both traditional and modern. The Preparatory book includes Bob the Builder and Southampton, from Titanic. There is also What Jazz abd Blues Can I Play? for grades 1 to 3.

Thank you everyone, plenty of material to investigate now!

Claire...what exam board are you using? Have you tried London College of Music 'Leisure play' syllabus. The pieces are fun to play and may enthuse your pupil into practicing more.
Good luck!

I'm using the ABRSM. I'm reeeeally desperate to give her something which will motivate her to practise as much as she used to and both the pupil and her mother have mentioned that she prefers playing songs she recognises. I'm not sure that giving her something "fun", for example some easy Jazz, would do the trick.

I know a lot of it is down to how I present the music to her but I'm very wary of introducing more music she isn't familiar with in case she just switches off.

I'll have a look in the music shop and make a decision, would really love to try some jazz with her or some other enjoyable easily accessible music. Maybe I should just let her listen to a wide variety of music and see what she thinks, what she enjoys. This is causing me fair bit of stress at the moment!

Hi, I'm new here...

Can anyone help me with grading the Upgrade 0-1 book, for example, what grade would you say "Apple Pie Waltz" is?

Also, what do you give your students who have just taken (and passed) their grade 1 (I'm quite new to teaching). Apart from starting them on their grade 2 scales, what else would you experienced teachers give them? The Upgrade 1 - 2 book seems quite hard...

Many thanks!

Pauline Hall "Piano Time Jazz." I use it with all my pupils who are about to do or have just done G1 and don't want to do the other Piano Time books (a bit dry and classical.) PTJazz 1 starts really easy and goes up to around G2, and PT Jazz 2 is grade 2-3. Hope this helps.

That's great, thanks very much for your advice.

Yes, I think I'd recommend some of the lighter things too.
Thanks to another mention on these forums, I have just got hold of Martha Mier's Jazz Rags and Blues, and one of mine who's just passed grade 1 is enjoying the first of these.

Oxford Piano Time Going Places is another possibility - a good mix of different styles and lots of imagination and humour - quite different from the main tutor books.