Hi all, I'm working towards my RCM performance diploma and have an hour to perform my program which I am trying to select. Is it okay to have one of my six pieces (The Beethoven) take up 30 minutes? Or is that really poorly laid out? Second question. The hardest piece I've played so far is Beethoven's Pathetique - first two movements, for my grade 10 exam. I'm I dreaming to master the Appassionata for my next exam? Should I take smaller bites, or do you think it would be managable. Thanks for your help guys.

To your first question, sure, have a "big work" - I think you'll find some remarks in other posts about this being a fairly standard way to programme a concert! It's the flashy, crowd pleasing number people come to hear, and then you pad it out with shorter, worthy pieces that they'd never dream of listening to normally

To your second question - afraid you're the one who knows your limits. Not quite sure what your six are (sorry, presume they're in another post somewhere that I've not looked up). But If you've already got a chunk of Beethoven, you don't need the Appassionata too. On the other hand, if the Appassionata is to be your 30 minutes' worth, why not stretch yourself? You can take it small bites and learn a movement (or even sections of a movement) at a go. Without knowing when you're planning to do the exam can't really say whether you're being courageous or foolhardy...

I don't know what my other pieces will be yet either, actually. I was starting by picking my classical piece as it is worth the most percentage of my grade. The others will be a Baroque, Romantic, Early twentieth century, and late, and a concert etude which will probably be Romantic era. I will start preparing for this in June, and will hopefully do it a year and a half to two years later.

My teacher just called me, so I asked her about it. She said she thinks it's rather long, but will "think about it." She always says that! Her exam took her 45 minutes. (I have maximum and hour, but not longer) She did the Moonlight sonata, but I think it's too overplayed to be a safe choice. What do you guys think?

Most people here tend to agree that picking one of the well-known sonatas can be a bad idea, as it is hard to perform an original interpretation of such a famous piece. However, if you honestly think you can pull it off in your own style, then go for it.

IMO The Moonlight, Pathetique and Appassionata Sonatas should be taken off the Syllabus!

Well.............I think we've decided on learning the Moonlight and learning it very, very, well. My teacher thinks we have the best chance with this because she played it for her exam, and thus, knows it inside out and backwards. Plus, I'm not a virtuoso, so it seems managable compared to alot of them. Sorry, Irish Loony

Hey it's your choice, No one can stop you!

The only thing I would mention is the fact that the last movement IS fast and difficult. Some of the lesser known sonatas are absolute gems - it is a crying shame that they tend to get ignored - and IMO just as good as the Moonlight, and not without difficulty, but not necessarily the speed of the last movement. But as IL says it is your choice.