Has anyone tried any of the alternative pieces, for the C list, on grade 4 piano? I am really not happy (nor are my pupils) with the C pieces actually in the book.

If it helps, the pieces are:

Trevor Hold - 'A New Dance' from 'Composer's Series 2: Middle Collection for Piano'
Kabalevsky 'Dance: No 27' from '30 Children's Pieces' Op. 27
Alan Haughton 'Baroque and Roll: No. 1' from 'More Rhythm and Rag'

I would be interested to hear if anyone has played these pieces, before having to order the books. They seem quite unusual books, so I'm not sure that the music shop would have them in, to have a look, without me having to order them.

I have copies of the Kabalevsky and Haughton - I'd rate both as well worth looking at.

Haughton is in C major, vivace with lots of semiquaver movement, needing neat fingerwork: about half of it is two-part counterpoint (one part per hand) with a little syncopation eg notes tied across the barline.

The Kabalevsky is in D minor, moderato scherzando, two pages long in 2/4 time with mainly quaver movement.

haven't got the Trevor Hold.

Hope this is enough to give you some idea.

Thanks Maggie. The Haughton sounds nice. What are the rest of the books like?

I did the Kabalevsky for my Grade 4, way back in the 1960s. It's a great piece!

Would you say it's one of these pieces that needs expert attention, I mean when practicing? I ask as the girls who want to chose another one just don't practice much and I'd rather, for their sake, give them something approachable and something that they will able to manage, given their lack of practice.

It's a 'neat and tidy' sort of piece - you need a good staccato and attention to detail. It would sound awful if played sloppily! But if your pupils don't practise much, they're going to have problems in whichever pieces they choose - they do begin to get more demanding at this grade!

Yeah, I know. I have said to them, exactly that. I must admit I have the parents edging them on to practice, so fingers crossed they'll actually get their finger out. They are very keen!

Also, they have got talent, just it's a shame it isn't pushed to to its potential. Their scales are ok, I just need to keep nagging for more practice from them!

The Haughton is a book worth having anyway. Very accessible, nice performance pieces with humour in them and properly in the jazz idiom.

Have fun!

Every piece of music needs expert attention and practise!!!

That sounds the style of music they like really. Sounds like a good book ...



Too right! But it's somtimes worth giving the student a range of pieces to try, and when they find one they really like, they are more likely to practice.

Why not get hold of the CD in order to listen to them all? Mind you, I find that if I lend a CD to pupils to listen to and choose pieces, they tend to go for the ones that are immediately appealing, which they may get sick of quickly; the likes of Bach is often overlooked. YOU decide what their options are, and give them a recording of these options only, then they'll feel as if they've made their own decision.

EDIT - just realised that you're talking about C pieces, so Bach won't be an option anyway! Silly comment! But advice still holds about only letting them hear what you'd contemplate them playing yourself.