Hi,

I've recently completed grade 8 and my teacher has retired from teaching so I've been trying to keep up piano for my own personal enjoyment.

Does anyone have any suggestions on good fun pieces to play?
I've already played through some Mozart and Beethoven sonatas.

Thanks

Hi Louisa

Well done on your grade 8! Are you going to find another teacher? Edvard Grieg's 'Melody' is a nice piece of music, and Sonata in F by Scarlatti. Have you heard of them?

Do you play any other instruments?

Joy

Louisa,

I know this sounds weird, but I do enjoy playing through the entire syllabus for the grade. Have you tried Grieg's Sonata in the recent grade 8 syllabus? It's rather challenging, but really satisfying 'cause it sounds really impressive when played.

Sean

QUOTE

I know this sounds weird, but I do enjoy playing through the entire syllabus for the grade.

doesn't sound weird at all, sounds like you just like playing!

Hey, well done on completing grade 8, what a milestone! Do you know your result, when did you do the exam?
Also, do you play other instruments, if so to what standard? How old are you?

On to the pieces: play what you like. Beethoven and Mozart Sonatas are standard rep, and so play on of those if you so wish. Also, I agree that there are other interesting pieces on the grade 8 lists. However, if you want to leave grade 8 behind you, search for something else. Perhaps you could complete the sonata of your B list piece. I really like the Hayn Sonata in C minor, you should listen to that if you don't know it (although I generally don't like Haydn that much). The grieg nocturne in C is around grade 8 standard also and famous. I would recommend sonatas or suites to complete so as to add to your rep list. have fun!

sorry, which pieces did you play in the exam?

Hi again,

I also play the violin, and have recently completed my grade 6 exam.

For my piano exam, I played the Mendelsohn 'Song without Words', a movement of the Mozart's sonata (Bb) and a sonata by Scarlatti.


Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

try completing the mozart if you like it

Debussy's Golliwog's Cakewalk!

It's not hard, but boy it's fun to play!

Listen

Download sheet music

Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag.

Listen

Download Sheet Music

For something a little more 'serious' in mood but brilliantly fun to play because of all of it's themetic changes and moods, Mozarts Fantasy in D minor.

Listen

Download Sheet Music

I love the Mozart D minor Fantasy.
I had that on my programme when I did performance assessment

Debussy Arabesque (esp no 1) is lovely, (I have a feeling I saw it on the G8 list for next year but that's just coincidence.) As well as the sonatas, you could also try some of Mozart's shorter pieces- there's some really dramatic Fantasies. Grieg's Holberg Suite is challenging but fun. Chopin Preludes, and Nocturnes are standard pieces, and there's also his much shorter Waltzes which are really satisfying to play and quite quick to learn. I remember learning Liszt D Flat Concert Study after doing G8- it looks and sounds impressive but much of it isn't as hard as it sounds. There's also 'Rustle of Spring' by Sinding, in similar style.
Well done for passing grade 8!

The maple leaf rag is really good, i luv it. I would recommened u play the flight of the bumble bee, its challenging, but really fun 2 play.

QUOTE

I love the Mozart D minor Fantasy.

I did this for my Grade 6 many years ago. Didn't like it then, not too keen on it now.

It's the way it changes mood so quickly.....you never know where you are

For me that's what makes it 'fun'.

So Louisa, are you going to take up anyone's suggestions? Or still looking?

oooh! Just realised that Louise and Louisa are two different people!

Never mind. My question was for Louisa.

Mozart D minor Fantasy.
does anyone know what grade it is?

QUOTE (Paul G. @ Jul 7 2004, 02:12 PM)

Mozart D minor Fantasy. does anyone know what grade it is?

I think maybe Grade 6/7.

I think I saw it on Grade 7 list on another board.

I did it for Grade 6 ABRSM, but it was a hard one for that grade. Well, hard to play well.

Hi again, I'm still looking at all your suggestions for pieces!

I'd probably want to get a book of pieces so does anyone have any suggestions? Please include approximate prices.

Oh, and I've already played Debussy's Golliwogs cakewalk and Mozarts fantasia in D minor.

I played some jazz music in some of my previous exams and would like to play more of it as well.

Thanks to everyone for their ideas so far