Hi does anyone know which pieces are in the 2005-2006 grade 6 book?? I haven't had time to look yet. thanx.

Pieces in the new Selected Exam Pieces 2005-2006, Grade 6 are:

LIST A
John Loeillet Corant: Lesson in E minor, third movement
Thomas Augustine Arne Andante: Sonata No.2 in E minor, first movement
Jan Ladislav Dussek Allegro: Sonata in E flat, Op. 19 No. 6, first movement

LIST B
Frank Bridge Impromptu: Miniature Suite, second movement
Edvard Grieg Einsamer Wanderer, No.2 from Lyrische Stücke Op.43
Enrique Granados Vals poético No.5

LIST C
Brian Bonsor Feelin' Good, No. 3 from Jazzy Piano, Book 2
Norman Dello Joio Prayer of the Matador, No. 2 from Lyric Pieces for the Young
Alexander Tcherepnin Bagatelle No. 9, from Bagatelles, Op. 5

For anyone that doesn't know, all of the new exam pieces are now available from all good music retailers, along with recordings of the entire syllabus on CD. Also useful is Teaching Notes for Piano Exam Pieces which offers tips for all the pieces on the new syllabus.

Enjoy!

Ben Selby
Marketing Manager
ABRSM Publishing

anyone got some favourite pieces yet?!!

list a- i think the Allegro(A3) is fun but very fast!

list b- not sure but maybe B3 Vals Poetico No.5, becuase its short!!!

list c- maybe Bagatelle!

of course ill discuss it with my teacher as she will know what pieces suit my playing and ill find easy !!!!

Lucia- what are your thoughts?!!

Hi Nat

I'm not sure yet I really want to get hold of the CD before I make my choices. I went into a music shop on Saturday but they didn't have any of the CDs but I am going to Oxford on Saturday so will be able to get one there, or I may order from the internet. When it comes to actually choosing the exam pieces I suspect the final choice will probably be my teacher's as she knows what pieces will suit me best. Mind you I notice there is a Chopin prelude on the alternative list which is quite tempting.

yes i think my teacher will have the final choice! im going to try and get the cd in the next week or so, to see how fast some of them go!!

When you have the CD let me know what you think and I will do likewise.

will do! im hopefully getting them this weekend or maybe early next week. i really love A3 but im worried itll be really fast and/or my teacher won't want me to do it!

I've just started work on the new Grade 6 pieces. The pieces i've chosen are:

A3: Allegro
B3: Vals Poetico
C3: Feelin' Good

The first piece I've started work on is the 'Vals Poetico'. It actually suprised me how easy this piece was considering it was Grade 6 standard but nevertheless I think it's a lovely piece. Anybody else working on this piece?

There are some interesting 'other' pieces - the Chopin prelude in B min is very nice and is also slow so you've lots of time to thinjk about it. Lavender fields (from spectrum 3) and I liked the sound of the very last piece on the A list whose name escapes me!!

QUOTE (jkhouse20 @ Jul 27 2004, 06:12 PM)

I've just started work on the new Grade 6 pieces. The pieces i've chosen are: A3: Allegro B3: Vals Poetico C3: Feelin' Good The first piece I've started work on is the 'Vals Poetico'. Anybody else working on this piece?

yes me! i like it,and its quite short compared to A3!!

im not concentrating too much on them as im working for grade 5 and dont want to do too much grade 6 without my teacher. but i like having a go as bit of light relief from grade 5!

FAO 'Clarinetlover'

I just did Grade 5 in the summer term as well as Grade 4 Sax. I did 'Allegro Molto', 'Lied' and 'Bossa Nova'. I did struggle at first with the 'Allegro Molto' with all the fast semiquavers but I think it went reasonably successfully in the exam. I'm still waiting for the result! Have you passed your theory yet for Grade 5? I'm doing this in March - I'm NOT looking foward to it!

QUOTE (jkhouse20 @ Jul 28 2004, 04:10 PM)

I'm still waiting for the result! Have you passed your theory yet for Grade 5? I'm doing this in March - I'm NOT looking foward to it!

yes i passed with distinction! very happy indeed!

im still waiting for my grade 4 piano results.

roughly how fast did you play Allegro Molto?

I played the Allegro Molto at about roughly the speed indicated in the book. It did take me some time to reach this though, but I got their in the end!

the speed in the book is really fast. oh dear im taking the exam in november

I think as long as it sounds convincing you should be OK- it doesn't HAVE to be as fast as in the book- the examiner isn't going to be sitting there with a metronome trying to see exactly what speed you are!!!

Lucia- ive ordered the grade 6 CD as they didnt have it in! typical!

also with the scales. the Cmajor in 3rds scale where yuo use fingers 4 and 2. does your 3rd finger stcik up a bit!? mine does and i feel like a right plonker!

Went to Oxford yesterday and got the CD but haven't had time to listen to it all yet so will come back later with my comments on the pieces.

That C major 3rd scale seems pretty pointless to me, and yes my third finger does stick up a bit. My teacher says that I need to use my wrist almost like a hinge so that my fingers almost "bounce" of the keys (sorry that's the best way to describe it), so the wrist really needs to be relaxed.

Also I think playing the staccato scales in just one hand a bit odd. I would have thought that by the time you get to grade 6 you should be able to play all the scales staccato and legato hands together. I often practice my scales staccato anyway just to make a change. Sometimes I practice them one hand legato and one hand staccato, that makes you think a bit more.

i know what you mean by bouncing off the keys!! i do that but then my hand goes into autopilot and moves really fast and then i end up hitting the wrong notes!yeah let me know what you think of the pieces when youve listened to them!

QUOTE (Lucia @ Aug 1 2004, 11:09 AM)

Sometimes I practice them one hand legato and one hand staccato, that makes you think a bit more.

Something that's even more evil: RH staccato LH legato on the way up, then swap at the top to have LH staccato and RH legato on the way down...

It's good to think of different ways to practice scales otherwise it just gets boring doing the same thing over and over again; but it's quite good fun trying out different things!

QUOTE (AnotherPianist @ Aug 1 2004, 01:54 PM)

Something that's even more evil: RH staccato LH legato on the way up, then swap at the top to have LH staccato and RH legato on the way down...

Hey that's a really good idea I'll have a go at that next time.

Or Russian scales -

Start off with ahnds an ocatve appart, up in parallel motion for two octaves, change direction in left hand and so go into contary mostion for two octaves, then back inward in contrary motion until hands two octaves appart; and then change direction in left hand again to do two octaves in parallel motion to bring you back to the start!!

I got a student to try that today... he's Grade 5 and absolutely hates scales. We both got a laugh out of it, and I think he kind of enjoyed it a lot. Thanks StuMac!

Or you could try Trinity college's scales.... 1st two notes slurred and next 2 notes staccato for every four quaver group. Or play them all in dotted quaver, semiquaver rhythm. Have fun!

QUOTE

Something that's even more evil: RH staccato LH legato on the way up, then swap at the top to have LH staccato and RH legato on the way down...

That's a bit like trying to rub your stomach and pat your head... and then vice versa!!!

Hi,

I really like the 2005-6 grade 6 syllabus. I really think people should give the pieces that are not in the book a chance. I always try my best to show my pupils the other pieces not published in the books. For example, I have a pupil who is hoping to take his grade six, and the pieces we decided upon doing are: A3: Allegro by Dussek, B5: Song without words by Heller, and C5: Lavender's kind of blue by Norton. Other pieces like C6: Lavender Field by Tanaka, and B4: Prelude in b minor by Chopin. At the end of the day, you should choose pieces that you enjoy, but at the same time get a sense of having accomplished something.

QUOTE (ethnomusicologist @ Aug 4 2004, 12:11 AM)

I really like the 2005-6 grade 6 syllabus. I really think people should give the pieces that are not in the book a chance.

the final choice would proabably be my teachers but i do like the A3 -Allegro, at the moment. ive always used pieces in the books and my teacher has never mentioned looking at the alternative list. should i get a few that are not in the book to see what they are like and if i like them show them to my teacher?

Phew I have finally managed to sit down and listen to the CD a couple of times.

List A

My favourite is the Loeillet Corant although I also like the Arne. Not sure about the Allegro it is very fast and also quite a long piece. After having done the Allegro Molto for Grade 5, which I know you are doing Nat, I quite fancy doing a slower piece for list A.

List B

First choice is the Chopin and this is probably the piece I shall learn first. My teacher said that from September I will probably start learning a few of the pieces off the alternative lists and she mentioned this one. I also like the Granados, again another one that my teacher is keen on, and the Grieg. I think the Schutt In the Garden could grow on me. I can not stand the Bridge at all.

List C

My teacher suggested the Bonsor, Feeling Good, particularly as she wouldn't let me do the Bossa Nova for Grade 5, and I think this would be a fun one to do as I haven't really done any jazzy ones before. I also like Prayer of the Matador and Lavender's Kind of Blue.

From the discussion I had with my teacher I think I will probably be playing quite a few of the pieces before the final choice is made. I am assuming that I will be taking the exam in the April/May session next year, although she may be considering the June session I will ask her in September.

I shall listen to the CD alot more before I start again in September as I think some of the other pieces may grow on me.

Have you got your CD yet Nat and where is your piano exam result it certainly seems to be taking its time?

no i havent got my cd yet, and no bloody piano results!!

i neeeeeed them before my hols! lol and i want the cd to take on holiday!

is the Allegro A3 really really fast?

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Aug 4 2004, 11:06 AM)

is the Allegro A3 really really fast?

Yes I think it is but saying that I'm not sure how technically difficult it would be. Looking at it I notice there is a lot of repetition in the left hand on the semi-quaver passages which once you've got the hang of will probably be ok. However have just noticed some octave jumps at bar 69 in the left hand. If though it is not too technically demanding I suppose the speed wouldn't be such an issue. I haven't got my Grade 5 pieces to hand but I seem to recall that the Allegro Molto had a lot of movement in both hands. I'm especially thinking of that bit when you get to the second section.

The Allegro is a nice piece but I do prefer the Corant.

Hi everyone!

I recieved the Grade 6 CD about a week ago from 'Musicroom.com' and I do have to agree it is a good and varied syllabus. The main reason I got the CD was obviously to hear what the pieces in the book sounded like in full, but also to hear the alternative pieces as I never really looked at these in Grades 1 to 5.

I'd say out of List A that I'd probably do the A3: Allegro as all the pieces sounded difficult so there's no easy option really. I think that the Allegro will take some work for anyone doing Grade 6 as it is very fast and technically quite demanding. I think the most difficult would be the opening part (and other sections the same as this) due to the fast semiquavers in the left hand. However, I do think this piece is quite challenging and would be quite satisfiying to play once it can be played well.

In List B I like 'Vals Poetico' but I think I'll choose B4 the Chopin Prelude in B Minor. I really like this piece due the style and the pedalling etc. My teacher had a copy of this piece so it was nice to hear it played live as well.

In List C I like 'Feelin' Good' and 'Lavender's Kind Of Blue', however I'm in a bit of a dilemma about which one to choose. I think that 'Feelin' Good' would be the best one to choose because of the jazzy style in contrast to the Allegro and the Prelude, which both are different styles. This would show the examiner that you can play three different styles of music, as 'Lavender's Kind of Blue' is quite similar in style to the Chopin Prelude.
To be honest I think I'll learn both and just see where I go from there. Even if I don't use one of them in the exam, perhaps I could use another for the AS Music performance?

What does everyone else think?

QUOTE (jkhouse20 @ Aug 4 2004, 01:45 PM)

I'd say out of List A that I'd probably do the A3: Allegro as all the pieces sounded difficult so there's no easy option really. I think that the Allegro will take some work for anyone doing Grade 6 as it is very fast and technically quite demanding. I think the most difficult would be the opening part (and other sections the same as this) due to the fast semiquavers in the left hand. However, I do think this piece is quite challenging and would be quite satisfiying to play once it can be played well.

Oh you think the Allegro is quite technically demanding. I said in my last post I wasn't sure. However, all the pieces must have some technical difficulties that are required for Grade 6 I assume.

im not sure bout the A3 really, yes its fast but i think like you said Lucia, the semiquaver pattern is fairly repetitive and once youve got the hang of it, it will be ok.

i think im definitely going to look at the ones not in the book if i like the sound of them on the cd. thats if i ever get the cd!!

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Aug 4 2004, 01:56 PM)

i think im definitely going to look at the ones not in the book if i like the sound of them on the cd. thats if i ever get the cd!!

Perhaps it will come the same day as your piano results. Then you will have two things to celebrate.

QUOTE (Lucia @ Aug 4 2004, 02:04 PM)

Perhaps it will come the same day as your piano results. Then you will have two things to celebrate.

not too sure about that one!!

i want to relax on the beach listening to Allegro!!

yay woohoo! my music shop rang this morning to say my cd is in! im rushing off to get it tomorrow asap!!

i have the cd!! which is good!

List A

i do quite like the Corant and the Arne is growing on me although ive not played it yet! the Allegro well...............................................!!! i got a few funny looks on the bus on the way home from my music shop coz i was laughin so much everytime i heard Allegro in my walkman. i was laughin coz there is NO WAY im gonig to get it that fast by June! haha i was in hysterics, thinking of me trying to play it at that speed!

List B

like you Lucia i can't stand the Bridge, i think its awful! i like B3 but i havent listened to the alternatives yet. ive been too busy laughing and listening to A3!!!

List C

i love Feeling Good but whether ill be able to play it! i like C3 as well but its quite fast and im not in the mood for fast pieces at the moment. then again Feeling Good is fast but i love it!

i seem to have forgotten the fact that on top of my piano i have a book of Chopin Preludes

so i have the grade 6 one!! i like it!

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Aug 6 2004, 10:33 AM)

i got a few funny looks on the bus on the way home from my music shop coz i was laughin so much everytime i heard Allegro in my walkman. i was laughin coz there is NO WAY im gonig to get it that fast by June! haha i was in hysterics, thinking of me trying to play it at that speed!

LOL I know exactly what you mean.

so what pieces at the moment would you like to do in the exam?

i like the Chopin as its got the words LENTO ASSAI on the top!! a slight relief after hearing Allegro!

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Aug 6 2004, 08:57 PM)

so what pieces at the moment would you like to do in the exam?

I would say at the moment my choices would be the Corant, Chopin and Feeling Good.

ive not really had much of a play with the Corant but after hearing it on the cd i think ill give it a go. especially after hearing the Allegro!

im not totally sure on the others

Really starting to like 'Prayer of the Matador' - fantastic atmosphere, I can really imagine an arogant Matador strutting around when I hear it. Recon I might be able to play it quite well if I keep that image in my mind!!!

lol, i played that today and its ok ish, but it will probably grow on me!

im loving the Corant apart from all the ornaments, they are really getting on my nerves lol!!