This'll probably start a debate but oh well. I play piano but don't actually do the syllabus tests, and all the people I know who play piano compare with each other based on their syllabus level, so I was wondering what Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C# minor would be leveled as?

I played this just after I took grade 8. I would say it's probably dipABRSM if you make a really good job of it, unlike me

Sorry as I said I don't do the tests so what are dipABRM and LRSM?

DipABRSM and LRSM (or diplomas) are basically the levels above Grade 8. See this page for more details.

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The diploma levels. What you take after grade 8, should you feel the need to put youself through it all again.

So basically your piece is above grade 8.

...providing you play it properly and not just bash the h*ll out of it...

"bashing the h*ll out of it" would have no purpose anyway. Also I was wondering how old are people usually when they are at 8th level, what is a normal age for it?

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Grade 8 just seemed like a good reference point, not a target.

It took me about 8 years to reach grade 8 standard on the piano if that helps. Piano is my first instrument.

I tried to learn it between grades 7 and 8, I could only do the first section, the rest of it was way beyond my ability at that point. I suppose I could just about do it now, given enough time. I'm about DipABRSM level now.

I agree with others that the rach prelude you mentioned is above grade 8. On your question about the 'normal age for grade 8'.. I know that myself and a number of friends who reached grade eight at around ages 16/17 were told we were a bit young to be on grade 8(?!) and most people I know seem to have been around grade 4 or 5 at about fifteen... Its really different for everyone though.. I mean you hear of some who might get grade eight at age eight, and others who may get grade eight at seventy-eight. I should add though that where I come from we dont get music lessons through school, it all has to be sorted out privately so we wouldnt have as easy access to it that most would have in the uk, so that would make a bit of a difference. It generally seems to take about 8 or 9 years from beginner to grade eight for alot of people it seems though, sometimes more, some may take three years to grade one, but then usually a grade a year after that.

By normal age I guess I actually meant normal amount of time. But thanks for being helpful and answering quickly!

I have this in a book called "Intermediate" pieces - good grief!

I'd hate to see what they class as advanced

One of those ones I can "hash" through, but it's a great piece if you play it properly!

Yeah, my copy of it is from a 1940s book of music foolishly labeled "Elementary Piano pieces"

This sounds a bit like the French system. I thought "élémentaire" meant beginners until I discovered that you had "préparatoire 1, préaparatoire 2, débutant 1, and débutant 2," before you got to élémentaire.

I just did it on monday at the age of 16, I'm rather proud of that It varies so much, I would estimate it would take 7-8 years to get there if somebody sat all/most of the grades. I skipped G3 though

Here you can find your piece, if you search for it. You can see the level in the description. In that case it's level 8.