After last years disastrous attempt at grade 8 piano (Trinity), I looked carefully at the criticism sheet, and have applied myself to technique only and scales. It is no longer possible to have lessons with my teacher of many years, as distance makes this impossible, as well as work and children. I'm slowly wending my way through Hanon, and have mastered the scales and arpeggios, and made a start on the technical exercises. What do other pianists , professional or amateur think of the Bela Bartok, Mikrokosmos series, would this be a good series to complement Hanon?
I'm hoping that 12 months of hard technical work, will help with the pieces, there are a couple of JS Bach, and Richard Strauss and also Take the A Train, which looks as if it is possible. Any advice about further technical studies would be great. Thank you, I'm also looking for another teacher, and may have found one.

Some of the Microkosmos pieces in Books 5 and 6 make good technical exercises. Indeed they appear from time to time as Group C pieces. Perhaps he most well known one is 'From the diary of a Fly', also the Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm (Bk 6), and Ostinato (Bk 6).
Not quite so difficult is Merry Andrew (Bk 5)

I think the best thing you can do is to get a really good teacher, so I hope that works out for you. They will be the best person to advise you what you need to work on & how to approach it. I hope the Hanon has helped you, but it is very limited in its approach to technical development. Mikrokosmos is very different & interesting, although it's not so much technical exercises but more musical & rhythmic development.

I have found Joan Last's "Freedom Technique" books to be very good for tackling specific technical difficulties. A good teacher will be able to help you work on the aspects of technique you particularly need (we're all different) & to choose a programme that exploits your strengths rather than exposes your weaknesses.

my problem with finding a teacher is the nature of our area. It is very remote and rural and the nearest teacher who is keen on grade 8 pupils is 50 miles away. I work full time and have 5 children, who all have music lessons, which of course takes priority.
This is not a complaint, just fact, and I'm making the best of it. The Hanon exercises are great, and have already helped with left hand strength and agility. There is so much else around, and it's knowing what to start with that is the problem. I'll have a look at the Joan Last, and maybe then start on the pieces. I suppose even one lesson a month may be achievable and better than nothing. Meanwhile thank you all for your help.

Yes, I did both Hanon (as finger-strengthening exercises) and Bela Bartok as one of the pieces I offered at Grade VIII. In point of fact I opted to continue with both at ATCL level which I did almost seven years ago. Bartok is totally self-indulgent. It's a wonderful tour de force. Probably quite unpalatable for anyone listening to me play it, but my teacher was an absolute devotee and convinced me to offer it as part of my ATCL diploma repertoire. I had scored highly in the ABRSM grade VIII Mikrokosmos piece (can't remember what I got but it must have been nearly full marks as I ended up with a distinction overall). I must admit it went extremely well on the day.

I can't remember what the title of my ATCL Bartok offering was, but it had four movements, two of which were fast and furious and it lasted either four or five minutes. I remember having to time it for the presentation as part of the assessment. My teacher was right. The examiners LOVE it. If you have a balanced programme it goes down well. I offered it alongside a Bach Prelude and Fugue (D minor) together with a romantic piece by Faure, which was not my normal forte, but I just loved it and had to play it. I scraped a pass in the diploma first time, for which I am eternally grateful to my teacher for her advice.

All the best to you,

LR

How about attending a summer school? I appreciate that this may be difficult to organise/finance around family commitments but it might just give you an extra boost, not to mention some 'me-time'. I don't know which are the most suitable (I'm mainly an upper string peri) but have seen lots of fantastic sounding courses in the annual 'Music Teacher' magazine supplement. If your current teacher doesn't have a copy you could try emailing them direct.

Anyone out there on the forums with ideas/experience to suggest?

thank you all very much, I have ordered some of the Bartok,and am considering a summer school, probably when the wee ones are back at school themselves, and into a routine which is Dad friendly!
It's been a revelation to me, how enjoyable technical exercises can be, and that doing scales actually does help, I mean, you know that this is true, because all your teachers tell you that it is so, but it is great to find it out for oneself. (a bit of a confused sentence, sorry.)
Once the technique is a little steadier, I'm approaching the aural questions, which either go very well or do not. I'm embarking upon a Standard Grade listening course and may get to the Higher course, before I sit the piano exam again.
Thank you again, it's good to exchange views and information.

Just looked at your signature - how on earth do you find time for everything, gummidge?

well , I'm certainly not superwoman! For most of the time, music, playing , singing , will involve doing things with the children, and , no , we are not a bunch of madly talented people, just a family that enjoys music on an amateur level, which is great. So any pressure about exams is self inflicted, the children by and large don't do exams, so it's not all as hectic as it looks.
Like most people who try to do several things, you end up being a jack of all trades, and compromising. Certainly my housework is compromised most weeks.
Having a tolerant husband, who thinks that music is important, is an essential in all this, and if he wasn't as patient, none of the above activities would happen. I remember reading that the amateur music scene in the UK is the envy of many other countries, and as a family that is what we do, hence it's not all as pressured and hectic as it may seem.
The piano grade 8 may only be a dream, but it's enjoyable working towards it.

My housework is compromised too and there are only two of us, children having grown up and left home. I really admire anyone with a family managing to fit it all in.

Housework???? What's that?????

*shrug* no idea...