Well, I've been reading a few threads of people taking exams on here such as sarah, and have been inspired to have a go!
I've recently finished my flute lessons (leaving for uni soon!) but would like to carry on playing, I thought maybe an exam would be quite good for me...I have only done grade 1 about 3 years ago and I think it would help my confidence to have some 'official' feedback and also something to aim towards.
Soo..I was supposed to be working towards grade 7 for last easter, but my piano recital sort of put paid to that! I'm a bit reluctant to go straight in at grade 7 being as though I will be doing it alone this time, thinking of doing grade 6 or maybe 5.
Does anyone have any suggestions for nice pieces? I've learnt plenty for grade 5, but missing a list A piece for grade 6 (I think...I have the madrigal, reverie and plenty of studies, I think they are B & C). If there are any good compilation books with pieces in I would be grateful to know, money is going to be a bit tight at the moment with uni and everything, so the cheaper I can do it the better!
Thank you & well done to those of you who have just done your exams!
hoxie
xxx

Go for it!!!!

I'm sorry I can't help you much but I love the G6 piece called (I think) Fudge Fandango!?

Fudge Fandango is G4 - well on the AB lists anyway. Haven't seen it on TG.

Are we talking AB?

G5:

List A: Personally I like the Handel, the Grieg, Dove Sono... the Gluck is pretty but suffers from being overplayed...
List B: Tico Tico is fun but fiddly on the fingers... Siesta is lovely... the Kershaw is IMO really nice... the Berkeley is a bit odd but pretty in a weird way... the Faure is like the Gluck - pretty but a bit overplayed the Kelly Whistling Song is not too taxing though not that exciting.
List C: the Damase is OK, the Nicholson is pretty but in 4 flats. Personally I could take or leave either of the 76 graded studies ones! The Rae seems popular though I didn't think much of it.

I eventually went for Dove Sono, Siesta, and the Damase.

G6:

List A: I like the JS Bach - pretty and not too hard. The Gluck I am told is lovely though I've yet to try it. The Handel is nice, not very thrilling but OK. The Hummel is supposed to be nice, I can't afford it at the moment!!
List B: The only one I really don't like is the Kronke!! Favourites are the Busser, the Gaubert, the RR Bennett... The Rutter is pretty but IMO gets dullllllll if you have to practise it a lot. The Godard can be quite pretty. But it's a nice list IMO
List C: I could recommend the Kohler, Stokes or Telemann from here - all good in their different ways! Telemann 2 Baroque movements, some room for making them your own given that it's a Fantasia... the Stokes is IMO pretty tricky but also quite a lot of fun. The Kohler has a middle section which I'm still not convinced I've nailed, but it's really pretty and worth learning!

I haven't summoned up the guts for this exam yet...! And have no idea which ones I'd choose as there's a lot that I like.

Don't know if this helps at all

No it does help thank you! I will look up the list A pieces tommorrow and play on musicroom to see how many I can get in one book! I have the Caplet [EDIT: reverie not madrigal!] for B which is very pretty and also the Aubert one which took a while to get used to but I quite like now! I was a bit stuck for list C - too many to choose from! The Telemann ones were a possibility, but couldn't decide between these and the Adieu (apart from I don't like the middle section!!) and then there were the 76 graded studies ones... hehehe oh well, will just have to learn them all! Thanks for the suggestions, they really help! I see these big long lists and miss my teacher even more...she was brilliant at knowing pieces I would like playing!

I assume you're planning to take the exam fairly soon, c c. The last time you'll be able to use the current syllabus is Spring 2008.

I would recommend the Handel Sonata from List A (for once I disagree with Sarah!). The Handel sonatas are terrific value for money, and well worth getting. The Gaubert Madrigal is the most popular piece from List B, and I really like the Stokes from List C although the dynamics are challenging!

Have fun making up your mind.

Ooh yes I hadn't thought about that . I'm told the new syllabi are coming out as of next week - so you will be able to have a look at those, too, CC!

I was thinking of aiming for christmas, but it could be easter so I will have to bear that in mind!
Thanks for the suggestions too I will have a look at the Handel sonatas as well!


Yay! Will keep an eye open for them!
xxx

EDIT: currently looks like the Bach or Handel for list A - I can afford to buy one of them and pieces from the same books are currently appearing in the higher grades. Will have to wait until the new syllabus comes out and look at what is on the grade 7 list for that to see if I can do 2 list A's in one go :s
Thanks everyone for the advice it has really helped!

Grade 5:
I did the Beethoven for list A and it was great fun to play.
Faure for list B (I know it's used a lot, but I wanted to do it) and Harris for list C.

Grade 6:
There's a couple of list A pieces in Baroque Flute Pieces Book IV - I chose the CPE Bach.
Gaubert for list B (similar kinda feel to Faure).
There are 3 list C ones in 76 Graded Studies Book 2.

Good luck and have fun with it. :-)

So long ago, but for grade 5 flute I did Handel Sonata in F, Faure, Harris study,
Graded 6 I did Prelude from mSuite antique, Handel sonata in A minor, Telemann fantasia.
Grade 7 Vivaldi concerto in D (FAB!), Ravel - Piece en forme de Habanera and Another fantasia by Telemann

Hmmm. I think I play to much Baroque music!!