Is anyone teaching 'The Mad Professor' from the TG syllabus? One of my pupils is about to be entered for Grade One and she learnt this piece almost by herself in a couple of weeks.

Just a small query please - is the repeat (indicated at the end) of the whole piece required before doing the DaCapo back again to FINE at bar 8? Just wondering because the tempo of the piece is so fast.

My pupil performed it for my Piano Party without the repeat - straight through to the end and then the DC back to end at the FINE. Is that correct without any other repeats first? I will see a copy of the music again on Tuesday but thought I'd ask now while I'm thinking about it.

Many thanks

I had one do this in the first session and as far as I remember he just did the da capo - not the whole repeat. (I don't have my own copy of this to hand either!)

Thanks Dulciana It does say in the syllabus regs not to do repeats in general but this one seemed as though it might be important to the overall structure - I'll ignore it then.

I'll ask you another question if that's okay because this is the first time I've used TG (since amalgamated). My pupil has chosen Minuet in F as well as the 'Mad' piece and as she wants to do the exam before the summer SATS at school I'm wondering what to choose for her third piece - to learn quickly as she has still got to practise the exercises. I gave her a copy of 'Creepy Crawlies' (which I think is GREAT!) over the holiday to try out 'Damsel in Distress' - the notes look dead easy (but I can see will need some control to manage well). Do you think that makes a balanced programme or should I teach her Study In A minor by Muller - for example?

I am so used to AB and LCM I'm finding the 'open-ended' approach of TG something of a challenge

Thanks again

If you want to go for an easy option , what about Flatfoot March? It's very repetitive and your pupil will do well if she's able to really exaggerate the LH accents cos that's what makes the 'marcher' sound flat-footed. I wouldn't worry about a balanced programme - it's a free choice, so just do what you both fancy. The Bach Aria isn't as easy as it looks for a Grade 1 to play, so I'd avoid that if you want something to learn quickly - unless you've got a good sight-reader. There's a temptation to rush the quavers in the Study in A minor, too, and to over-stress the third LH note in each bar, as it's a thumb note - but not much can go wrong with Flatfoot March - except that you might get sick of it! I'm not very familiar with the alternative pieces for Grade 1, I'm afraid, as everybody so far has been happy with what's in the book!

Yes - there is a very good selection of fun pieces to choose from. I'll have a look at Flatfoot when I see the book again. I don't know why it says 'to form a balanced programme' as well! Especially at Grade One level! I won't take too much notice then as it does say 'freely chosen' - thanks for clarifying. Can't wait to start teaching again tomorrow!!

That was actually asked at an information day that I went to when the syllabus first came out, and they said it was okay to pick whatever you wanted.

I don't know whay it mentions a balanced programme at all as there is no place in the mark scheme to give credit for this.