What do you think of the new grade 7 book? Teachers or pupils.
I loved the green book, so many lovely pieces, but I struggle with even one to like in the new book. What do you think?

That doesn't seem to be just grade 7, I think its the same across the grades, as I said on another thread I think its a conspiracy to make us spend more money on the alternative pieces.

Maybe the AB are trying to 'educate' us to like the sort of pieces we 'should' i.e. the ones that no one else likes ! I'm sure there were quite a few more composers that I've heard of last time than there are this time!

Odd!

My son is preparing for grade 7 and we all thought what a great set of pieces they are! Spoilt for choice!

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I think its a conspiracy to make us spend more money on the alternative pieces

I quite agree!

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I'm sure there were quite a few more composers that I've heard of last time than there are this time

And in grade 8, why put all the Debussy and Chopin as alternative pieces?

I hate all the Grade 7 pieces. A few of them sound absolutely terrible and I can't understand why people would enjoy playing them but I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I eventually chose which ones to do but I am so bored with them that I have hardly practised. I can play my first piece but the other two have hardly been touched. What happened to a bit of variety?? It's all classical classical classical.

Dear All,

I am also getting ready for my grade 7 exam. My first piece (A:1) is 'Allegro' by Handel. The second (B:2) is 'Chanson de L'escarpolette' by Grovlez and the third is one of the alternative pieces - 'Carousel' by Sylvie Bodorova.

Although I am getting stuck in to all 3 peices, I am not overly keen on them and I too am disapppionted that they haven't included a Jazzy piece for good measure.

I plan to take the grade 7 exam March 2005 and so I will hopefully be going for the grade 8 after that and from what I can already see, I am not going to be overly keen on the grade 8 pieces either!

Shelton

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I eventually chose which ones to do but I am so bored with them that I have hardly practised

Is it just me, but this isn't what music should be about.

The other option is to have a bit of an exam break, do other stuff make sure you're still working on scales, aural etc and go straight to grade 8

I know I've done that with my students before, I didn't like the G2 pieces and on the whole neither did those who really couldn't choose we spent a while focusing on other things, did local festivals to keep the motivation going then did G3 after the usual length of time. Bit different at the higher level though.

They don't seem to be as musical as the green book pieces I thought. When does the next one come out?!

I am doing A2 - Presto, B2 - Chanson de l'escarpolette and the alternative piece Carousel so pretty much the same as you Shelton. Haven't practised much lately though - have been very bad!! Have been doing boogie woogie stuff which is a lot more fun!!

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They don't seem to be as musical as the green book pieces I thought. When does the next one come out

August 2006 - 22 months to go - Hooray

seems like not many people like the new grade 7 syllabus! great1 im supposed to be doing it in june, but i want to play nice pieces!

MusicMad-Banana,

What do you think of the alternative piece - Carousel? I get the impression that in the exam they will mark it quite harshly since it is not too difficult a piece to play. Apart from it being loud, I find it quite easy. If I didn't know what grade it was, I would have guessed it to be around grade 4-5.

I also like Boogie-Woogie. In fact, I am considering doing the Rockschool grade 8 exam in the future since one of the pieces is boogie.

Take care,

Shelton