I just got hold of a copy of the 2009 grade 8 piano pieces and CD, as I queued to be served , I recognized the lady in front, but couldn't quite put my finger on it. A little later when going through the cd notes, there's a picture of her, Joann McGregor. Anyway. I have noticed that one of the choices in section C is Alligator crawl by Fats waller. what a turn up for the books... Going to start tonight on my first brush through, try and decide which ones for sections A and B. Obviously C is already sorted.
Are there any other adults, starting on the grade 8 road this year ?

Andy

Do you mean you actually saw Joanna MacGregor in person?
Is she as s**y in person as she is in pictures??
Was she also buying the Grade 8 CD???

I was supposed to sit this November with :
- Bach Duetto
- Mozart 309
- Brahms Intermezzo

But, as usual, I am not happy with me Grade A and have been working on Soler as a potential replacement while doing additional remedial Bach work in the Inventions, Fughettas, etc.

One option would be to just take longer and enjoy playing pieces from the new syllabus. I can decide the day of the exam which list I play from then! Unfortunately, however, the new syllabus A list seems to be even more difficult than the current one with no easier outs except for perhaps the Scarlatti sonata.

I too would enjoy playing the Alligator Crawl and am anxious to see the music. Do you need to have a solid, stride-style reach of a 10th to play this?

My ideal 2009-2010 list would be:

- Shostakovich P&F
- Beethoven op 10
- Rachmaninov Moment

Unfortunately, I don't know if I could have these all ready before the next new syllabus comes out.

Part of me wants to just get on with it and take the exam this November.
Another part of me says, if I can't play the Grade 8 music on the list that I most like, then am I really ready to be tested for Grade 8 level??

The first I noticed of her was here dread locks rattling behind me, she's quite a tall lady. and to answer your other question....yes she is...

I was doing the 2007-8 with the Bach Prelude and fugue, Mozart Sonata k332 and Chopin Nocturne. But started a little late , and due to a divorce, and subsequent change of circumstances couldn't spend the time on it. I am now at the position where If I worked solidly until Christmas I may be ready for the last go of the exams early next year, the gamble is if I am not ready I would have to then start on the 2009 pieces 8 months behind. So with that in mind and knowing how my time gets taken away by all manner of other things. I have decided to go for the 2009 pieces from the start.

I think I will go for Bach prelude and Fugue, Mozart sonata and Alligator crawl. (See a pattern here?). The fugue does look interesting, because not only is it the difficulty of sounding the 3 parts. this one is quite quick...

The 10 stretch in alligator crawl is between Eb and Gb left hand. and they both need to be there. I haven't tried doing it as a 3rd instead of a 10th, that may sound acceptable if low enough.

Andy

I'm starting on the Grade 8 road this year after some years off, the new syllabus looks pretty exciting! For me it's:

- Bach Prelude & Fugue
- Hummel Rondo
- Piazzolla - (love this piece!)

Good luck to everyone else starting with it!

I just bought that Hummel piece based on the recording and realized that I also have an amazing recording of it performed by Earl Wild for this 88th birthday concert. What a fun piece! And not played to death with high audience expectations like some of the other List B pieces.

Would be interested in hearing how you are getting your left hand secure in those opening bar patterns that keep coming back...