Started back on piano lessons in Sep 07 after a long break. Finished up around grade 5/6 nearly 20 years ago. So far, have done grade 1 and grade 2 jazz (spring and summer terms) 'just to get back into it'. I'm really keen to pursue the jazz side of things, but I don't feel I'm ready to do grade 3 jazz yet. My teacher suggested I try an easy classical grade 2 or 3 to get back into the classical side/build up my skills alongside my jazz playing. Initially, I wasn't keen and fancied a term working on repertoire, but then I bought the new grade 3 classical pieces just out of interest...and I love them! I've already picked out the three I'd like to do and feel they are well within my capability. I feel I could have a really good bash at learning them over the summer and work on interpretation etc in the autumn with my teacher.

Just wondering if I would be mad to suggest going in for classical grade 3 at Christmas, meaning I'd have done an exam every term for a year. I'm very goal-orientated and thrive having something to work towards, but I don't want to repeat the patterns of my youth. As a child, I had a teacher who literally put me in for grade after grade - had no repertoire to speak of. That said, I feel sure I've played more pieces in the last year than I played in my whole piano career as a child...

Just a word of caution - if you are talking about the very new pieces (dark blue book) you won't be able to use them before 2009.

It sounds like you are working through material of this level easily. Why not ask your teacher to give you a dummy exam on Grade 3 pieces etc., and think about taking a higher Grade next year?

So don't! There, that was easy

Seriously, just because you start something, doesn't mean you have to go on that way. Just because you might take an exam every term this year, it doesn't mean you have to do the same next year. You wouldn't have to take another exam again if you didn't want to!

It's like, a couple of years ago, I bought a TV series on DVD - series 1 of this particular programme. I was really torn about it, because this particular programme ran for something like 13 series. Then I realised that by buying series 1, I wasn't actually committing myself to buying series 2-13. I could stop whenever I liked

Duh...just realised. Yes! So I will have to wait until Easter. That's answered my question. Back to Plan A. Probably best to forget them for the moment. Have heard teachers saying not to touch exam pieces until the term of the exam. Is that right? Or maybe work on them and do what andante suggests.

I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea to start working on the scales though? I've already started on the grade 3 jazz scales, so it's just a case of learning the pieces when the time comes. See, I'm raring to go!!

I guess what I was really getting at was - is there anything 'bad' about doing an exam a term (not forever, just sometimes!) Maizie - you are so right. I have this vague idea I'd like to work around a grade a year, the theory being grade 8 standard by the time I'm 40. As I say, I'm very goal motivated. Because I am desperate to do everything/play everything at once, I need to think like this in order to pace myself and not get disheartened when my progress is slower than I'd like...but I know the dangers of getting on the exam treadmill, so I guess it's a fine balance.

Apart from limited repertoire (and possibly technique?), I'd think there's nothing really "bad" about doing an exam per term. But why the rush? A goal doesn't always have to be an exam. If you prefer to work towards something, what about performance? Forum concerts are great, or maybe playing to friends/family at Christmas/New Year, or maybe your teacher's students' concert, if there's one.

Why don't you just start on the pieces now and see how you feel? You never know, after a while you may decide to explore more classical pieces rather than focusing on preparing for the next exams (jazz or classical), or discover you aren't that keen on classical after all and decide to go broaden your jazz repertoire instead.

I don't think that there's anything wrong with doing an exam a term, thgough it can be quite draining mentally.

I did grade 8 violin in december, Grade 8 theory in february and grade 8 piano this term, which makes 3 grade 8's in a row. It's been hard work (especially alongside As's) but definately worth it. I'm also goal orientated, whether it be an exam or a concert to work for and the exams really motivated me to practice and to improve.
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