OK, Now I've passed grade 8, what now?

Next piano lesson with teacher not until September, though I do have the Chethams Summer School in August, so here's the plan:

Serious study (i.e. learn);
- 2 Scarlatti Sonatas in G (K259 & K260)
- Szymanowski Etude in B flat minor Op 4, No.3
- A fair selection (if not all) of Schumann's Papillons

Play through as much of the diploma repertoire list as possible (perhaps an hour or two a day on this).

Does this sound reasonable?

Yeah thats OK.
I'd say you should try to seriously learn a complete classical sonata, my choice would be one of the Op10 or Op14 Beethoven ones
I think you would enjoy the Op34 Shostakovich Preludes (some are in DipABRSM syllabus). Theyre generally not as difficult as some of the Shost Op87 P & Fs (eg A Major current syllabus, G Major new syllabus, F Minor, B Major and D Major before) that have been set for Grade 8.
Many of us on here also like the Scriabin Op11 Preludes.

Also, there is still a wealth of valuable and enjoyable repertoire to be had by trawling through old Grade 8 repertoire lists from previous years. Lots of list C pieces in particular make great concert pieces, and the technical challenges between them vary hugely.

You could have a balanced diet, a bit of Grade 8 (supposedly for "easy" quick study!), a range of standard repertoire such as Bach preludes and Fugues, classical sonatas, and loads of Romantic choices, then you could have a "can't possibly play for years yet, but will have on the shelf and just dabble occasionally" piece! My own example of this is Chopin Ballade no 3, I don't care how long it takes, one day I WILL play this.

How about a set of Beethoven Bagatelles, and some Chopin Nocturnes? Papillons is a great idea, you might also want to look at Schumann's Arabesque, not so well known but lovely.

Robodoc,

Well done on passing grade 8, and it's great to see you have already made plans for the next step ... that's what I am aiming to do, with my grade 8 in November.

The Szymanowski Etude in B flat minor is one of my all time favourite pieces, it makes me a bit moist around the eyes... But it looks a beast to play if you have smallish hands.

The Scarlattis should give your fingers a good work out, and the Schumann will too!

Sounds reasonable to me...

Good luck

denmark

How difficult are those Scriabin Preludes? Now I have finished my diploma and have some time on my hands I'd like to learn some Scriabin for the first time. I am currently enjoying mangling the first movement of the 2nd Sonata. Are the Preludes about the same level as that? (Some of the sonatas for example look tremendously challenging!)