I have been teaching a pupil who has managed to pass two Grade 7 practical exams (piano with me) this session as well as taking A levels. I think he has done amazingly well. However, he is a very ambitious and quite headstrong young person and now needs to take a step back to reflect and make some improvements at a Grade 7 level before moving on. He is going to university and expects to continue piano with a new teacher. I was wondering if I could help out with ideas for new repertoire and ways to improve practice before he goes (without making him feel deflated). It might make him feel more confident if he has some idea of where to focus his playing. He needs to develop sight-reading skills and attention to detail. He seems to like all styles of music but is especially at home with jazz and blues.

Any ideas would be very welcome - thanks

If this student is going to start lessons with a new teacher in September, I wouldn't bother to make a list of suggestions to the student now unless I know the new teacher personally.

If this student is still taking lessons with you for the rest of the summer, I would give him a piece or two at a time. I would choose works by composers that he hadn't played. I would make sure that the pieces represent different stylistic periods and address specific weaknesses in his playing.

For jazz-inspired pieces, you could look at Copland's Four Piano Blues, Three Moods (the last movement is set for Grade 8 in the 2007-08 syllabus); and the second piece from Gershwin's Three Preludes.

Thanks for your reply organ dummy. I am unfamiliar with the repertoire you mention so I will enjoy looking those up. I think you're right about tackling one thing/piece at a time - which is how my pupil prefers to work. We had to spend so much time on the scales for Grade 7 we really didn't have enough time to put a real polish on the pieces, which was a shame because he liked the pieces and he wasn't able to give of his best on the day. At least he passed a difficult and advanced exam. I guess I am going to have to let him go and hope he gets on okay with a new teacher

Well if he's ambitious and quite headstrong, I shouldn't worry too much that he will become discouraged by your advice. Straight talking is probably just what he needs, the same boyo!

LR

He had some gentle straight talking to before the exam about being more thorough in practising. Any worries I always referred back to the parents as they have been incredibly supportive. Nominated for my *Parents of the Year Award* I was glad though that the examiner wrote some very good formative comments which I agreed with and more or less echoed what I said to the pupil in the lessons. I think the exam was a very useful learning curve for him (and for me too)