Full Version: Graded Pianoforte Studies
Has anyone come across the ABRSM Graded Pianoforte Studies. There are two series, with a book for each grade (starting from preliminary to grade 8 I think). They deal with such matters as finger control, ease in turning the forearm, trills, evenness in touch, accompanying a melody and tons and tons of other things. Please can you tell me what you think of this series of books. Thank you.
QUOTE(Melody Amour @ Jul 27 2008, 11:20 PM) 
Has anyone come across the ABRSM Graded Pianoforte Studies. There are two series, with a book for each grade (starting from preliminary to grade 8 I think). They deal with such matters as finger control, ease in turning the forearm, trills, evenness in touch, accompanying a melody and tons and tons of other things. Please can you tell me what you think of this series of books. Thank you.
I have got them, but must admit that most of my students are not keen. They much prefer studies like the Burgmuller ones.
As a teacher, I have found the ABRSM Graded Pianoforte Series are probably too old fashioned for most younger students nowadays, but as a performer, I find the Grade 6, 7 & 8 books useful to keep MY technique up to scratch... 
QUOTE(jenny @ Jul 28 2008, 09:17 AM)
QUOTE(Melody Amour @ Jul 27 2008, 11:20 PM)
Has anyone come across the ABRSM Graded Pianoforte Studies. There are two series, with a book for each grade (starting from preliminary to grade 8 I think). They deal with such matters as finger control, ease in turning the forearm, trills, evenness in touch, accompanying a melody and tons and tons of other things. Please can you tell me what you think of this series of books. Thank you.
I have got them, but must admit that most of my students are not keen. They much prefer studies like the Burgmuller ones.
I don't teach, but I have seen these books, and I too prefer the etudes of the 19th century masters. Burgmuller, Czerny and Bertini are just three names that come to mind for the lower grades. From grade 5 upwards selections from Czerny's School of Velocity and Art of Finger Dexterity, Clementi's Gradus ad Parnassum, and the Cramer-Bulow etudes are still brilliant material for learning specific techniques in relative isolation. Probably some of Moszkowskis Op 72 could be useful at Grades 7 and 8
QUOTE(Mad Tom @ Jul 28 2008, 09:59 AM)
QUOTE(jenny @ Jul 28 2008, 09:17 AM)
QUOTE(Melody Amour @ Jul 27 2008, 11:20 PM)
Has anyone come across the ABRSM Graded Pianoforte Studies. There are two series, with a book for each grade (starting from preliminary to grade 8 I think). They deal with such matters as finger control, ease in turning the forearm, trills, evenness in touch, accompanying a melody and tons and tons of other things. Please can you tell me what you think of this series of books. Thank you.
I have got them, but must admit that most of my students are not keen. They much prefer studies like the Burgmuller ones.
I don't teach, but I have seen these books, and I too prefer the etudes of the 19th century masters. Burgmuller, Czerny and Bertini are just three names that come to mind for the lower grades. From grade 5 upwards selections from Czerny's School of Velocity and Art of Finger Dexterity, Clementi's Gradus ad Parnassum, and the Cramer-Bulow etudes are still brilliant material for learning specific techniques in relative isolation. Probably some of Moszkowskis Op 72 could be useful at Grades 7 and 8
But these studies seem to consist mainly of the C 19th etudes, in anthology form. Are you saying that you prefer to stick to progressing through one system, and that it's not useful to mix and match them?
QUOTE(dolcebaby @ Jul 28 2008, 05:33 PM)
QUOTE(Mad Tom @ Jul 28 2008, 09:59 AM)
QUOTE(jenny @ Jul 28 2008, 09:17 AM)
QUOTE(Melody Amour @ Jul 27 2008, 11:20 PM)
Has anyone come across the ABRSM Graded Pianoforte Studies. There are two series, with a book for each grade (starting from preliminary to grade 8 I think). They deal with such matters as finger control, ease in turning the forearm, trills, evenness in touch, accompanying a melody and tons and tons of other things. Please can you tell me what you think of this series of books. Thank you.
I have got them, but must admit that most of my students are not keen. They much prefer studies like the Burgmuller ones.
I don't teach, but I have seen these books, and I too prefer the etudes of the 19th century masters. Burgmuller, Czerny and Bertini are just three names that come to mind for the lower grades. From grade 5 upwards selections from Czerny's School of Velocity and Art of Finger Dexterity, Clementi's Gradus ad Parnassum, and the Cramer-Bulow etudes are still brilliant material for learning specific techniques in relative isolation. Probably some of Moszkowskis Op 72 could be useful at Grades 7 and 8
But these studies seem to consist mainly of the C 19th etudes, in anthology form. Are you saying that you prefer to stick to progressing through one system, and that it's not useful to mix and match them?
No - I mean that the collections have few of my favourites in them - so I'd rather have the originals - and a wider choice. I have the same problem with anthologies of pieces. I end up not ploaying 80% of them, and of the 20% I do play I end up buying th entire original work anyway.
It is useful too, to see how any particular study fits into the original composers scheme. It is the same with chess - I'd rather study say Alekhines or Fischer's own selection of their games, than some lesser players anthology. Or philosophy. Don't read selections from (insert name of favourite Philosopher) - read their original works.
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