I am thinking of taking ATCL for the piano, partly to give myself a goal to work towards, but also a substitute for Grade 8 which I never finished due to boredom - I'm fed up with scales, arpeggios, this in minor thirds, blah, blah, blah not to mention the restrictive and uninventive repertoire lists that the ABRSM come out with year after year.

I understand from reading here, and on the various music board websites, that the standard of playing required is "well above" that of Grade 8.

On the other hand I've just had a look at Trinity's Grade 8, and it certainly seems to be full of much less "crud" than the ABRSM one.

Any thoughts or suggestions are most welcome.

I wouldn't dismiss a syllabus where I could choose from J. S. Bach, Handel, Shostakovich, Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, John Ireland, Brahms and Scriabin as "crud"

Any diploma is always going to be far more demanding than a Grade VIII; even if the pieces aren't technically much harder, the standard expected will be! If you think you're well beyond Grade VIII standard then sit ATCL, although I'm reliably informed it isn't a walk in the park.

Do grade 8 with Trinity?

Good thinking Gungerdin!

I mean crud as in the eighty-five different variations of minor scales that ABRSM want, which I am most definitely bored of learning.

As for the repertoire, don't forget that it's 2 or 3 maximum out of those composers you've listed and a lot of the time the pieces neither suit nor excite me enough to fit the requisite practice into my schedule.

God knows whether I'm beyond G8 standard, only two ways to find out I suppose

You can also try the TG certificate (used to be called performer's certificate, but I think it has recently been renamed - not sure what, advanced certificate?), which is between grade 8 and ATCL. There is no technical requirement - just pieces.

Thought: I guess this means I like and am happy with 'crud'

Thanks, which board/entity offers the TG Certificate?

TG is an abbreviation for Trinity Guildhall.

<scales fall from eyes>

On the subject of TG, they seem a bit slow to send out the certificate.

I took the exam in July and have still nothing to show for it apart from a letter.

E-mails fly back and forth (mostly just acknowledgements) but apart from an inkling that there was a problem with the calligrapher, and I should definitely receive my stiffgit by the end of October, there has been no satisfactory response.

Haven't heard any other moans on this subject here or on the TG forum so maybe I have just been unlucky.

Mel

I did my ATCL in June two years ago, and got the certificate at the end of November or beginning of December(problem with the embossing machine that time), but the upside was that the results came very quickly, within about three or four weeks - and the grade exam results were even quicker, within the week. I also rather like my ATCL certificate: it's not very floridly decorated, a bit bigger than the grade 8 one, and the calligraphy on it is very well done.

As far as the OP goes - if you're well up on the repertoire, go for it, if less sure, you'd be better doing a grade 8 first, and with Trinity, again, you have alternative options to the tedium of scales - I'm glad I did grade 8 before attempting ATCL. If nothing else, there's rather less money involved, but also since ATCL is a considerable hike up in level from grade 8, you'd be slightly better placed to get an idea of the level you might need to reach to get the diploma.

Yes, I agree with that.

All these composers are on the trinity G8 syllbus (except Shostakovich, brahms and scriabin), as well as Mendelssohn, Shumann, Grieg, Elgar, Liszt, Debussy, Joplin, Bartok, and a few others.

Although, ABRSM has beethoven's sonata in C minor, which i am trying to learn outside my lessons, because i love it so much!