I have always wondered how many people have choosen the alternative pieces to those set in the graded books.

How many of you have played none of the set pieces in the book? and chosen all 3 pieces from the alternative lists.

Do you think the examiners like a change......

This is a question mainly for those who play the violin/piano with the set grade books.

Son chose only one of the pieces for Grade V from the set book. ...pity, since I had to order the other music separately from the UK.

As for whether or not the examiners like a change, I'm guessing that the examiner will be a pianist and not a violinist. So perhaps *any* violin piece will be a change from piano...

Son did choose Joplin's Paragon Rag from the set book, but I wondered privately why such a very "piano-y" piece was chosen for violin?? Never mind, he's having a good time with it.

It was a narrow escape though...for the longest time, he planned to play the Kabalevsky piece from the alternate list. The Joplin won out because he's never had the chance to play a jazzy piece before, but yes, nearly ended up with all 3 pieces from the alternative list, and an untouched set book.

I also choose two of the alternatives pieces for my grade 7 piano exam next year.

I just feel that we will have to find the piece that suit us the most.

By the way, this is the first time, I'm choosing alternative pieces.

I posted a thread on this a while ago, you could try searching for it if you're interested. I'm using an alternative list C piece for grade 4 this year although this is the first alternative piece I have used (I played pieces within the set books for grades 1, 2 and 3). Usually I will look for something I like in the set book first, it's there and convenient and I can easily see the choice; but if there isn't one in the book that seems like I would enjoy playing it then I would look at the alternatives.

i chose an alternative piece for my grade 5 piano exam for next year

i chose the Kuhlau sonatina, allegro con spirito

but for section B and C, i will probably choose the ones form the book

I very often have students choose the alternative pieces for violin because I have them choose pieces by listerning to the CD that demonstrates all the pieces rather than looking at the music.

I enjoy the variety that this gives and I think the examiners probably do too.......I know I'll be glad to see the back of the Clog Dance for Grade 1 violin when the pieces change next year!!

It does mean the parents have to buy more music but I convince them that little Jonny will play better if he has chosen his own pieces ("gives him ownership" I think is the right jargon)

The set books are pretty variable - next year's grade 1 piano looks dire whereas the grade 2 has some great pieces. I positively encourage my pupils to use the alternative pieces if I know the piece or like the composer - there is some music tucked away if you look, and I'm sure the examiners (and us teachers) appreciate a bit of variety. I have got six pupils taking exams this time around and there are 4 pieces between the lot of them which are not in the set books.

I think examiners must enjoy a variety when offered but they are trained to sit through days of the same pieces again, and again and again.

Every examiner must play the piano (couldn't give the Aural if not) but they are not all first study pianists. The last examiner my pupils had was a first study singer and the one before that a violinist. I guess they just get used to listening musically to whatever comes their way.

I acted as steward once in my local centre and where I sat you could hear a little from the exam room. After one day of Grade 1 clarinet pupils all from the same teacher and all playing the same pieces, my admiration for examiners rose greatly. I could walk away if I wanted to but they couldn't. 25 candidates in the day - I was at screaming point by the end but the examiner left the room at the end of the day still smiling and saying she had enjoyed herself.

I choose my candidates' pieces based on what is best for them. Because Oboe music requires the purchase of three books (usually) to get the syllabus covered, I have never really seen alternatives in the Piano syllabus as something to be considered after the rest in "the book" have been gone through. If one of the six options in any one list would be the best for a pupil (and, equally important, they like it to) we do it. That said, I do try to then use the additional book after the exam so parents don't feel they're wasting money on music for exams only.

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I choose my candidates' pieces based on what is best for them. ......... If one of the six options in any one list would be the best for a pupil (and, equally important, they like it to) we do it. That said, I do try to then use the additional book after the exam so parents don't feel they're wasting money on music for exams only.

Agree wholeheartedly. It's important to play to each student's strengths.

And there are usually a few good pieces in the extra book - even if we don't wade through the lot!

Maggie