Hello all

I've returned to the piano after 20 years and have recently started taking lessons. I'm planning to do my grade 8 next year, but before I tackle that, I've been playing pieces similiar to that level. I've been learning a Mozart and a Bach piece. My teacher has asked me next to choose a couple of short pieces from the romantic, french impressionist or modern era, or maybe some Jazz.

So where do I start? There is so much to choose from I don't know really where to begin! Especially finding something short (he did say a page long).

Does anyone have any suggestions? Grade 8 level is not so key, the main thing is I think my teacher is more interested in how I play and interpret this syle of music rather than how difficult it is. But obviously it can't be grade 3!

Looking forward to hearing suggestions....

Zoe

Hi Zoe

Scriabin preludes opus 11, perhaps no. 9 and 10 and 15 (all 1 page long). late romantic. 15 is rather easy, it is all about touch and interpretation. The others are probably g7-8.

Lizst: Consolation no. 1 (1 page) or Klavierstuck in A flat (1 page) (currently in grade 6 syllabus)

Prokofiev: One of the visions fugitives, 16 and 8 are not fast, really beautiful and short, (2 pages or less)

Satie: Gnossienne no. 4 (2 pages, little more difficult than the first 3).

Debussy. Arabesque No 1 or 'Reverie'
Ravel. Minuet from 'Le Tombeau de Couperin'
Schumann. Arabesque Op 20
Chopin. Nocturne No 19 in E minor - see thread running on this
Scriabin as already suggested , but I like Op 11 No2 (Gr7)
Grieg. Lyric Pieces. Eg Butterfly, Nocturne (last yr Gr8)

One of the shorter Debussy preludes -

eg La Fille aux cheveux de lin

or Danseuses de Delphes

(from memory two sides each).

Szymanowski, Prelude in Db op1 no 3 (about grade 7, one page).

Some modern ones which are quite fun and not too long (about 2 pages, I think):

Bartok - Mikrokosmos 6 (e.g. Dances on Bulgarian Rhythm, Ostinato)
Shostakovich - 3 Fantastic Dances