My nephew, who lives many miles from me, is playing TheSnowdrop and Wonderful Tonight. He is apparently really struggling with both these pieces.

Are they tricky to play and are there ones that are slightly easier for a 13 year old boy?

Snowdrop is fairly straightforward, I think, but Mozzie from List C is IMO easier than Wonderful Tonight - and I would think Mozzie would go down a treat with a 13-year-old!

I agree - Mozzie is probably easier and more likely to be popular with a 13 year-old. It needs a good sense of beat and rhythm and quite strong playing but it's fun and upbeat whereas Wonderful tonight is a more lyrical, touchy-feely piece with quite big stretches.

Similarly, First Snowdrop is quite straightforward but also a slow, 'touch' piece - needs a nice legato, good phrasing etc. My pupils of that age far prefered the Mazurka which is lively and dancey and not too tricky to get to grips with.

I have to say I played Mozzie but then decided I wanted to play Wonderful Tonight. Yes Wonderful tonight was in my opinion harder and it took me a lot longer to get that to the standard of Mozzie, but now learning grade 3 pieces is a lot easier in my opinion. Also wonderful tonight is a lovely tune. Although if your nephew is struggling then maybe Mozzie would be a good idea as its really catchy and fun to play!

Never played snowdrop but Mazurka was great fun and not too hard to play

I don't know though i'm 16 so maybe my thoughts are different
What does your nephew want to play?
If he really hates the pieces then it is likely he will find them harder. Although if he wants to play Wonderful Tonight and Snowdrop then mabe if he works hard he could do it.
I found learning wonderful tonight in stages was easiest. Mostly spending hours playing the left hand over and over on its own

Good luck

I didn't like the grade 2 arrangement of "Wonderful Tonight". I thought it sounded too sparse.

Grade 3 has a much more enjoyable selection of pieces, and it makes sense that you will learn pieces that you like much quicker

I'm doing wonderful tonight for my exam in a couple of weeks time. I definitely found it to be the hardest of the grade 2 pieces in the book.

I did my grade 2 in June (when I was 14 ) and I really did not like Mozzie at all.
I played wonderful tonight (despite having never heard the original song) and I didn't find it too difficult. I think the problem with wonderful tonight for most people is just the left hand which has so many notes tied over each other.

Thankyou. All these comments have been really helpful. I shall pass all the information on to his Mum.

It all depends on the pupil but two of mine are doing 'Valse Triste' for List B and two are doing 'The First Snowdrop' although I do have to remind one of them to make sure it doesn't sound like 'The First Thistle' - in other words it does need a lovely touch on those repeated RH notes.

For List C I have a mixed bag. One older teenage pupil is going 'Wonderful Tonight', two are going for 'Reviewing the Situation' which would be a good choice for a young lad I think, and one very talented girl is playing 'Tango fur Elise'.

I'm an adult learner and doing Wonderful tonight. I'm enjoying it but finding the syncopation tricky - I have been learning it for quite a while but still find I go astray in the middle section if I don't keep counting the beats consciously to myself - normally, even if I need to do that to start with, once I get the hang of something I can dispense with counting, but not with this one!

I'm also learning Allegro grazioso which I find much easier just to hit the right notes but it sounds very plonk-y in my rendition (and is about half the suggested speed!). Also having a 'mare over bars 21 - 24 as I keep changing my mind about the RH fingering .. indecision, indecision ...

From list B I'm thinking of choosing First Snowdrop as it looks straightforward so hopefully I can concentrate on the sound and not worry about the notes too much - famous last words?

PatC

Out of 4 pupils (3 boys and one girl) all have chosen the 'Mazurka' over 'The First Snowdrop'. I like the Snowdrop piece myself, and don't think it is technically any harder than the Mazurka. However it perhaps needs more musical maturity.

All the boys have chosen 'Mozzie' but my girl immediately went for 'Wonderful Tonight'. She learned it relatively quickly and absolutely loves it - I think mum and dad have the original version in the house.

As for that 'Whistling Tune'.......................

they could be done under trade descriptions.... I can't find a tune in it anywhere :-)

I really like the Whistling Tune - there's something a bit spikey and Kabalevsky about it.

BUT I've done a big sales pitch on it to all my pupils and not a single one has taken me up on it so, despite my best efforts, Mozzie wins hands down.

N.B. The Tango for Elise is a great piece, dramatic and well written - one pupil loved playing it (her name was Elise so maybe that helped!). The rhythm is not easy but it's a good piece for pushing yourself a bit out of your comfort zone.