Probably getting a little ahead of myself here, but I've got my grade 6 practical coming up in a couple of weeks, and I'm already looking forward to being able to try out some new pieces without feeling guilty about not doing exam prep!

I do however have a bad habit of picking pieces that are far too difficult, meaning I get fed up with them before I really get anywhere.

Can anyone recommend me some good pieces that sit around the grade 6 / grade 7 standard? As I'm going to do grade 6 theory before grade 7 practical, I've got some time to get stuck in, and my teacher has already told me we will be working on some studies in the interim.

For reference, I'm more into romantic era piano than classical or baroque, and I've always wanted to be able to play more Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninov, Grieg etc., but it always seems a little too much of a stretch.

Thanks in advance!

I think I used "More Romantic Pieces" around that time - it was a green book (or was it turqoise?) Book 4?

More Romantic Pieces Book 5 is Grade 7 standard

OK , a few ideas - some more Grade 6 but mainly Grade 7, and mainly Romantic.

Grieg Butterfly (Lyric Pieces Op 43 No 1) (quite tricky for Grade 7 but two different Boards have used it)
Mendelssohn Song without words in F#minor Gondola Song
Ilynsky Berceuse
Granados Some of the 'Valse Poeticos'
Chopin Mazurka in G Minor Op67 No 2. or Waltzes in A minor or B Minor. Various other Mazurkas.
Ravel Valses Nobles et Sentimentales No 5 or Minuet sur le nom 'Haydn'
Schumann 'Die Abends' from Fantasiestuecke, or quite a few of Kinderscenen (eg 'Traumerei')
Scriabin The easier preludes from Op11 eg No 2,4,5,15,21

Debussy? I did Grade 6 in the summer and have since been playing Arabesque No.1, The little shepherd, Le Petit Negre, La fille aux cheveux de lin and Clair de Lune. I managed them but I learn pieces quite fast (and then taks ages to get them to a really good standard!) so I don't know what level other people would put those at.

Burgmuller studies, maybe? I did one for grade 6, and I think their mostly about grade 6 or 7 standard. They're all very nice, though some of them are probably a bit advanced.

Also maybe some of Chopin's easier stuff? I've played a couple of easier waltzes and mazurkas by him in the last couple of years.

Well Arabesque 1 has often been set as Grade 8, and Clair de Lune is about the same. But 'La fille' is a good suggestion.

I had forgotten Schubert . The Allegretto in C Minor D915 is 6/7. You might also manage the easiest of the 8 Impromptus , the one in A flat, it's th second one of one of the sets of four but I can't remember which.
Another idea is the Nocturne from Borodins Petite Suite


Oh and the 2 Scherzi by Schubert . Daughter did the B flat one for Grade 6

All fine suggestions.

I was recently given a book of Liszt called 'Easy Piano Pieces and Dances' (published by Barenreiter - BA6577) - a student had bought it thinking it was easy..... but the title must be read in the context of most of Liszt's piano music, which is impossibly difficult.....!

The pieces are very attractive though, and range in difficulty from about Grade 5 to 8. The book includes the lovely Consolations no's 1 & 2, besides lots of lesser known works by the great pianist.

Thoroughly recommended for someone at Grade 6 -7 level, wishing to expand their Romantic repertoire.

denmark

Excellent!

There's some great suggestions here, many thanks!

I'll get shopping just as soon as I get through the exam

Two weeks to go.... eek.