Hi,

I planned to take DipABRSM Piano performance and I am not sure on the written submission and viva part. Just wonder whether I should write on something about the repertoire I am going to perform ?? If so, I have no idea where to start. I am working on below pieces, hence would really need some suggestions and comment.

1) Prelude and Fugue in D Major (Book 1)-JS Bach
2) Pathetique Op. 8-Beethoven
3) any suggestion
4) any suggestion

I have a very light fingers and used to play popular songs and I only got 110 in Grade 8 piano.

Regards,
Heaven

The syllabus is a good place to start. It has plenty of guidance on what to write in your program notes.

It is available here: http://www.abrsm.org/resources/performanceComplete.pdf

As for your program, you have already chosen a piece from the Baroque and a Classical sonata, so something Romantic (Chopin, Schumann etc.) and something from the early 20th century or later (Debussy, Ravel, Prokofiev, Messiaen etc.) would tick all the boxes (4 completely different periods and styles).

Personally I would not dream of attempting a diploma until I could play many more pieces to the right standard than just the bare minimum of 3 or 4 that are needed for the exam recital.

Mark on grade 8 is irrelevant. There is a lot of new ground to cover between Grade 8 and a first diploma.

Heaven meant Sonata NUMBER 8. We all know that it is Op. 13. An easy slip to make.

Yes, but the sort of thing that needs to be checked and re-checked in one's Programme Notes.

heaven, Mad Tom has given great advice (as always). I can't add much more, except to remember that DipABRSM is much more than a Grade IX - it's a professional qualification, so you need to be playing at a far higher standard than Grade VIII. I did my Grade VIII this time last year, and whilst I'm sure that my playing has improved since then, I'm certainly in no hurry to sit DipABRSM.

The other point is a general one - make sure that you have read, re-read, understood and are familiar with all aspects of the syllabus, and if in doubt, ask the AB. They've always been very helpful when I've needed to contact them

Thanks everyone, and sorry for my mistake. It should be Pathetique Op. 13 no 8.

I think maybe Mad Tom is right. I could have play many more pieces to the right standard first, because that will helps me on my sight reading as well. And it will eventually helps to develop my confidence and stamina in the examination. Thanks for your advice.

I also believe that there is a lot of new ground to cover between Grade 8 and a first diploma. But most of the teachers will only help you on the 4 pieces for the diploma exam. And I think teachers nowadays (I mean in Malaysia) are mostly not professional. Some don't even secure you with a pass in the examination. I am trying to work out everything on my own starting from the playing techniques. If I would just follow the instruction from the score e.g pp, mf, cresc. &etc...Will it be sufficient ?

Heaven