One of my pupils is doing G4 piano in 2 weeks and I'd like some ideas as to the best book to get for her afterwards. She's 12 years old and classical is her preferred style. She's good - I predict a merit in her exam - but only tends to work when she likes the piece or there's an exam or concert coming up, which is why I want something that'll motivate her. I thought maybe the "Best of Grade 4" which I've seen online but I don't know if the pieces in it are any good as I haven't see a copy in print. I want something that'll push her gently towards G5 while being enjoyable and not too taxing. Thanks.

I've got a bunch of strong Grade 2s going in for their exams in a couple of weeks and I have been busy thinking ahead for what to give them when they have finished. To move them on and inspire them after the exams I have ordered 'Keynotes' Grade 3-4 pub. Faber and edited by John Lenehan and 'Real Repertoire' Studies Grade 2-4. There are higher grade books in the 'Real Repertoire' series too, both studies and Baroque, Romantic and Classical titles. I think some are Grades 4-6 and others 5-7. I'm not sure if 'Keynotes' goes Grade 5 + but might be worth a look.

I will also use the usual Burgmuller fare, Op100 and 109 when they are more advanced.

Edit: The 'Real' books are also published by Faber and edited by the late Christine Brown.

If you reckon on a merit, I would entertain Grade 5. There is time enough to learn more than 3 entry pieces.

My son took grade 5 last summer and is in no hurry to get to grade 6. He's got two of the real repertoire books: Real Repertoire grades 4-6 and Twentieth Century grades 5-7. Between the two books he has some pieces that really stretch him, and some that he can 'get' pretty much from the first sight-reading, but then spend time polishing and learning by heart to play whenever the urge takes him

Out of curiosity, what sort of pieces are in those two books? I'm thinking about a pupil who's playing Grade 5 level pieces at the moment - I'm not sure whether he'll do Grade 5 or skip to Grade 6, but either way he's going to need a couple of new books fairly soon. (I've googled those two, but can't see anything that tells me what's in them, bah.)

Real repertoire
WALTZ IN A FLAT OP.39 NO.15 BRAHMS, JOHANNES
SOLFEGGIETTO BACH, CARL PHILIPP EMANUEL
TO A WILD ROSE WOODLAND SKETCHES OP.51 MACDOWELL, EDWARD
TWO-PART INVENTION IN F BACH, JOHANN SEBASTIAN
DANCE OF THE ELVES NO.4 FROM LYRIC PIECES OP.12 GRIEG, EDVARD
LE PETIT NEGRE DEBUSSY, CLAUDE
LULLABY PATTEN, JAMES
ALLEGRO SONATA IN C K545 MOZART, WOLFGANG AMADEUS
FAREWELL TO STROMNESS THE YELLOW CAKE REVUE MAXWELL DAVIS, PETER
ROMANCE IN G OP.52 NO.4 HUMMEL, JOHANN NEPOMUK
ALLEGRO SONATA IN G NO.42 HAYDN, FRANZ JOSEPH
FUR ELISE BAGATELLE BEETHOVEN, LUDWIG VAN
ERINNERUNG ALBUM OF THE YOUNG OP.68 SCHUMANN, ROBERT
SCHERZO AQUARELLES OP.19 GADE, NIELS
ALLEGRO CON SPIRITO SONATINA IN D OP.36 NO.6 CLEMENTI, MUZIO
PRELUDE NO.1 IN C 24 PRELUDES AND FUGUES OP.87 SHOSTAKOVICH, DMITRI

20th century
THE SEA IS ANGRY ALWYN, WILLIAM
THE TOP HUMOROUS BAGATELLES OP.11 NIELSEN, CARL
EVENING STAR A LITTLE BOOK OF HOURS SCULTHORPE, PETER
SINGING SUN A LITTLE BOOK OF HOURS SCULTHORPE, PETER
SPARTACUS RED BLUES VINE, CARL
THE BUCCANEER ARNOLD, MALCOLM
PAPRIKAJANCSI BARTOK, BELA
SILENT AND SOFT AND SLOW DESCENDS THE SNOW BENJAMIN, ARTHUR
RUMBA TOCCATA HARVEY, PAUL R.
THE LITTLE JOKE OP.27 NO.9 KABALEVSKY, DMITRY
TOCCATINA REIZENSTEIN, FRANZ
GYMNOPEDIE NO.1 SATIE, ERIK
PRELUDE NO.2 DELIUS, FREDERICK
PRELUDE IN E MINOR OP.11 NO.4 SCRIABIN, ALEXANDER
COME WITH US ON AN OVERGROWN PATH JANACEK, LEOS
PRELUDE IN B OP.2 NO.2 SCRIABIN, ALEXANDER
MELODY IN THE MIST MIKROKOSMOS VOL.4 NO.107 BARTOK, BELA
THE LITTLE SHEPHERD CHILDREN'S CORNER DEBUSSY, CLAUDE
PUERTA DE TIERRA, BOLERO OP.71 NO.5 ALBENIZ, ISAAC

Thanks, I've ordered the Real Repertoire g4-6 from musicroom, it looks good.

This is fabulous - I've just got a new student who wants to get her G5 piano before (hopefully) heading off to music college in the Autumn to study flute.

These books are exactly what she needs to stretch her from G4.