Hi all,

Do any of you think that every time they change the piano books every year, it gets harder??

Manpreet

no. why do you ask? do you think that they do?

No, I don't think so either.

I have a collection of exam books from a couple of decades ago, and it's interesting to compare the pieces with recent exam lists.

Some of the same pieces appear in current AB books. I think the variety of music is wider these days, but I don't think the standard of the grades has really changed in that time. Group C pieces are a bit more adventurous now, of course.

Maggie

I personall think the level of difficulty in each grade differs. For example ther are 2 Beethoven sonatas in the current Grade 8 syllabus and one is definately harder than the other - for me anyway!

I think that in some ways the idea of level of difficulty is personal.
I remember playing a piece once which I found quite easy but my teacher thought was not.
This is why it is good that there is plenty of choice in exam pieces.

QUOTE

I think that in some ways the idea of level of difficulty is personal.

Yes, it's a good point.

Also, I guess each grade covers a band of difficulty, rather than a thin line, if that makes sense ?

Maggie

I think the standard has increased quite dramatically over the last 10 years. There are more scales the aural tests are more demanding, the exams are longer which suggests there is more work so I think the level is a lot harder. Pieces for grade 8 are generally shorter- you no longer have to play a whole sonata but at the same time they have introduced scales in 3rds and 6ths arpeggios in all different positions etc.

Yeh, i definetly think that the exams are getting harder, but not really in the way of the books getting harder but the examiners being more and more demanding and being MUCH stricter with the marking!! I've spoken to quite a few teachers and people who take the exams and most of them agree!

Personally I feel that the board has up-ed the standards quite a lot reacently!

I agree with Trisha. I did my GII in Novemeber 03 and the examiner was quite strict I thought.

My teacher told me not to panic if I messed up my fingering on my scales - just keep the rhythm going whilst completing it.

Obviously, I was one finger short on a scale (perfect up to the exam, then nerves !)so I just finished it without any disruption.
On my report he had noted that my fingering slipped on the scale and I did lose a mark.

Also on the pitch test, the LCM manual states you can identify the note from the chord played by either top, middle or bottom. D M or S. Or root, 3rd or 5th.

When the examiner played the chord I identified it as 'middle' and the 2nd chord as 'top'
Again on my report he wrote, 'middle instead of 3rd' and 'top instead of 5th'
There were also marks lost there too !

I was very upset to say the least !

I'm just hoping that when I come to take GIII very shortly, it won't be him or someone as strict as that. It's nerve racking as it is without being pulled on minor details.

I can't really tell whether the Board has up-ed the standard of the exam...but I personally feel that Grade 8 is still very tough. I suppose they don't set the last exam that easy afterall. Lol.

The standards have decreased!!! (shock horror)

I have my piano teachers grade 7 pieces from 1967 and one of those pieces was in this years grade 8 syllabus, I know this because one of my friends played it as one of her pieces in her A level music recital. Scandel or what?!

The standards have decreased!!! (shock horror)

I have my piano teachers grade 7 pieces from 1967 and one of those pieces was in this years grade 8 syllabus, I know this because one of my friends played it as one of her pieces in her A level music recital. Scandal or what?!