I have 2 very bright, talented piano pupils who are both aged 10 and have passed Grade 3 with Distinction.
They are both keenly working on Grade 4 scales and sight reading (as well as theory work ) and have started to look at the new Grade 4 pieces. However, they know that I won't be rushing them into the exam and will want to work on lots of other material in the meantime.
Both are enjoying the Gillock/Czerny book very much and are hoping I can find them other books that are as challenging and enjoyable.
Any suggestions?
Could someone also remind me what the book with favourite/popular exam pieces is called? Thanks

I like the Gillock/Czerny book too. Michael Aaron's grade 4 book is also one of my favourites. Personally I don't get my pupils to do every exam one by one. I normally do grades 1, 3, 5 and 8, with either grade 6 or 7 (depending on the pupil) as a "bridge" between 5 and 8. Obviously we still work through grades 2 and 4 but don't bother with the exam as each one costs money which I feel is unnecessary when the levels of some grades are so close together. I can't remember the last time I entered anyone for an actual grade 4 exam.

They're obviously very capable, so how about a few of the Beethoven Op.119 Bagatelles? I tried some of these shortly after passing Grade 3 and loved them.

James Hook Sonatinas opus 12? some of the individual movements are around grades 3-4.

There's good mileage too, as quite a few are harder than this.

I liked the Upgrade Books and have done a few pieces from the Grade 3-4 book. Also the Pam Wedgewood Jazzin Around books are great aswell as the pieces are really nice.

The Schott "Piano Pictures" series have gone down well with some of my pupils - beautiful illustrations and attractive books with themes like animals or ghosts and ghouls, with 'proper' piano repertoire.

I've also recently discovered the Alfred series - "The Baroque Spirit", "The Classical Spirit", "The Romantic Spirit" etc - they have lots of background information about the different eras - possibly better for slightly older children, but a bright 10 year old might like them. Again, lots of standard repertoire around the grade 4 ish level.

I was interested in this since I did Grade 3 last summer (as an adult learner). About the Gillock/Czerny book, which I understand consists of exercises and pieces, would that be complementary to something like Dozen a Day (which I currently use), or instead?

I'm also looking for interesting sightreading material. So far I've used the two Classics to Moderns series for this (in my case, book 2), also Romantic Sketchbook, Piano Time Classics and Piano Time Opera. I was wondering about the Making the Grade Beginners Programme, the Big Book of Beginners Piano Classics, or the Afred Romantic/Classical etc Spirit (l liked the idea of additional info in the latter, as I am musically pretty ignorant, even though I did Grade 5 theory recently - but it was my mathematical ability rather than my musical nous that got me through that).

I'm interested in value for money, of coursem and usually prefer classical to jazzy things but wouldn't mind a mixed diet. (I have to admit that I really liked the Wonderful Tonight arrangement from the old Grade 2 syllabus, that everyone else with discernment seemed to hate; I also quite like the Blues from the current Grade 4.)

PatC

To answer your first point briefly, I would regard the Gillock / Czerny book as complementary to Dozen a Day.
It's true that some of the pieces (especially the Czerny ones) are somewhat study-like in character: nevertheless they are pieces rather than exercises. Also the book spans several grades so is not bad value.

I agree with Maggiemay - the Gillock/Czerny book and the Dozen a Day book are very different.

The Dozen a Day series are books of pure exercises.

Gillock/Czerny is a full range of one- and two-page pieces - some jazz, some Latino/Spanish, some classical pieces, working on specific technical aspects.

I've not come across the Gillock/Czerny book. It sounds interesting though.

I've looked on music room and there is one that comes up with 'cartoon' illustrations. Is this the one?
(Hello! Mr Gillock Carl Czerny)

Yes, that's the one. Green cover.

Cheers! Thanks!

I'm always on the lookout more new material that I can dip into!

Thanks to the OP for posting this...it's come in handy for me too!

I bought Manfred Schmitz's Mini Tango book a few years back, as the Tango Fur Elise was an alternative exam piece. The book's since become a firm favourite - quite wide ranging in standard, from Grade 1/2 up to about Grade 4. Plenty of duets, and also useful for sight-reading practice.( Another Breitkopf publication.)

I also bought this book in order to use Tango Fur Elise - actually for one of the pupils this thread is about. Lots of really good solos and duets, some of which are especially useful for concerts.

I LOVE this book too - really 'authentic' sounding tangos, unlike a lot you get at this level.

And a brilliant range in standard - from a couple that are about Prep level to a couple that are about Grade 4 standard (with most about grade 2).

I bought it for a couple of families (wiht several children) when we were preparing a 'Latino' concert - a great hit.

I went to Chappells yesterday and treated myself to the Gillock / Czerny and the Alfred Baroque Spirit and Classical Spirit - they look nice! (the latter 2 are described as "early intermediate to intermediate" whereas the Romantic Spirit was, I think, intermediate to [whatever the next level is], so I thought I would leave that for a while).

Don't know if it's me, but I usually can't find stuff at Chappells on my own, but it's generally there lurking somewhere if you ask.

They also had a table laid out with Henles so I can see why Solari likes them (bit pricey though!). Fortunately it will be QUITE a while before I could do them justice.

PatC

Do you mean "The best of Grade 4" published by Faber?

No one has mentioned the brillliant Spectrum series of books edited by pianist and teacher (e.g. RCM Junior college) Thalia Myers. She commissioned the 25 pieces all by different British composers for the first book without having a publisher, because she wanted a modern equivalent to the Beethoven Bagatelles for her pupils, and ABRSM took it on.
Book 4 is probably the very best starting point as an ear-opener!
http://shop.abrsm.org/shop/prod/ABRSM-Spectrum-4/904887
* a collection of 66 specially commissioned miniatures by international composers
* an essential introduction to contemporary music
* suitable for pianists of all ages and abilities
* pieces ranging in difficulty from Grade 1 to Grade 4
* includes 5 pieces with accompanying soundtracks, provided on CD with this book
* compiled by Thalia Myers, pianist and teacher
Book 2 has 30 short pieces all by British composers.
http://shop.abrsm.org/shop/prod/ABRSM-Spectrum-2/600843
My favourite is Book 3, with each piece by a composer from a different country.

There are Spectrum collections for other instruments now too. Do look if you haven't seen them yet. After all, we are teaching 21st century musicians.

Yes - thank you! I've just ordered it.

I'd be interested to know if you like the Classical Spirit book - the way it's laid out, printed, the pieces etc. etc.

It's got one of the grade 4 alternative pieces and I was thinking of buying it for a pupil but, at approx. ten pounds, it's not dead cheap so I'd be keen to hear what you think of it.

Does the CD just have piano versions of the pieces of the book ? Are they nice ? Any comments (from you or anyone else who has it!) gratefully received . . .


NB Dacapo, I'm a fan of modern music but have never got on with the Spectrum series - not sure why. Also, it's a problem for the increasing number of pupils with digital pianos - a lot of the pieces, if I remember right, require depressed notes and funky pedalling. I should look at them again though . . .

.

You can't argue with the way a person feels. They feel that way. I wouldn't expect anyone to like every piece in a particular volume. Thalia Myers said that the brief to the composers was that they should write in their individual "voices" but within certain technical limitations - some evidently declined the commission because it was too difficult to fulfil. I certainly wouldn't be surprised if I didn't like all the pieces written by someone else's selection of 25 - 66 composers.
Interesting thought. The best digital pianos can have 3 pedals (sustain, sostenuto and damper), and you don't have to go for the top of the range to get two. I don't teach piano, and play a 2-pedal acoustic instrument myself most of the time, so I hadn't looked at the books from that angle. It's sad if people learning on digital pianos are kept from playing music that they might really enjoy because of technical limitations of the instrument. Do you know of any comparable collections to use instead to develope pupils' 21st century ears?I don't have much time for "should" and "ought".

While the concept behind the 'Spectrum' series was admirable, I did feel rather disappointed by the overall content. There are some excellent items buried in there, but I did feel a sort of 'Emperor's New Clothes' syndrome about many of the pieces, which seemed somewhat 'empty' and self-consciously 'modern'. Being written in the 21st century doesn't automatically make an effective or useful piece. And I am a huge ( but discerning!) fan of most styles of contemporary music. Who will be buying these books in 10 years time, I wonder?

I bought the first one but haven't bothered with any of the others because I don't think for teaching purposes they are very good value for money - and they are not cheap. However I do agree that there are q small number of interesting pieces. I notice that pieces crop up in the exam lists so the AB are obviously trying to flog them but I don't think they are among their best selections.