Hi,

I was wondering what sort of piano repertoire you teach your students between their grades 5 and 6 exams.

For technical exercises, I introduce the Hanon exercises at this point, each exercise slowly. I also use Czerny 101 exercises.

For repertoire I am using Bach inventions and Clementi sonatinas op 36 and various other pieces.

What pieces do your students learn between grade 5 and 6?

Thanks

Treble Clef

For repertoire, I sometimes use "The Best of Grade 5". A good mixture of pieces, and I am a firm believer that at this stage you get better by playing more Grade 5 stuff, but learning it more quickly and proficiently, rather than stretching on to harder repertoire. Actually, I think that if you can play all or most of this book well, you are ready for Grade 6.

I also use the Faber Real Repertoire series which stretch from G 5 -7 I think.

It depends on the student, but I would aim for Bach's 2 part-inventions; Kuhlau sonatinas; Mozart, Viennese sonatinas. For studies, Heller's op 46; as far as technical exercises, mine start on Hanon at grade 2 (just the scales and arpeggios to start with) and we slowly but surely move through it until diploma level...

I suppose it depends ultimately what sort of music they want to play - I don't have a set idea of what pupils *should* be learning at a particular stage because it's guided by their own interests.

Absolutely. Although I see the wisdom of learning Bach, Kuhlau, Mozart etc at this level, it will turn some students off. We have to be adaptable - if it keeps them playing, they may eventually want to learn these pieces. I am also careful at judging how much technical stuff I can introduce at this stage. Personally, I am not a fan of Hanon, although I do use it sometimes. Heller, I like.

"Although I see the wisdom of learning Bach, Kuhlau, Mozart etc at this level, it will turn some students off. We have to be adaptable .... Personally, I am not a fan of Hanon, although I do use it sometimes"

I agree that some students could be turned off, and I never stick rigidly to anything in particular. I have found though that children and teenagers can be quite surprising in what they like: I've had one teenager who adored Spectrum 4, and a 8 year old who just wants to play Mozart and Beethoven and really doesn't like jazz!

I've been through various teaching phases of finding Hanon (and the like) essential/pointless/very useful/demotivating/etc. I'm currently in a "yes, technical exercises are essential" mood, as I've "inherited" a few pupils with some really terrible habits over the past couple of years...

They could even be introduced to Beethoven Sonatas with Op49 No 2, maybe follow on with Op49 No 1

Do not dismiss using Film music and Popular music at this stage. Often the age of pupils is such that they want something that was written after they were born or at least after their parents were born and is not totally atonal. Bring this into the mix- along with the Bach, Grieg, Clementi, Beethoven Sonatinas. short Romantic Character Pieces. Early 20th Pieces and Hanon Studies and you'll have happy pupils.

Any suggestions for anthologies at grade 6 level for film and pop music? most of the anthologies I have seen are very simple arrangements...