As they are discussing this in Viva Piano, what do string-players / teachers think of the 4-year syllabus for strings? I like to buy a full set of books, partly for my own use (knowing what's there and to think about approaches to teaching the pieces, etc) and partly for forgetters-of-books, so if they turn up for a lesson without exam music a week before E-day, I can usually put my hands on a copy straight away.

I'm thankful to only have to buy a set every four years, but on the other hand, teaching them for that long is a different matter, especially when you are listening to the likes of Napoleon Crossing the Alps for the zillionth time (I'm sure most of us remember that one!)

I have exam books from the 70s and 80s, and they were 2-year syllabuses back then. Does anyone know when (or why) it changed?

I was certainly glad to get rid of the Grade 3 'A' list that's just gone. Most of mine did Pachelbel's Canon which was an alternative piece, and of course none had the book it was in so I had to keep lending my copy around. I think one of the difficulties in having a 4 year syllabus is that if there is a particular list which is unpopular then you struggle with it for such a long time.

Like you, I like to buy a copy of everything when the new list comes out, so in that respect a 4 year syllabus is better on grounds of cost. I'm also one of those who lugs around copies of everything to cater for the 'I've forgotten my music' lesson.

My guess is that it changed when they shifted to the three-list system, so they had to prepare nine-piece books rather than six-piece ones (and to choose 50% more alternatives, too).

Yes I remember in the dim and distant days there was list A (play all 3 pieces from that list) and list B (ditto). Woodwind instruments were always different though. (I think I'm allowed to say that as I must have taken my first clarinet and first violin exams at around the same time in the 70s). And it seemed that the woodwind syllabus lasted for ever...

You would think that wouldn't be a problem, though, with such a huge amount of repertoire to choose from (more than any other instrument, I think, after piano?) I find it surprising, really, that pieces reappear in subsequent syllabi not many years down the line from a previous appearance.


I think the third piece in each list was interchangeable. At least, it was when I did an exam way back when!