Hi,

I haven't been doing private teaching all that long, so would appreciate some advice. I have a piano student who is going to do her grade 1 in the summer; from the perspective of her pieces, she could already have done it this spring, but we just missed the deadline, and her aural/sight-reading isn't up to scratch. Anyway: seeing as she picks pieces up quite quickly, I'm wondering at what point I should move onto grade 2-level pieces. (Not the exam pieces, just the general level.) Should I give her a few more months of grade 1-ish pieces, or should I be pushing her?

I know about those 'Upgrade' books that are supposed to bridge the gap, but really don't like the style of the pieces in there! So any other suggestions for what to do appreciated.

Hi, I also havn't been teaching privately for very long, but my violin pupil completed her grade 1 in November. I find that it's best to start looking at non-exam music straight after an exam, but choose something that is pushing the standard. For example, after she did her grade 1, I started to look at traditional Irish music with my pupil. I found that by letting them look at something that they want to play and like the sound of, it keeps them keen whilst also allowing them to progress in technique, after a few weeks, I then started looking at the grade 2 syllabus but kept the Irish stuff going on the side, creating a broader perspective.

Hope this helps!

What is wrong with moving into Grade 2 pieces if that is the level performing is at .. but spending bulk of lesson time sight reading in the short term.

Also a strong focus on Theory can significantly improve sight reading immeasurably. You could push through to (say) Grade III in that.

Whenever you feel the grade 1 pieces are up to standard. There are a varied selection of grade 1 - 2 pieces in Romantic Sketchbook for Piano, Short Romantic Pieces, Music Through Time or Classics to Moderns.