I'm due to take grade 6 piano in November and was wondering which pieces everyone had chosen as I'm having a hard time picking

List A - I like all three in this list but the second two seem much harder than the 1st for some reason. Mught choose Allegro but don't know yet as it seems impossible at the moment!! Trust me to pick the one that's pages long

List B - I quite like the 3rd piece in this list, I think it's called Vals poetico or something. (The book's downstairs and I can't be bothered to go and get it!!)

List C - As I enjoy playing jazz, I thought I might go with Feeling Good. I've always liked playing jazzy/boogie styles as you can have fun with them!

Anyway, as I said, I'm still not sure so I would love to know what everyone else has chosen. Not that I would just choose a piece just coz everyone else was doing it, it's just that I would be interested to know which ones people have picked.

Lisa xxx

Is no one doing grade 6 piano apart from me?

Hi Lisa87
I'm not doing gr6, but as no-one else has replied - yet - I have explored the pieces, and I like all the ones you mentioned

Group A pieces are all lovely in quite different ways, and I'd find it difficult to choose just one.

Group B - haven't yet got into the Bridge, but I like the other two in the book. The Heller (B5) is likely to be good too, I'm quite a fan of his but I haven't got the book with it in.

Group C - I like Feelin' good, Prayer of the Matador and Lavender's kind of blue.

Hope it's going well!

Maggie

i did

A3 Allegro

B3 Vals Poetico

C2 Prayer of the Matador

A3 Allegro
B3 Vals Poetico
C6 Lavender Field

(Was going to do Feelin Good, but I can't seem to get anywhere with it)

QUOTE

(Was going to do Feelin Good, but I can't seem to get anywhere with it)

Fair enough!
It's a fun piece, and I think it will be very popular. but the examiners always enjoy hearing something that not everyone's playing!

Maggie

hi im doing

corante
einsiame wander
bagatelle

Hi clarinetlover & uberzoldat

How did you find Allegro coz I'm finding it a bit tricky at the moment. Have you got any tips?

Lisa xxx

I am finding certain bits tricky also, what are you having problems with? Usually with me it is my timing, and on the third page, the first 6 lines or so needs a bit of patience.

i hated it!!! i couldnt do it! i only got 21 for it, and the examiner slated it! make sure all the semiquavers are articulated well and make the most of dynamic contrast

I have the same problem! I find it really hard to keep it going because it's fast and the third page is so annoying Have you got the pieces on CD coz I found that really helpful as it gives you an idea of how its supposed to sound.

Lisa xxx

Yes I have, I must admit I cheated a bit when learning it.

Just a case of perserverance(sp?) I think.

yes i have the pieces on Cd as well

Hi,

I'm playing.

A1 - Corant
B3 - vals Pacieto
C1 - Feeling Good

with C1 I struggled alot but I've managed to complete it and I am playing it constantly and with Corant.. well thats my favourite I just simply love it.

Hope that helps.

Hi I'm doing my grade 6 this term. Im doing:

A1:Corant

B3:Vals poetico - loadsa pedal!!

C3:Bagatelle

Good luck - just choose the pieces you like the sound of best, they're all as hard as each other!!

Hope Ive helped

Hi im doing...
A1 Corate
B3 Vals Poetico
and...
C1 Fellin' Good

Hellokitty
xxx

Im doing Presto Esquisse and Carousel in November. Absolutely adore Carousel although I found it a bit weird at the start lol.

Hello,

I'm doing Allegro, Einsamer Wanderer and Feelin' Good. Allegro is easy slow, but trips me up when I try to play it to speed. Can anyone play it at the speed it is on the cd? Seems impossible to keep both hands even! Grrr. Next time I'm going for the easy choice, not the "hey that sounds great, I must learn it" choice. Still no exam date...

Einsamer Wanderer and Feelin' Good going well - that is, I can play them really well (she said modestly...), but not every time without fail.

Actually the are not all as hard as each other.. After learning quite a few of the pieces, here are my Grade VI tips:

Does everyone choose A1 simply because it is first in the book? I prefer at least 2 others:

A2 Andante - Thomas Arne. Come on English pianists, here is one of your own countrymen! A truly magnificent piece that I play all the time, why not learn it?

Also List A - Telemann Fuga Prima. This is a beautifully crafted piece - fugal but more like a 2-part invention to learn. You can download this for a small fee, so cost-effective too!

The Dussek "Allegro" is amazing and worth learning, but challenging to play through all the various technical and mood changes. For the exam room, I would pick the Arne or Telemann.

List B - The Heller "Song Without Words" is an outstanding musical work, and the one I would play for the exam. I have tried the Chopin "Prelude in B minor" - almost entirely a left hand melody so a good chance to learn to do that well. It would be tempting to use the Chopin in the exam also. Also a golden opportunity to learn a first piece by this most significant piano composer.

List C - Richard Rodney Bennett "Eight Maids a-Milking" - another great English composer for English candidates. Actually this is quite a difficult piece - how's the finger staccato? From NZer Norton we have "Lavender's Kind of Blue". This is light music but a useful piece to play for family and friends. "Feelin' Good" is one you should learn but I would avoid using it in the exam because it would be the most common one presented.

After you have tackled the above, some of the other pieces will make useful sight reading; especially Valse Poetico, the Prayer of the Matador, and Einsamer Wanderer