![]() It’s good to see some of Editions Musica Ferrum‘s pieces making their way into exam syllabuses, and Andrew Eales ‘Fresh Air’ is a lovely, calming piece on List B. Marjorie Helyer’s ‘Dragonflies’ is also a pleasant, characterful piece at Grade 1. Whilst the Diabelli ‘Allegretto in C’ has done the rounds of all the boards, it’s still a firm favourite. Bravo, ABRSM! This is a huge improvement. This time, all nine pieces are original works rather than arrangements, and four out of the nine are by living composers. I was highly critical of the Grade 1 pieces at the last syllabus change, but I’m pleased to say the 2023-24 ABRSM Piano Syllabus tells a very different story. Önaç: What shall we do with the drunken sailor? Overall, Initial Grade for the ABRSM Piano Syllabus 2023-24 is, in my view, a great success. There are a large number of alternative pieces to choose from too meaning that unlike the Prep Test, Initial Grade is open and accessible to all ages of learner. This will not only benefit children, but also fills the pages of the book more effectively. ![]() I noted that the staff size at Initial Grade is larger than normal. Naomi Yandell’s ‘Secret Footpath’ and Kerstin Strecke’s ‘The Waltz of the Toads’ show that even at this first grade where many skills are still in development, it is possible to play satisfying and effective pieces. Their books were the mainstay of my early piano lessons, yet their music has been largely left out of exam syllabuses. In my nostalgic way, it was nice to see ‘Swans and Ducks’ by Fanny Waterman and Marion Harewood included in List B. Önaç’s arrangement of ‘What shall we do with the drunken sailor?’ in List A displays all the hallmarks of an accomplished arranger. ![]() I have written quite extensively recently about poor arranging, but I’m pleased to say that whilst it’s not a name I’ve come across, David A.T. Two years on, there’s a sense that this new grade has found its feet, with a good mixture of pieces to choose from, many of which will appeal to adult learners as much as to children. In my view, and in the view of many others too, it is far more useful than the Prep Test. ABRSM Initial GradeĪBRSM’s Initial Grade for piano was introduced at the last syllabus change, and from what I hear, has been popular with teachers. A new Teaching Notes publication has been released to accompany the new ABRSM Piano Syllabus 2023-24, and I cover that in the summary at the end of this post. As before, I select these mainly from the books of Selected Pieces (which are those sent to me for review), but as ever, the alternative lists are always worth a look. ![]() The repertoire has been refreshed and new books of Selected Pieces published, but in the main, it’s business as usual.Īs in previous reviews, I will cover each grade in turn, offering my top three pieces from each of the repertoire lists. Whilst there were some major changes last year, notably to the scale requirements and the introduction of the new Initial Grade, this year feels comparatively low key. It doesn’t seem long ago since I reviewed the 2021-22 ABRSM Piano Syllabus, one which many of us are only just beginning to use. The revised ABRSM Piano Syllabus seems to come round alarmingly quickly. Therefore, whilst the new ABRSM Piano Syllabus 2023-24 isn’t released against the best of backdrops, it’s a reminder that, above all, it’s the music itself which is at the centre of their work. I, and others, have been accused of ‘ABRSM bashing’ in the past, and whilst we have certainly levelled criticism at them, it is often from a desire that they should, once again, become the prestigious and respected exam board they once were. I was one of many who experienced problems making my exam entries online this session, and that, along with technical issues with their marking software, Marcato, prompted a fierce letter to the Chief Executive from members of their examiner panel. ABRSM have not had the best of press recently.
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