All About ABRSM Grades & Support

[pumpkin_pie]

Hi Chamonix,


This piece seems like grade 3 standard.

[peanut_butter]

1st piece: I am assuming it’s around Grade 2-3 level.


Entertainer: Since both hands are playing the same thing an octave apart, plus it’s a familiar tune, the pianist could read from the lower stave and duplicate. A late Grade 1 student could manage it.

Hi chamonix, may I know which system is your child doing?

[metz]

Hi, pumpkin-pie and peanut_butter, your responses are very much appreciated. Thank you.


Hi peanut_butter,

The Entertainer piece is a 4-hands performance piece with her brother. It's relatively simple for her since the notes duplicate in both staves. (The teacher required her to practise separate hands initially, so she learnt to read both staves when working on the first page. Subsequently, she realised the two staves are duplicates, she just relied on the upper stave.) The difficult part is getting my two kids playing together without hiccups and in time.

Erm, how do you classify a late Grade 1?

My kids are following the French system. There are no books for them to work on. Instead, their teacher will find pieces from her music books for them. So, it's rather difficult for me to guage the level they are at or if they are progressing.


Peanut_butter/Pumpkin-pie,

Another question, at what grade are students required to play octaves together? My son is currently working on this short piece - Petite Sonate by G.F. Haendel. Very often, he needs to stretch his fingers to reach both octave notes together in Bass clef. Because of his small palm, I see his pinky and thumb resting at the edge of the white keys. Is that the normal practice?

[peanut_butter]

chamonix:

Erm, how do you classify a late Grade 1?

Someone who could pick up grade 1 exam pieces rather independently and decently within 7 months or someone who had completed books like John Thompson at Grade 1 level.

I wouldn't worry about the grading part if they are following the Europe system. I give some of my late beginners-intermediate students the same set of etudes, to work on different problems, when they are not rushing for exams. How well the student plays a simple piece could determine their level. Check out on youtube for Für Elise from different players. You will hear the differences.

chamonix:

Another question, at what grade are students required to play octaves together? My son is currently working on this short piece - Petite Sonate by G.F. Haendel. Very often, he needs to stretch his fingers to reach both octave notes together in Bass clef. Because of his small palm, I see his pinky and thumb resting at the edge of the white keys. Is that the normal practice?

This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHSC6lHzRIQ)? Nice piece.

If the practice is not causing strain on his wrist and up onwards, I think it should be OK. His hands (not wrist) may hurt but he will get used to the pain and the left hand will grow bigger.

[metz]

peanut_butter:

chamonix:

Erm, how do you classify a late Grade 1?

Someone who could pick up grade 1 exam pieces rather independently and decently within 7 months or someone who had completed books like John Thompson at Grade 1 level.

Oh I see. Mine doesn't seem to fit the definition.

peanut_butter:

I wouldn't worry about the grading part if they are following the Europe system.

If you saw the performances by kids at where I am at, you might have a second opinion. We aren't in any big cities. But fair enough, we are pretty satisfied with our current piano teacher. At least she works on my kids' playing techniques and exposes them to different works.

peanut_butter:

I give some of my late beginners-intermediate students the same set of etudes, to work on different problems, when they are not rushing for exams. How well the student plays a simple piece could determine their level.

Very true! That's exactly what the previous violin teacher told my kids. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and its variations were enough to determine the level of playing. Anyway, grade is just an indication that the child is learning and progressing (an assurance that money has not been spent frivolously). A young child having grade 5 doesn't necessary imply that he/she can play better than another (of the same age) having grade 3, especially if foundation has not been laid properly. That was part of our decision to do away with exams. The reason I'm rethinking exams is to push myself to spend time with the kids on their practices. They have been very much left on their own and we have become less disciplined.

peanut_butter:

Check out on youtube for Für Elise from different players. You will hear the differences.

You mean home recordings? I have long given up on those. Instead, we look forward to those by professional performers such as these http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09oNj9UYM7g and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAsDLGjMhFI . DS was supposed to perform Fur Elise as his recital piece last year. His teacher was teaching him to express the music like the lady in the second clip. The way the hands and fingers (even the body) move makes a great difference in delivering the music. Hard work. But from there, I understood a little on what makes a pianist stand out from others.

peanut_butter:

This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHSC6lHzRIQ)? Nice piece.
If the practice is not causing strain on his wrist and up onwards, I think it should be OK. His hands (not wrist) may hurt but he will get used to the pain and the left hand will grow bigger.

That's the piece though ds commented there are some discrepancies in her playing from his. So far, he experiences only some stretching between his thumb and index finger. I'll try not to keep his practices too long in one seating. Hope it helps.

Thanks for sharing your views.

[peanut_butter]

chamonix:

Oh I see. Mine doesn't seem to fit the definition.

How about completion of Lina Ng Level 2 = Grade 1?

chamonix:

we look forward to those by professional performers such as these http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09oNj9UYM7g and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAsDLGjMhFI . DS was supposed to perform Fur Elise as his recital piece last year. His teacher was teaching him to express the music like the lady in the second clip. The way the hands and fingers (even the body) move makes a great difference in delivering the music. Hard work.

:yikes: No wonder it's hard work. Of all pianists, Valentina Lisitsa has a reputation of practicing 13-14 hours a day before her concerts!

[metz]

peanut_butter:

chamonix:

Oh I see. Mine doesn't seem to fit the definition.

How about completion of Lina Ng Level 2 = Grade 1?

She didn't do Lina Ng's books. Anyway, it's a long story...

peanut_butter:

Of all pianists, Valentina Lisitsa has a reputation of practicing 13-14 hours a day before her concerts!

:yikes:

[jce]

Piano playing is not JUST about delivering music but it is also visual, that’s why it is more exciting and satisfying to watch a performance than merely listen to a CD recording. Every movement of the hand, body to the facial expression speaks of the music being played.


Chamonix, I would say the pieces are around a ABRSM gr 2 standard as one gets simple repetitive patterns.

[metz]

Thanks, jce!

[baobei]

Could someone share how good the children fair when they take piano grade exams like grade 3 before age 10?


Also, how early can a child have the ABRSM prep test?