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Handel (arr. Bullard) - Fireworks Minuet (from Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 351)

ABRSM Grade 1 – A1

Preview (please log-in or subscribe to see full video) Resources & links This piece is available for individual purchase as a digital download here or in print as part of the Piano Exam Pieces 2025 & 2026 Grade 1 publication here. You can listen to a recording of this piece and others from this grade on Spotify using this link. ... Read >>

L. Köhler - Melody in F, Op. 190 No. 27

ABRSM Grade 1 – A3

Resources & links This piece is available for individual purchase as a digital download here or in print as part of the Piano Exam Pieces 2025 & 2026 Grade 1 publication here. You can listen to a recording of this piece and others from this grade on Spotify using this link. ... Read >>

Stanford - Lullaby (No.5 from Six Sketches)

ABRSM Grade 2 – B2

The gentle rocking motion that is established in the dotted crotchets at the very start continues throughout this piece, with simple melodic phrases that lead the music smoothly into some related keys. Lullaby offers the player the opportunity to develop quality of tone and phrasing in soft dynamics, p and pp. Preview (please log-in or subscribe to see full video) Resources & links This piece is available for digital download individually from the ABRSM shop here or in print as part of the Piano Exam... Read >>

Grechaninov - Riding the Hobby-Horse (No. 5 from Children’s Album, Op. 98)

ABRSM Grade 3 – C2

This delightful piece describes a ride on a child’s hobby horse, with some written commentary from the composer. An opportunity to develop forearm staccato, the music contains both marcato and tenuto accents in a variety of different dynamics. An effective pedal texture towards the end adds colour. Resources & links Piano Exam Pieces 2021 & 2021, Grade 3 is available from the ABRSM online shop here. The syllabus upon which these Practising the Piano Online Academy materials are based is © by The Associated Board... Read >>

Shruthi Rajasekar - Virginia Hall

ABRSM Grade 1 – C1

Dedicated to Virginia Hall, a famous secret agent, this piece uses a repeated ostinato motif to create suspense and a sense of busyness from beginning to end. What is going on in the storyline when the sinister left hand theme comes in? And what do the ff chords at the central climax tell us? Perhaps the detective stumbles across an important new clue in her investigation. The player has plenty of scope to come up with a narrative for this piece, allowing the imagination to aid the fingers in communicating its message. Loading... Read >>

Burgmüller - 3. La Pastorale (Pastoral) in G major (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)

This study features a simple melody in the RH against a chordal accompaniment in the LH. For the required legato cantabile touch, the fingers need to be in close contact with the keyboard, playing from the key surfaces. The wrist is free, loose and mobile. Play the grace notes very lightly but do not hurry them as they are gently expressive, and not percussive. The best way to control the LH repeated chords is to keep the fingers inside the keys rather than letting the keys all the way up to the top. Aim to achieve a chord legato from... Read >>

Trad. English (arr. Davies) - O Waly Waly

ABRSM Grade 2 – B3

The traditional folk melody is presented simply in the left hand; it needs to be played expressively with a warm, singing tone. The simple right hand accompaniment features six different chords that add piquancy and colour. The video offers some suggestions for practice that will help the hand become familiar with the unusual shapes. Resources & links Piano Exam Pieces 2021 & 2021, Grade 2 is available from the ABRSM online shop here. The syllabus upon which these Practising the Piano Online Academy materials... Read >>

Burgmüller - 1. La Candeur (Openness) in C major (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)

Cultivate a singing style in the RH (legato cantabile), shaping the line expressively with nuances. The short phrase marks (slurs) do not necessarily imply a lifting of the hand at the ends but show how the notes are to be grouped (in the manner of string bowing). Interpret these with a slight emphasis on the first note of each group and a subtle diminuendo towards the end of the group. A chord legato wherever possible in the LH progression ensures the smoothest connections and the best control of sound: Crescendo means soft! Start... Read >>

Burgmüller - 10. Tendre Fleur (Tender Flower) in D Major (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)

The presence of a descriptive title inspires the imagination before we even play a note, and Tendre Fleur (Tender Flower) is all about pastel colours, sensitivity of touch and mood, and delicate expression. Marked p delicato, we discover two-note sighing slurs in arpeggio patterns that rise then fall, meandering quaver lines and sparse harmonies. The harmonic language is extremely simple – tonic and dominant harmonies alternate with each other in the home key of D (A section) and then in the dominant key of A (B section). A standard chord progression from bar 13 – 15 breaks the pattern and... Read >>