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Kristina Arakelyan - Daydream
ABRSM Grade 2 – C3
The composer says of this piece: “It is about getting lost in our thoughts, discovering a beautiful world which lives within us and expressing it through music.” After the introduction, built from broken chords in a spinning pattern, we find the theme in the right hand, imitated a bar later by the left hand. There are two places that require the pedal, both involving crossing the left hand over the right. Preview (please log-in or subscribe to see full video) Resources & links This piece is available... Read >>
M. Praetorius (arr. Jones) - Gavotte in G (from Terpsichore)
ABRSM Initial Grade – A2
Players will be interested that this lively dance in duple time was written around 400 years ago. What sort of costumes might the dancers be wearing, and what sort of steps might they be making? A little online research will yield some answers to feed the imagination. The p-f dynamic contrasts and changes in articulation present worthy challenges for the player at this level.... Read >>
Mozart - Allegro in F (from London Sketchbook, K. 15a)
ABRSM Grade 3 – A2
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 3 publication here. Open domain editions are also available here. You can listen to a recording of this piece and others from... Read >>
Burgmüller - 19. Ave Maria in A Major (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)
Ave Maria, literally translated as “Hail Mary”, is a hymn-like piece with delicate harmonic touches. The andantino marking tells us that, while on the slow side, the tempo needs to move forwards. In the warm key of A major, the form is A B A* plus coda (from bar 24). The opening of the piece is chordal, the returning A section developed with quaver (eighth note) movement that suggests a little more intensity and flow. The main technical challenges are chord voicing, and control of legato. We listen carefully to the tonal balance of each chord, ensuring we have a... Read >>
Adair - The Lost Bone (No. 9 from Little Dog Tales)
ABRSM Initial Grade – B1
The composer tells us that a naughty puppy called Boots drops his bone to go out chasing rabbits. When he can’t find any rabbits, he returns to find his bone is missing and this makes him very depressed. Perhaps we might find words to fit the left hand’s melodic line? This will assist in the phrase shaping and with the breathing necessary in the shifts at the end of each phrase. There are three different positions in the soft accompanimental right hand chords, not counting the final chord, which is major. This leads us to suspect Boots might have cheered... Read >>
L. Köhler - Allegro moderato (1st mvt from Sonatina in G, Op. 300 No. 93) 93)
ABRSM Grade 3 – A1
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 3 publication here. Open domain editions are also available here. You can listen to a recording of this piece and others from... Read >>
Burgmüller - 4. La Petite Réunion (The Little Party) in C major (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)
The LH is the leader in the introduction. Let the melody sing out as it invites us to the party. Imagine the RH as excited chatter or laughter from the other guests, who are excited to be at the gathering. I recommend small forearm bounces close to the keys, the wrist unbending. For stability in the hand, practise repeating each chord two (or more) times. Thinking of the double notes in two parts (soprano and alto), first play each part by itself, making sure to use the fingering you will use when playing both parts together. Tapping the... Read >>
Reinagle - Minuet (No. 10 from 24 Short and Easy Pieces)
Trinity College - Grade 1
Alexander Reinagle’s expressive Minuet in C is full of interesting features, and a variety of different dynamics and texture changes for a piece only sixteen bars long. With an emphasis on active listening, touch and phrase shaping, this video explores minuet style and models good practice techniques.... Read >>
Andrew Eales - Fresh Air
ABRSM Grade 1 – B1
Andrew Eales’ Fresh Air features a gentle tune in the right hand with a chordal accompaniment in mostly long notes below. Here and there the lower right hand fingers are called upon to hold onto a harmony note, presenting a technical challenge that adds to the piece’s value. As the composer points out in the footnote, the chords mostly lack their bass note, which gives the music a sense of weightlessness, as if floating. Preview (please log-in or subscribe to see full video) Resources & links This... Read >>