A Guide to the ABRSM Syllabus (2023 - 2024)


M. Helyer - Dragonflies (from The Greenwood Tree)

ABRSM Grade 1 – A2

Marjorie Helyer’s Dragonflies comes from The Greenwood Tree, a suite of miniatures designed to conjure up musical images for young players. The piece is built from a line that passes smoothly from one hand to the other with some accompanying broken chords. We can clearly see the dragonflies darting gracefully up and down, zigzagging as they go. The main challenge is to shape both hands delicately at a prevailing dynamic of piano, maintaining physical freedom while avoiding avoid lumps and bumps.

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Resources & links

  • This piece is available for digital download individually from the ABRSM shop here or in print as part of the Piano Exam Pieces 2023 & 2024 Grade 1 publication here.
  • The complete suite of ten pieces and featuring a new engraving with the composer's fingering can be purchased from the publisher's website here.

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