Will Hay

Category: Resources

  • Grade 1 – Piano Exam

    (Updated Dec 2013)
    ABRSM Grade 1 Exam – The vital statistics: The current entry fee (2014) is £36.25. The next exam period is 3rd March- 5th April 2014 and the closing date for entry to these exams will be 24th January 2014. Alongside the playlist of demonstration videos for the current Grade 1 pieces, I have added some slow demo videos of some of the pieces which my students have specifically requested to help with their studies.

    The next in my vodcast series on piano exams. In this video, watch Amelia sit her Grade 1 piano exam. This time, not one of my videos,  ABRSM have staged an example of a Grade 1 piano exam which is a great way to give candidates an idea of what it is like to sit the exam. If only Stanley Palace, the venue used for the Chester exams was able to offer a wonderful grand piano as in this video! At least you can expect the same professional, supportive attitude from any of the ABRSM examiners, though the papers on their desk might not always be quite so beautifully aligned.

    ABRSM: Grade 1 Piano Exam Video

  • Exam Preparation: Scales

    Scale PractiseAs the exam entry deadline for the next session approaches (Friday 3rd May), the big question on every teacher’s mind is which students are going to be ready to enter this time. Can we afford to leave it another term or is the student going to go “off the boil”? Will the scales be perfected in the next couple of months? Would the pieces be ready in time?

    As students progress through the grades, the sheer volume of scales that need to be learned increases (almost exponentially in the advanced levels). A formal approach must be taken to ensure that ALL the scales are known. To this end I have started to use weekly scale practise sheets on which students can either record and/or evaluate their scale practise. There are eight boxes for each scale to enable the sheet to be used in a number of ways.

    Daily practise can be recorded throughout the week then the final column can be used in the lesson to assess the progress of each scale and chart improvements. Some students prefer a mark out of ten, whilst others prefer a range between crosses, circles, and ticks, or a combination of both.

    The sheets are available to download for free in PDF format and currently cover the requirements or the ABRSM piano syllabus from Grade 1-4. As time permits, I shall add sheets for the higher grades to the collection.

    ABRSM Scale Practise Record Sheets

  • ABRSM Grade 2 Piano Exam Pieces (in HD)

    Following on from my post last summer which featured demo videos of the 2011-2012 Grade 1 Piano Syllabus, I have now been able to produce a set of demo videos for the Grade 2 syllabus. Those of you about to take your Grade 1 piano might be interested to see what is in store for your next course of study. The youtube playlist below will also be of interest to those students currently working towards your Grade 2 exams. Purchase the sheet music

    My Grade 1 Piano Exam Pieces Youtube Playlist

    GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR EXAMS IN TWO WEEKS TIME!

  • The importance of scales

    There’s little chance of escaping the fact that scales aren’t the most exciting thing to practice, especially when you have a piano exam coming up in the next few weeks.  However they are the building blocks of much music and being able to play them fluently is fundamental in the ability to play any instrument.

    My students have been incorporating “musical curve” into their scale technique. Playing duet scales helps focus on the rhythm with some lovely arrangements  in “Get Ready for Major Scale Duets”

    This collaborative performance of Twinkle Twinkle Little C from the book demonstrates some of the “musical curve” technique they have been exploring. With thanks to Amelia, Kathleen, Lauren, Beth, Mattea, Shea, Alice, Emily, Grace, Ruth, Felicity, Izzie, Emma, Kirsten, Jacob, Oliver and Sylvia for their contributions to the video.

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    Scales are also a useful tool to experiment with in composition. This 12 bar work by Beryl looks at the relationship between relative major and minor scale.
    “Major and Minor Creativity” by Beryl

    Why not have a go at making your own composition using scales? Log in to your noteflight account to get started.

  • Playing Together – Piano Duets and Ensembles

    It has been really encouraging to see a lot of work going into piano duets this term in preparation for the next concert. There will be a mix of piano-based ensembles in the programme besides piano duets as I have tried to set up a group to perform from each of the schools in which I teach. Those students involved should have received an email and the music for your ensemble will soon be available on your noteflight studio account if you have not already got a sheet copy.

    Some of the duets I have been using have been taken from Piano Time Jazz Duets Bk1. This book features duets in various styles from an energetic boogie to a moody blues and lively samba.

    Others are from Easy Jazzin’ About by Pam Wedgewood which also take inspiration from blues, rock and jazz styles with “cool syncopation and funky riffs”.

    I was so pleased with Alice and Emily’s work on their duet that I felt it had to be shared below as a preview for the “Playing Together” recital.

    Katie’s Waltz performed by Alice and Emily