Another four videos featuring pieces from the elementary grades (Initial – Grade 3) for the 2023 & 2024 ABRSM piano examination syllabus have been published on the Online Academy. These video lessons offer practice suggestions, tips on style and interpretation, and many other ideas for pieces by Peter Gritton, Michael Head, Dussek, and an arrangement of the most popular ragtime pieces – Scott Joplin’s Entertainer!
New Videos
Initial Grade C1: Peter Gritton – Haunted House
Peter Gritton’s Haunted House introduces legato and staccato touches from the very beginning. Combining these two different touches on the piano is challenging for beginners. In this excerpt from his video lesson on this work, Graham Fitch demonstrates hand movements for achieving the legato touch:
Your Questions Answered!
If you’re preparing for an ABRSM examination, using the syllabus as a guide for repertoire ideas or have students taking an exam, don’t miss our online workshops on Saturday 19th November. In these workshops, Graham Fitch will answer your questions on learning, interpreting and practising pieces from all grades of the new 2023 & 2024 syllabus! Click here or on the button below to find out more and to book your place!
Grade 1 B3: Head – The Quiet Wood
The Quiet Wood is a cleverly written piece that has a 2/2 time signature (two minimums in a bar). In this excerpt from his video lesson on the work, Graham Fitch explains the difference between 4/4 and 2/2 time signatures and how this seemingly small difference changes the whole feel of the piece:
Grade 2 A2: J. L. Dussek Gavotte in F
In this excerpt from his video lesson on Dussek’s Gavotte in F (featured in the ABRSM Grade 2 syllabus), Graham Fitch demonstrates a highly effective practice tool for learning a new piece which he calls “bar by bar plus one”:
Grade 3 C3: Joplin (arr. Önaç) – The Entertainer
Scott Joplin’s The Entertainer is surely among the most well-known rags of all time and the ABRSM Grade 3 syllabus features a clever arrangement of the work by David Önaç. In this excerpt from his video lesson on the work, Graham Fitch introduces the work and gives a tip for analysing the opening figures:
Click here for links to view the full videos on the Online Academy!
Other Videos
Click here to view the full index of available videos, including links to several from previous and other syllabuses (further information on our project for the previous 2021 & 2022 syllabus is available here).
Videos for over 60 pieces have been recorded already and are currently in the various stages of the editing process. Several further shoots are planned and we will be releasing the videos in frequent installments over the coming months. Please click here to sign-up to our mailing list for updates and notifications on this project and our resources for piano examinations.
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