Video Lessons for Grade 7 Works Published!
Our third instalment of video lessons for the ABRSM 2025 & 2026 syllabus now moves on from the intermediate grades to feature a selection of Grade 7 works by Beethoven, Daquin, Schumann and Mendelssohn.
In this blog post, we give a preview of each of these lessons, beginning with Beethoven’s lively Scherzo, a piece full of wit and energy, before delving into the spendour of the French Baroque with Daquin’s Le Coucou. These are followed with two miniatures by Schumann and Mendelssohn offering an excellent opportunity to develop the expressive characteristics of the romantic style through lyrical phrasing, pedalling, tone control and rubato.
Video Previews
Grade 7 A1: Beethoven – Scherzo (3rd mvt from Sonata in A Major, Op. 2 No. 2)
Beethoven’s playful and energetic Scherzo from his early A Major Sonata is full of wit and brilliance. With its quick, light articulation and dynamic contrasts, this movement challenges pianists to balance precision with expressive phrasing. Graham Fitch’s video lesson for this work demonstrates how to bring out the playful elegance of Beethoven’s writing using phrasing, dynamic control and strategies for mastering tricky passages:
Grade 7 A3: Daquin – Le coucou (Rondeau: 1st mvt from Troisième suite)
A dazzling showcase of French Baroque splendour, Daquin’s Le Coucou is a lively, ornamented piece that imitates the call of the cuckoo. The delicate, flowing right-hand passages require agility and finesse, while the repeated motif demands careful control of articulation and phrasing. Watch Graham Fitch’s video lesson to learn how to achieve crisp articulation, shape ornaments with flair and to bring this this charming piece to life with sparkle and precision:
Grade 7 B1: Schumann – *** (No. 30 from Album for the Young, Op. 68)
This gentle and introspective work by Schumann – marked Langsam (very slow) – offers a moment of calm and reflection in the Grade 7 repertoire. Graham’s lesson explores how the dreamy character of this work can be shaped through cantabile playing, careful voicing and a flowing yet sensitive tempo. You’ll discover how to bring out the warmth and simplicity of Schumann’s writing which make this piece ideal for developing expressive qualities in your playing.
Grade 7 B3: Mendelssohn – Musical Sketch in B-Flat Major (No. 1 from Two Musical Sketches)
This lyrical gem blends expressive melody with delicate contrapuntal writing. Graham Fitch highlights this elegant miniature’s intricate textures, graceful interplay between the hands and moments of unexpected harmonic colour in the last of his video lessons for the Grade 7 repertoire. The lesson goes on to show how to shape the conversational phrases, balance the voices between the hands and convey the work’s subtle character and charm:
Other Videos
The full video lessons for the works featured above can be viewed on the Online Academy via the following links:
- Grade 7 A1: Beethoven – Scherzo (3rd mvt from Sonata in A, Op. 2 No. 2)
- Grade 7 A3: Daquin – Le coucou (Rondeau: 1st movt from Troisième suite)
- Grade 7 B1: Schumann – *** (No. 30 from Album für die Jugend, Op. 68)
- Grade 7 B3: Mendelssohn – Musical Sketch in B flat (No. 1 from Two Musical Sketches)
Click here to view the full index of a of videos for the 2025 & 2026 syllabus. The last set of videos featuring works from the Grade 8 lists are currently in production and will be published soon! Please click here to sign-up to our mailing list to receive notifications when these videos become available.
How to access?
The full video lessons are all included with a subscription to the Online Academy. Click here if you’d like to find out more about subscription options or click here to subscribe. Alternatively, they can also be purchased via the following links without subscription from our store:
Further Resources
We’ve also run a series of online workshops in partnership with the Piano Teachers’ Course UK and The Curious Piano Teachers on choosing the right repertoire, ideas for improvising on works from the syllabus and strategies for learning and connecting with new pieces. Click here to find out more or to purchase access to the workshop recordings and resources.
Links to more resources on previous syllabuses from the ABRSM and Trinity examination boards are available here.
Here’s what some of our subscribers and participants in online events have had to say about our resources for previous examination syllabuses:
- “Essential advice for any teacher preparing students for an exam or looking for graded repertoire ideas for their students.”
- “Although I’m not planning on doing exams, I discovered some lovely new pieces with loads of practical suggestions for how to learn and practise them!”
- “These workshops are a very nice complement to the Online Academy videos by giving the opportunity to ask questions and discuss specific topics. Graham was able to provide me with some excellent tips for assisting a student with a particular trouble spot.”
- “Graham has a unique ability to apply his vast knowledge at any level and show how to bring works from each grade to life!”