Trinity Syllabus Grade 7

The next set of videos in our guide to the Trinity College London 2021 – 23 piano examination syllabus feature six new pieces from the Trinity Grade 7 Syllabus. These complement thirteen existing videos for the intermediate grades (Grades 4-6) as well as twenty videos for works from the foundation grades (Initial – Grade 3).

Video Walkthroughs

In these excerpts from the full videos, I discuss pedalling, managing trills, deconstruction techniques for practising the left hand and articulation. Each video walkthrough offers plenty of tips for practice, as well as suggestions for piano teachers, and guidance on matters relating to style and interpretation. As with the previous selection, many of the works are in the public domain with links to free scores where available.

Bach – Invention 12 in A Major, BWV 783

The Two-Part Inventions of Bach were written for his son, Wilhelm Friedmann, and are as much models of compositional technique as they are studies for equal development of both hands at the keyboard. In this video excerpt, I give some tips to manage trills, mordents, and other ornaments:

Handel – Capriccio in G minor, HWV 483

This showpiece offers plenty of scope for bringing Handel’s design features to life with dynamic shaping and imaginative articulation. Have a look at this video excerpt for some ideas on how to add dynamics and articulation to this piece:

Haydn – Sonata in D Major, Hob.XVI:24 (Finale)  

This light-hearted presto is full of witty turns of phrase, not least the string of interrupted cadences toward the end. In order for a pianist not to trip up, make sure you can sustain the tempo you choose for the beginning throughout. A variety of different touches and sabs of pedal here and there will add colour and interest. In this video excerpt I show how to get the maximum effect from Haydn’s interrupted cadences:

Martinez – Sonata in E Major (1st mvt, Allegro)

This Classical period binary form movement lies comfortably under the hands. If organised rhythmically against the left hand, the ornaments will not trouble the pianist. In this video excerpt, I demonstrate a choreography that will work for many of the trills:

Hensel – Mélodie, Op. 4 No. 2

In this song without words in all but name, we find a beautiful top melody in the right hand, supported by a bass line with broken chords shared between the two hands as a harmonic filler. In this video I explore the different textures that can be found throughout the piece as well as demonstrating how to use the pedal:

Fibich – Lento (Op. 41 No. 139 from Moods, Impressions and Souvenirs)

In this gorgeous character piece by the unjustly neglected Czech composer, Fibich, it is important to be able to understand and carefully consider the different textures of the piece and how to bring them to life. The player will need to carefully consider the pedalling and accommodate the spread chords so as to catch the basses in the pedal while keeping continuity. In this video excerpt, I demonstrate some deconstruction techniques for practising the left hand:

The full videos for the repertoire selections for this and all other grades are available here via the series index on the Online Academy.

More excerpts from other grades are available on our YouTube channel or click here for videos and information for Grade 8, click here for the intermediate grades (Grades 4 – 6) or here for the foundation grades (Initial – Grade 3). Existing resources for the Trinity and previous ABRSM syllabuses can be viewed on the Online Academy here.

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