Piano Syllabus 2024
Entries open 01/01/2024 and close 28/02/2024
8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 13th and 14th May – all in Redhill United Reformed Church (except for one of these days which will be in St Mark’s Church).
Adjudicator: Clara Rodriguez
‘The Venezuelan virtuoso pianist Clara Rodriguez’ -Financial Times- has built an enviable international reputation for her innovative programme planning, juxtaposing standard repertoire with works by South American composers and has commissioned, premièred and is the dedicatee of over thirty works. Her playing stands out for its sheer beauty of tone, high expressiveness, sensitivity and considerable digital clarity, combined with stylistic acumen.
Still a teenager, she was awarded the Teresa Carreño Scholarship, which enabled her to come to London to study at the Royal College of Music with Phyllis Sellick. At the RCM she was the recipient of many prizes and awards including the Scarlatti Prize, the Mozart Prize, and the Percy Buck Award, was a finalist in the Chappell Prize and performed concertos by Mozart, De Falla, and Gershwin. In Caracas, at
seventeen, she made her debut playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto K595 with the Simón Bolívar Orchestra under the baton of José Antonio Abreu.
Her London debut took place at St. John’s Smith Square playing the Ravel Concerto in 1985. Before coming to London, pianist Guiomar Narváez was Clara Rodriguez’s first piano teacher. She has also received tuition from Paul Badura-Skoda (Austria), Niel Immelman (U.K.), Irina Zaritskaya (Russia) and Regina Smendzianka (Poland). Clara Rodriguez’s career as a solo pianist has taken her to perform to great acclaim in the U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Venezuela, the United States, India, Egypt, Syria, and Tunisia. In London, she is a hugely popular performer who regularly plays in recitals and as soloist with orchestra in the most prestigious halls including the Southbank Centre and the Wigmore Hall.
Clara Rodriguez is often interviewed by the BBC and her CDs constantly feature on the BBC Radio stations and in networks world-wide. She has recorded six solo albums for Nimbus Records that include the piano works by Moisés Moleiro, Federico Ruiz, Teresa Carreño, Ernesto Lecuona, ‘Venezuela’, ‘Americas without frontiers’ and her release of late works by Chopin can be found on the Ulysses Arts label. She teaches at the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music.
Adjudicator: Rebecca Coomber MA (Cantab)
Born in North Lincolnshire, Rebecca started playing the piano at the age of six. When she was 14, she was invited to help out the organist at the local church and she began to take organ lessons, at first locally and later at Lincoln Cathedral with Roger Bryan. In 1990 she was awarded an Organ Scholarship to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge – the only woman in her year to be successful. In the College Chapel she and her fellow organ scholar were responsible for accompanying and directing two choral evensong services per week. Whilst at Cambridge, in addition to studying for
her Music degree she studied the organ with Anne Page. She continues to play the organ at local churches, most recently at St Bartholomew’s, Leigh.
Rebecca has performed both in the UK (including the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall and King’s College Chapel, Cambridge) and abroad. Rebecca is passionate about teaching and music education and is currently a peripatetic teacher at Chinthurst School and the Reigate Grammar School Saturday Music College. She has experience of teaching pupils of all ages, including her own three boys when they were younger.
Also a string player, Rebecca teaches the violin and plays the viola. She has been a member of many orchestras and string quartets over the years. As a personal challenge, Rebecca’s latest hobby has been learning new musical instruments. She began first with the cello in 2018 and during the past summer has taken up the clarinet. This is a constant reminder to her of the challenges of starting to play any instrument.
Having performed in many music festivals herself over the years, Rebecca is excited to adjudicate at this year’s Festival.
Enquiries about entering the Piano section should be emailed to: enquiries.rrmdf@gmail.com.
Sponsored by:
Classes
200 – 205 Own Choice
Please see Regulations 11 and 19 regarding photocopies.
N.B. Competitors who choose set pieces by examining Boards (eg. Associated Board) may NOT choose those pieces marked ‘Reprinted by permission – for use only in connection with examiners of the Royal Schools of Music’ unless they obtain WRITTEN PERMISSION from the publisher. The Board does not hold the copyright for these pieces. The Jazz Syllabus for Associated Board Examinations may NOT be used for Classes 200 – 205.
NB: Set pieces in Classes 218 – 219 may not be played in Own Choice classes.
200 – 206 Own Choice
Please provide a copy for the adjudicator.
NB: Set pieces in Classes 218 – 219 may not be played in Own Choice classes Please provide a copy for the adjudicator. (See regs. 11 & 19)
Class 227 A grade 8 class cannot be entered if more than a year has elapsed after achieving Grade 8.
200 7 years and under
See regs. 11 & 19
Fee £5.00
7 and younger.
Up to 2 mins.
201 8 years
See regs. 11 & 19
Fee £5.00
Age 8.
Up to 2 mins.
202 9 years
See regs. 11 & 19
Fee £5.00
Age 9.
Up to 3 mins.
203 10 years
See regs. 11 & 19
Fee £5.00
Age 10.
Up to 3 mins.
204 11 – 12 years
See regs. 11 & 19
Fee £5.50
Age 11 and 12.
Up to 4 mins.
205 13 – 14 years
See regs. 11 & 19
Fee £6.00
Age 13 and 14.
Up to 5 mins.
206 15 years
Fee £7.00
Age 15.
Up to 6 mins.
207 Jazz, Films, Musicals or Popular Music (11 years and under)
Up to 4 mins.
Own choice from the ABRSM Jazz Syllabus (or similar) OR own choice of music from films, musicals or popular music. See reg.19.
Fee £5.00
11 and younger.
208 Jazz, Films, Musicals or Popular Music (15 years and under)
Own choice from the ABRSM Jazz Syllabus (or similar) OR own choice of music from films, musicals or popular music. See reg. 19.
Fee £5.00
15 and younger.
Up to 4 mins.
209 NEW CLASS: Animals and Friends (Non Competitive)
Music with an animal, bird, fish, insect (or other creature) in the title.
Dressing up to depict your chosen animal is optional.
See regs. 11 & 19
Fee £5.00
10 and younger.
Up to 3 mins.
210 Come and Play (Non Competitive) (10 years and under)
Own choice of one piece.
See regs. 11 & 19
Fee £5.00
10 and younger.
Up to 3 mins.
211 Come and Play (Non Competitive) (15 years and under)
Own choice of one piece.
See regs. 11 & 19
Fee £6.00
15 and younger.
Up to 5 mins.
212 Baroque (11 years and under)
Own choice.
Fee £5.00
11 and younger.
Up to 3 mins.
213 Baroque (12 – 15 years)
Own choice.
Fee £6.00
Age between 12 and 15.
Up to 5 mins.
214 Piano Composition (11 years and under)
To be played by the composer.
Please supply the Piano Secretary with a written copy by 12th April.Fee £5.00
11 and younger.
Up to 3 mins.
215 Piano Composition (15 years and under)
To be played by the composer
Please supply the Piano Secretary with a written copy by 12th April
Fee £6.00
15 and younger.
Up to 5 mins.
216 Recital (12 years and under)
Own choice of two contrasting pieces by different composers. One piece to be played from memory. Minimum Grade 3 standard. See regs. 11 & 19.
Please contact Section Secretary if you need extra time.
Fee £6.00
12 and younger.
Up to 5 mins.
217 Recital (13 – 15 years)
Own choice of two contrasting pieces by different composers. One piece to be played from memory. Minimum Grade 5 standard. See regs. 11 & 19.
Please contact Section Secretary if you need extra time.
Fee £7.50
Age between 13 and 15.
Up to 8 mins.
Beginners Classes
218 7 years and under beginners
Set piece: Choose one piece from Hal Leonard Piano Lessons Book 1 pages 54-63 or similar.
See reg.12
Fee £5.00
7 and younger.
219 8 years and over, beginners
Set piece: Choose one piece from Hal Leonard Piano Lessons book 2 pages 10-19 or similar.
See reg. 12
Fee £5.00
8 and older.
Other Classes
220 Preliminary
Any Initial Exam or Prep Test piece set in the last 5 years by ABRSM, Trinity or similar exam board.
Fee £5.00
221 Grade 1
Any Grade 1 examination piece set in the last 5 years by ABRSM or similar exam board.
Fee £5.00
222 Grade 2
Any Grade 2 examination piece set in the last 5 years by ABRSM or similar exam board.
Fee £5.00
223 Grade 3
Any Grade 3 examination piece set in the last 5 years by ABRSM or similar exam board.
Fee £5.00
224 Grade 4
Any Grade 4 examination piece set in the last 5 years by ABRSM or similar exam board.
Fee £5.00
225 Grade 5
Any Grade 5 examination piece set in the last 5 years by ABRSM, Trinity or similar exam board.
Fee £6.00
Up to 4 mins
226 Grade 6
Any Grade 6 examination piece set in the last 5 years by ABRSM, Trinity or similar exam board.
Fee £6.00
Up to 4 mins
227 Grades 7
Any Grade 7 examination piece set in the last 5 years by ABRSM, Trinity or similar exam board.
See reg. 13
Fee £6.50
Up to 5 mins
Senior Piano Classes
If you need more than the allocated time please contact the Piano Secretary before sending in your entry. Please provide a copy for the adjudicator.
228 Grade 8
Any Grade 8 examination piece set in the last 5 years by ABRSM, Trinity or similar exam board.
Fee £6.50
Up to 5 mins
229 NEW CLASS: Come and Play Beginners (Non Competitive)
Own Choice. Up to and including Grade 3.
Fee £5.00
16 and older
Up to 3 mins
230 NEW CLASS: Come and Play (Non Competitive)
Own Choice. Minimum standard Grade 4.
Up to 7 mins.
Please contact Piano Secretary if you need more time.
Fee £6.00
16 and older
231 Piano Composition (16 years and over)
To be played by the composer.
Please supply the Piano Secretary with a written copy by 12th April.
Fee £6.00
16 and older
Up to 5 mins
232 Baroque (16 years and over)
Own Choice of one piece by a Baroque composer.
Fee £6.00
16 and older
Up to 6 mins
233 Classical (16 years and over)
Own choice of any piece by any Classical composer.
Fee £6.00
16 and older
Up to 6 mins
234 Romantic (16 years and over)
Own choice of one piece by any Romantic composer.
Fee £6.00
16 and older
Up to 6 mins
235 20th and 21st Century (16 years and over)
Own choice of one piece by any 20th or 21st Century composer
Fee £6.00
16 and older
Up to 6 mins
236 Jazz, Films, Musicals or Popular Music (16 years and over)
Own choice from the ABRSM Jazz syllabus or similar OR own choice of music from films, musicals
or popular music.
See reg. 19
Fee £6.00
16 and older
Up to 6 mins
237 NEW CLASS: English Music. Classical and Folk Music (16 years and over)
Own choice of one piece of English Classical or Folk Music excluding any piece suitable for Class
234.
Fee £6.00
16 and older
Up to 6 mins
238 Own Choice (16 years and over)
Own choice of one piece.
Up to 7 mins.
Please contact the Piano Secretary if you need extra time.
Fee £7.00
16 and older
239 Recital (16 – 18 years)
Own choice of two pieces by different composers, one to be played from memory.
Please contact the Piano Secretary if you need extra time.
Fee £8.50
16 and older
Up to 10 mins
240 Recital (19 years and over)
Own choice of two pieces by different composers, one to be played from memory.
Please contact the Piano Secretary if you need extra time.
Fee £8.50
Up to 10 min
Piano Duets & Trios Classes
241 – 242 Adult and Child Duet (The adult MUST NOT be a piano teacher)
Own choice of two duets – partners to change places. Please provide a copy for the adjudicator.
243 – 248 Competitors may enter for more than one class provided age limits are complied with
Please provide a copy for the adjudicator.
241 NEW CLASS: Duet for adult and child (15 years and under) (Non Competitive)
The adult must not be a piano teacher.
Own choice of two duets. Partners to change places.
Fee £7.50 per group
Group of 2 people
15 and younger
242 Duet for adult and child (10 years and under)
The adult must not be a piano teacher. Own choice of two duets – partners to change places.
Fee £7.50 per group
Group of 2 people
10 and younger
243 Duet for adult and child (11 – 15 years)
The adult must not be a piano teacher. Own choice of two duets – partners to changes places.
Fee £7.50 per group
Group of 2 people
Age between 11 and 15
244 Duet (16 years and over)
Own choice of piece(s)
Fee £6.50 per group
Group of 2 people
16 and older
Up to 5 mins
245 Duet (15 years and under)
Own choice of piece(s)
Fee £6.50 per group
Group of 2 people
15 and younger
Up to 5 mins
246 Duet (12 years and under)
Own choice of piece(s). See reg.19.
Fee £6.00 per group
Group of 2 people
12 and younger
Up to 3 mins
247 Duet (10 years and under)
Own choice of piece(s)
Fee £6.00 per group
Group of 2 people
10 and younger
Up to 3 mins
248 Family Duet (15 years and under)
(Brothers, sisters and cousins only) Own choice of piece(s). See reg.19.
Fee £6.50 per group
Group of 2 people
15 and younger
Up to 3 mins
249 Family Duet (11 years and under)
Brothers, sisters ands cousins only
Own choice of piece(s)
Fee £6.00
11 and younger
Up to 3 mins
250 Trio – Three players at one piano (any age)
Own choice of piece(s).
Fee £8.00 per group
Group of 3 people
Up to 5 mins
251 Teacher / Pupil Duet (any age)
Own choice. Pupil must play Primo part.
(Only the pupil will be adjudicated)
This class may divided by age if numbers permit.
Fee £6.00 per group
Group of 2 people
Concerto Competition
For Concerto entries, please see our Concerto Competition section that will be held on Thursday and Friday 21st and 22nd March 2024.
