Piano Syllabus

NOVICE
A novice is a performer who has been learning the piano for less than 12 months on 1st January 2026.

P1  7 years & under - Time limit 2 mins [A]
P2  8-9 years - Time limit 2 mins [A]
P3  10-12 years - Time limit 2 mins [A]
P4  13-18 years - Time limit 3 mins [A]

BAROQUE

P5  9 years & under - Time limit 2 mins [A]
P6 10-12 years - Time limit 3 mins [A]
P7  13-15 years - Time limit 5 mins [B]
P8  16-18 years - Time limit 6 mins [C]

CLASSICAL

P9  Pre-grade pieces - Time limit 2 mins [A]
P10  Grade 1 pieces - Time limit 2 mins [A]
P11  Grades 2-3 pieces - Time limit 3 mins [A]
P12  Grades 4-5 pieces - Time limit 4 mins [B]
P13  Grades 6-7 pieces - Time limit 6 mins [C]
P14  Grades 8-8+ pieces - Time limit 8 mins [C]

ROMANTIC

P15  9 years & under - Time limit 2 mins [A]
P16  10-12 years - Time limit 4 mins [B]
P17  13-15 years - Time limit 6 mins [B]
P18  16-18 years - Time limit 8 mins [C]

20th & 21st CENTURY

P19  Pre-grade pieces - Time limit 2 mins [A]
P20  Grade 1 pieces - Time limit 2 mins [A]
P21  Grades 2-3 pieces - Time limit 3 mins [A]
P22  Grades 4-5 pieces - Time limit 4 mins [B]
P23  Grades 6-7 pieces - Time limit 6 mins [B]
P24  Grades 8-8+ pieces - Time limit 8 mins [C]

SWING, JAZZ and BLUES

P25  7 years & under - Time limit 2 mins [A]
P26  8-9 years - Time limit 2 mins [A]
P27  10-11 years - Time limit 3 mins [A]
P28  12-13 years - Time limit 4 mins [B]
P29  14-15 years - Time limit 5 mins [B]
P30  16-18 years - Time limit 6 mins [C]

FILM MUSIC & MUSIC FROM MUSICALS

Own choice of music from film, TV or musical for piano
P31  18 years and under - Time limit 5 mins [B]

OWN COMPOSITION

P32  15 years and under. Any one piece. Please state title and time on the entry form [A]
P33  16-18 years. Any one piece. Please state title and time on the entry form [A]

NON-COMPETITIVE

P34  For adjudication only. An opportunity for you to play any one piece of your own choice [A]

ETUDE CLASSES – to show improvement in piano technique.

P35  Up to grade 3. [A]
EITHER Suite de la réjouissance - Louis-Claude Daquin, ABRSM grade 2, 2025 and 2026
OR Tarantella Twist by Victoria Proudler, ABRSM grade 3, 2025 and 2026

P36  Grades 4-5. [A]
Menuet and Trio (no repeats) by Joseph Haydn, ABRSM grade 4, 2025 and 2026
OR Waltz in B minor by Franz Schubert, ABRSM grade 5, 2025 and 2026

P37  Grades 6-7. [A]
EITHER The Bounce by Zoe Rahman, Op.47, No.3, ABRSM grade 6, 2025 and 2026
OR Adagietto pianissimo by Alberto Ginastera, ABRSM grade 7, 2025 and 2026

P38  Grades 8-8+. [B]
EITHER Consolation in E by Franz Liszt, ABRSM grade 8, 2025 and 2026
OR Own choice of advanced study by Rachmaninov or similar (Please state title and exact time on the entry form)

(Please state title and exact time on the entry form)

SONATA and SONATINA

P39  under 13 years. Any ONE movement of a sonata or sonatina [A]
P40  14-16 years. TWO contrasting movements of a sonata or sonatina [C]
P41  17-18 years. A complete THREE movement work (D)

PIANO PLUS

An opportunity to show your versatility as an instrumentalist. Perform one piece on the piano and another on any other instrument (eg. recorder, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, trumpet, voice, etc) with or without an accompaniment. Own choice, any age under 18. Please state the second instrument, the titles, composers and the total time of the chosen music on the entry form.

P42  16 years and under - Time limit 8 mins [B]
P43  18 years and under - Time limit 8 mins [B]

ACCOMPANIMENT

An opportunity to display your skills as an accompanist.
Prepared accompaniment – FREE when you enter ONE other class.
Bring a friend or relative with an instrument (eg. recorder, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, trumpet, singer) and play ONE prepared piece.

P44  16 years & under - Time limit 5 mins [B]
P45  18 years & under - Time limit 5 mins [B]

RECITAL

A group of contrasting pieces. N.B. Performers will be assessed on their choice of programme, dress and presentation as well as their performance and are encouraged to play one piece from memory. They should introduce their programme to the audience. Introductions are included in the time limit. Please note: Music chosen should be appropriate to grades specified.

P46  Grades 3-5 - Time limit between 5 and 8 mins [B]
P47  Grades 6-7 - Time limit between 6 and 10 mins [C]
P48  Grade 8 & Diploma - Time limit between 10 and 15 mins [D]

SIGHT READING

Music to be chosen by the adjudicator
Entrants may take part in only ONE of these classes.

P49  Grade 1-2 - FREE if entering ONE other class
P50  Grades 3-5 - FREE if entering TWO other classes
P51  Grades 6-8+ - FREE if entering TWO other classes

SIGHT READING DUET for fun

Music to be chosen by the adjudicator
Entrants may take part in only ONE of these classes.

P52  Grades 1-2 - FREE if entering ONE other class
P53  Grades 3-4 - FREE if entering TWO other classes
P54  Grades 5-6 - FREE if entering TWO other classes

DUET CLASSES

P55  9 years & under - Time limit 2 mins [A]
P56  12 years & under - Time limit 3 mins [A]
P57  15 years & under - Time limit 5 mins [B]
P58  18 years & under - Time limit 6 mins [B]
P59  9 years & under with adult or teacher - Time limit 2 mins [A] (Only the younger player will be adjudicated.
P60  10-12 years with adult or teacher - Time limit 3 mins [A] (Only the younger player will be adjudicated.)
P61  13-15 years with adult or teacher - Time limit 5 mins [B] (Only the younger player will be adjudicated.)
P62  16-18 years with adult or teacher - Time limit 6 mins [B] (Both players will be adjudicated.)

FAMILY AND FRIENDS ENSEMBLE

These classes are open to any age but performers must be members of the same family or friends.

P63  Duet - Time limit 5 mins [B]
P64  Trio - Time limit 5 mins [B]

ENSEMBLE

A group of three or more players, any combination of orchestral/school instruments TO INCLUDE A PIANIST. Please state the title and length of the chosen music on the entry form.

P65 for a group aged 11 years & under - Time limit 2 to 5 mins [B]
P66 for a group aged 18 years & under - Time limit 3 to 8 mins [C]

P68  Novice. Own choice of one or more pieces - Time limit 2 to 4 min
A novice is a performer who has not been learning the piano for more than 12 months on 1st January 2026.
P69  Amateur: Grades 1-5 Own choice of one or more pieces Time limit 2 to 5 mins [B]
P70  Amateur: Grades 6-8 Own choice of one or more pieces Time limit 10 mins [C]
P71  Senior Citizen: Any ONE piece written before 1900 Time limit 10 mins [C]
P72  Senior Citizen: Any ONE piece written after 1900 Time limit 10 mins [C]
P73 Sonata Class - Open; Any complete sonata written between 1750 and 1950 (Please state exact time on the entry form) (N.B. special fee for this class) [F]
P74 Sonata Class - Open; Any ONE movement of a sonata - Time limit 10 mins [D]
P75  Baroque: Open Any one piece - Time limit 10 mins [D]
P76  Romantic and Impressionist: Open Any one piece - Time limit 10 mins [D]
P77  20th & 21st Century: Open Any piece written after 1920 - Time limit 10 mins [D]
P78  Swing, Jazz and Blues: Open Own choice of one or more pieces - Time limit 10 mins [D]

RECITAL

Performers will be assessed on their choice of programme, dress and presentation as well as their performance and are encouraged to play one piece from memory. They should introduce their programme to the audience. Note: introductions are included in the time limit.

P79  Amateur: A group of contrasting pieces (no Sonata movements) - Time limit 15 to 20 mins [F]
P80  Open: A group of contrasting pieces (no Sonata movements) - Time limit 15 to 20 mins [F]

SIGHT READING

Music to be chosen by the adjudicator. Entrants may take part in ONE of these classes.

P81  Amateur [A]
P82  Open [A]

SIGHT READING DUET for fun

Music to be chosen by the adjudicator

P83  Duet [A]

OWN COMPOSITION

P84  Open: Any one piece. Please state title and time on the entry form [C]

PREPARED ACCOMPANIMENT

An opportunity to have your accompaniment skills adjudicated. Bring a friend or relative with an instrument (eg. recorder, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, trumpet, singer, etc) and play ONE prepared piece. Own choice. Please state title, composer and the time of the chosen music on the entry form.

P85  Open: Time limit 8 mins [C]

PIANO PLUS

An opportunity to demonstrate your skills as an instrumentalist. Perform one piece on the piano and another on any other instrument (eg. recorder, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, trumpet or voice) with or without an accompaniment. Own choice. Please state the second instrument, the titles, composers and the total time of the chosen music on the entry form.

P86  Amateur: Time limit 10 mins [C]
P87  Open: Time limit 10 mins [C]

FILM MUSIC

Own choice of music from film, TV or musical for piano.

P88  Amateur: Time limit 5 mins [B]
P89  Open: Time limit 8 mins [C]

DUET CLASSES

P90  Amateur: Time limit 4 to 8 mins [C]
P91  Open: Time limit 4 to 10 mins [D]
P92  Senior Citizen: Time limit 4 to 10 mins [D]

ENSEMBLE

A group of up to FOUR players with any combination of instruments TO INCLUDE A PIANIST (eg. string trio, wind players etc.) any style.

P93  Open: Time limit 3 to 10 mins [E]

Adjudicator: Timothy Barratt ARAM,GRSM,LRAM,ARCM,LMusTCL

Venue: Menuhin Room, Portsmouth Library

Dates: 16th-18th February 2026

Closing date for entries: 10th November 2025

Please send entries/titles to: Mrs Carol Frogley, 34 Woodlands Avenue, Emsworth, PO10 7QE.

Timothy Barratt studied on a Scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music, winning many major awards, and completed his studies with Vlado Perlemuter in Paris and Geoffrey Parsons. A performing career throughout the UK and abroad, a career as a soloist, accompanist and chamber music player has spanned more than 30 years, with a particular focus on voice and Timothy Barratt piano partnership. Teaching forms a major part of his musical life and he enjoys working with pupils of all ages and levels from beginner to post-graduate. He was Head of Keyboard at Dulwich College for many years whilst also teaching at the RAM and TCM and now pursues a busy freelance career. Formerly a member of the examining, training and review panel for the ABRSM, he now acts as a Piano Syllabus Consultant. He regularly directs Masterclasses and Residential Courses for performers in the UK and Far East and teachers and is in demand as a Competition and Festival adjudicator.

Prizes

The Clifford Benson Piano Prize (junior & senior) will be awarded for outstanding musicianship and communication

The Zurich Insurance Piano Cup will be awarded for the best performance, 18 years and under

The Margaret Jewell Memorial Trophy will be presented to the most promising solo pianist in the Young Pianists’ section

Note: When deciding on your music, you might like to remember some anniversaries which may inspire your choices:

Richard Rodney Bennett: 90th anniversary of birth (1936 – 2012).
Malcolm Arnold: 20 years since death (1921 - 2006)