Piano Syllabus
YOUNG PIANISTS – 18 Years and under
NOVICE
A novice is a performer who has been learning the piano for less than 12 months on 1st January 2025.
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 [B]
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 [B]
P14 Grades 8-8+ pieces - Time limit 8 mins [B]
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 [B]
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 [B]
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 [B]
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.
EITHER Sparkling Splashes and Smooth Water by Barbara Arens, ABRSM grade 2, 2025 and 2026 [A]
OR Allegro in F by Mozart, ABRSM grade 3, 2025 and 2026 [A]
P36 Grades 4-5.
EITHER Cloudscapes by Ailbhe McDonagh, ABRSM grade 4, 2025 and 2026 [A]
OR Hook’s Hornpipe by Nikki Isles, ABRSM grade 5, 2025 and 2026 [A]
P37 Grades 6-7.
EITHER Esquisse in D by Glière, Op.47, No.3, ABRSM grade 6, 2025 and 2026 [A]
OR The Watermill by Esther Kahn, ABRSM grade 7, 2025 and 2026 [A]
P38 Grades 8-8+.
EITHER Sonata in C by D. Scarlatti, ABRSM grade 8, 2025 and 2026 [B]
OR Own choice of advanced study by Rachmaninov or similar [B]
(Please state title and exact time on the entry form)
SONATA and SONATINA
P39 11-13 years. Any ONE movement of a sonata or sonatina [A]
P40 14-16 years. TWO contrasting movements of a sonata or sonatina [B]
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 [C] (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 16 years & under - Time limit 2 to 7 mins [B]
P67 for a group aged 18 years & under - Time limit 3 to 8 mins [B]
P68 for players of any age - Time limit 3 to 8 mins [B]
ADULT PIANISTS – 19 Years and over
P69 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 2025.
P70 Amateur: Grades 1-5 Own choice of one or more pieces Time limit 2 to 5 mins [B]
P71 Amateur: Grades 6-8 Own choice of one or more pieces Time limit 10 mins [B]
P72 Senior Citizen: Any ONE piece written before 1900 Time limit 10 mins [B]
P73 Senior Citizen: Any ONE piece written after 1900 Time limit 10 mins [B]
P74 A Sonata: Open Any complete sonata written between 1750 and 1950 (Please state exact time on the entry form) (N.B. special fee for this class) [E]
P74 B Sonata: Open Any ONE movement of a sonata - Time limit 10 mins [C]
P75 Baroque: Open Any one piece - Time limit 10 mins [C]
P76 Romantic and Impressionist: Open Any one piece - Time limit 10 mins [C]
P77 20th & 21st Century: Open Any piece written after 1920 - Time limit 10 mins [C]
P78 Swing, Jazz and Blues: Open Own choice of one or more pieces - Time limit 10 mins [C]
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 [E]
P80 Open: A group of contrasting pieces (no Sonata movements) - Time limit 15 to 20 mins [E]
SIGHT READING
Music to be chosen by the adjudicator. Entrants may take part in ONE of these classes.
P81 Amateur: FREE if entering ONE other class
P82 Open: FREE if entering TWO other classes
SIGHT READING DUET for fun
Music to be chosen by the adjudicator
P83 Duet: FREE if entering ONE other class.
OWN COMPOSITION
P84 Open: Any one piece. Please state title and time on the entry form [B]
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 [B]
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 [B]
P87 Open: Time limit 10 mins [B]
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 [B]
DUET CLASSES
P90 Amateur: Time limit 4 to 8 mins [B]
P91 Open: Time limit 4 to 10 mins [C]
P92 Senior Citizen: Time limit 4 to 10 mins [C]
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 [C]
Adjudicator: Melanie Spanswick MMus(RCM), GRSM(Hons), ARCM, DipRCM
Venue: Menuhin Room, Portsmouth Library
Dates: 17th-19th February 2025
Closing date for entries: 18th November 2024
Please send entries/titles to: Mrs Carol Frogley, 34 Woodlands Avenue, Emsworth, PO10 7QE.
Melanie Spanswick
Melanie Spanswick is a British pianist, writer, teacher, composer and adjudicator, who has authored best-selling books on many aspects of piano playing. Her music is increasingly performed and recorded worldwide, and she is one of the few female composers to be published in the renowned Edition Schott Series.
A piano professor at Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and an Honorary Master Piano Teacher in Hong Kong, Melanie is artistic director of the Ars Nova Festival held in Singapore and Malaysia, and a member of the academic advisory board for the International Performing and Visual Arts Examination Board based in the Far East.
Melanie studied the piano at the Royal College of Music in London, where she won many prizes and graduated with a Master’s degree in Performance Studies. Her principal piano professors included Patricia Carroll, Tatiana Sarkissova and John Lill.
As a pianist, Melanie has performed and broadcast widely, giving recitals as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist at many music festivals and major concert halls, including solo performances at the South Bank Centre, CBSO Hall, and St. John’s Smith Square. She has made a solo recording at Wigmore Hall, has performed for the Queen Mother and the Queen of Denmark, and has also broadcast on Classic FM, BBC Radio, and Swedish and Spanish television.
As an author, she is published by major publishing houses: Schott, Faber and Alfred. Melanie selected the repertoire for the Faber Music Piano Anthology, and her piano guidebook, So You Want To Play The Piano? (Alfred Music) has received much acclaim. More recent lecture and workshop destinations include Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and China, Italy, the USA, and Germany. Melanie particularly enjoys coaching piano teachers.
Melanie writes a regular ‘How-To-Play’ column in Pianist magazine and has also contributed over 15 piano technique feature articles to Piano Professional, EPTA’s (European Piano Teachers Association) flagship publication. She co-wrote the ABRSM Piano Notes series, and the performance notes for the London College of Music piano examination syllabus 2018 – 2020. She has been a piano syllabus compiler and consultant for the 2020 – 2022 LCM exam syllabus.
As an educator, Melanie has examined for the ABRSM and she adjudicates for the British and International Federation of Festivals, for whom she is an adjudicator mentor and coach. She regularly tutors courses at Jackdaws Music Education Trust, Finchcocks Music, and PIANO WEEK. Workshop presentations have included EPTA (European Piano Teachers Association), hosting a bilingual piano project near Düsseldorf (Germany) for teachers and students, as well as serving as a faculty member at the Overseas Masters Winter Piano Academy held biennially at the Yehudi Menuhin School. Melanie led the Piano Teacher’s Course at the 2020 Chetham’s International Piano Summer School. Melanie can also be found on her YouTube channel.
As a composer, Melanie’s music has featured in various piano festival syllabuses, and it has been published by several leading publishing houses.
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:
Shostakovich: 50th anniversary of death (1906 – 1975)
Satie: 100th anniversary of death (1866 – 1925)
Glière: 150th anniversary of birth (1875 – 1956)
Ravel: 150th anniversary of birth (1875 – 1937)
