Levels for Piano Repertoire

[kedix1414]

For years now I have heard people talking about "levels" for piano repertoire.  For example, I hear that Sonata Pathetique is a Level 8 piece, and I just met a piano student last week who told me that she plays piano at level 5.  I think I may have also heard people talking about tests to progress through the levels, but I am not sure about that one.  What is this system?  My piano teacher has never told me about it.  How can I figure out what level I am on?

[j_menz]

How can I figure out what level I am on?

This is a list of some pieces that are either in my repertoire or that I am currently working on.

Brahms' Rhapsody in G Minor
Beethoven Sonata No.17 in D Minor
Jardins Jardins Sous La Pluie from Estampes by Debussy
Mozart's Sonata No. 12 in F Major (only the first movement so far)
Schubert Impromptu No. 2 in E-Flat Major
Chopin's Nocturne No. 1 in B-Flat Minor
Prelude and Fugue in C Minor from the Well Tempered Clavier
Brahms' Intermezzo in A

Somewhere in the 7-8 range depending on what you've got down pat and what you are still working on.

I wouldn't worry too much about it frankly. Unless you are doing the grade exams there's no simple answer, and quite a number of people here, myself included, managed to get on quite well without them. Your teacher evidently takes the same attitude.

[kedix1414]

Ok, thanks for the explanation.

[ajspiano]

How can I figure out what level I am on?

Perhaps you might consider whether pigeon-holing your level of ability is in any way a good idea to begin with.

..Number one way to get yourself unnecessarily afraid of works you 'think' are to hard, and skimp on great music because you think its too easy.

Incidently, something that wasn't pointed out by J_menz, it also depends whether you operate under the RCM, ABRSM, AMEB, or Trinity..  all of which have similar but slightly different gradings and exam requirements...  and of course you may consider the fact that there is far more to be learned from a range of level 'X' music than will be learned simply by meeting the exam requirements at that level.

Infact, my own experience was that I was 'prepared' by a teacher to pass the exam, not to learn the material at all (excusing the fluent performance part, I did that).

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Prelude and Fugue in C Minor from the Well Tempered Clavier

Probably past level 9000

But I'm not a fan of putting grades and levels to pieces

So you shouldn't worry about it.

[ajspiano]

Probably past level 9000

LOL, care to rate chopin 25/7?

*Insides twist as I realize I just expressed an interest in rating advanced repertoire with a number based system.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

LOL, care to rate chopin 25/7?

Bach is harder than every composer by far! 

I could probably learn the whole Rach 3 in the amount of time it would take me to learn three or four WTC P&F's

[ajspiano]

I could probably learn the whole Rach 3 in the amount of time it would take me to learn three or four WTC P&F's

Hereby showing the flaws in the grading system, how irrelevant gradings can be to a pianists experience, and the individual nature by which each persons problems should be tackled.

[j_menz]

LOL, care to rate chopin 25/7?

*Insides twist as I realize I just expressed an interest in rating advanced repertoire with a number based system.

Go and stand in the naughty corner! 

[ajspiano]

Go and stand in the naughty corner! 

...and edit syllabuses as punishment?

[j_menz]

...and edit syllabuses as punishment?

No, vote and explain your reasons in every "which is harder?" thread on PS.

[ajspiano]

No, vote and explain your reasons in every "which is harder?" thread on PS.

I'll have to expand my personal repertoire grading guide lines to something a little more complex than "achievable today" and "achievable, exercise some patience".

[j_menz]

I'll have to expand my personal repertoire grading guide lines to something a little more complex than "achievable today" and "achievable, exercise some patience".

LOL - you have the same guidelines as me.

[ajspiano]

LOL - you have the same guidelines as me.

as should be the case with everyone i tend to think..   only people seem to have trouble with the "exercise some patience" part, and that's when they get caught up throwing around words like "hard" and "difficult"  ..(and forgetting to focus on how/what to practice)

[j_menz]

Bach is harder than every composer by far! 

I could probably learn the whole Rach 3 in the amount of time it would take me to learn three or four WTC P&F's

I'd be curious how the Liszt Bach transcriptions would fit in here.  They are really terrific transcriptions of some of Bach's organ works. They are faithful to the originals, too with the following exceptions: (1) the pedal part is incorporated into the hands and (2) to give the effect of the organ some of the voices are doubled in 3rds, 4ths, 6ths or octaves.

All the joys of Bach with many of the joys of Liszt thrown in for good measure.