Choosing Grade 7 Pieces

[flamingrain]

I'm starting grade 7 RCM piano and am currently choosing pieces. For those of you who have done grade 7 or played any pieces in grade 7, what would you recommend? What are some easy pieces and ones that are fun to play? Also, what pieces sound good? Any help would be appreciated  .

[1piano4joe]

Hi flamingrain,

These are fun and sound great:

1. Fantasy Bossa by Christopher Norton (I love this one)
2. Feelin' Good by Brian Bonsor
3. Moonlight Mood by William L. Gillock
4. Venetian Boat Song, Op. 30, no. 6 by Felix Mendelssohn
5. Prelude in E Minor, Op. 28, no. 4 by Frederic Chopin (I love this one too)
6. Katherine by Stephen Chatman
7. Waltz in B Minor, Op. 18, no. 6 by Franz Schubert (A primer for more difficult waltzes)
8. To a Wild Rose, Op. 51, no. 1 by Edward Macdowell
9. Suite in G Major, Op. 1, no. 1 by Joseph-Hector Fiocco

For Etudes:

1. Wound Up by Christopher Norton (easy left hand throughout, fun and nice sound)
2. Study in C Major, Op. 24, no. 22 by Giuseppe Concone (This entire op. 24 is worth a look)
3. Etude in C Minor, Op. 29, no. 7 by Henri Bertini (L.H. octaves provide drama)
4. Dance, Op. 27, no. 27 by Dmitri Kabalevsky (My personal favorite and very fun to play)
5. Spinning Top by Yelena Fabianova Gnesina (If you like fast pieces)

Hope I have been helpful, Joe.

And Welcome to Pianostreet!

[iquinn876]

I just finished Grade 7. 

Here are some of pieces that I played and my thoughts on them:

Venetian Boat Song - Mendelssohn (in the grade 7 perspectives book, suzuki book 6)
I love this piece. It's one of the more advanced grade seven pieces but its definitely worth the challenge. Great for competitions and recitals - impressive.

Ottawa Valley Song - Court Stone (in conservatory canada 7 book)
Not very popular, it's by a Canadian composer. Very nice piece, lots of pedal and nice arpeggios. Relaxing. Very lyrical and musical.

Ringing Changes - Norton (norton connections 7 book)
The time signature changes in every bar. Lots of energy! Very fun, and fast song to play! Difficult but it's a blast once you can play it well.

Sonatina op. 36 no. 3 Mvt. I - Clementi (in the grade 7 book, suzuki book 3, many other books)
Lots of runs, very fun to play

Invention No. 1 - Bach (in grade 7 book, suzuki book 5, and many others)
Great prep for grade 8, very famous and nice sounding.

I also played a study out of the study book called Cyclone. It's a nice enough piece, not one of my favourite.

I second all of the ones Joe suggested.