Easier
A list
Anon ~ Minuet in G (A1) This anonymous minuet has already become a well known piece at this level. Whatever tempo is chosen, the key thing is to show a minim/crotchet momentum through the phrasing. Some bars emphasise that characteristic with a harmonic change on the 3rd beat of the bar (such as bars 1,3 & 7 etc), and this is a helpful way to demonstrate how the phrasing can best work in a natural musical manner.
Gasieniec ~ Hansel and Gretel (A3) is a simple enough composition with its A-B-A plus coda form. A good starting point would be to get to know and memorise the tune - first in the right hand, and then in the left.
Leopold Mozart ~ Angloise (A5). A two-time dance by Mozart's father, this is a good choice in which to learn about different articulation between the hands and an opportunity to include some simple but effective choices. Dinara Klinton (ABRSM Grade 3 recording) demonstrates the effectiveness of detached (as opposed to spiky staccato) articulation in the left hand, which proves to be a musical counterfoil to the elegant right hand tunes:
Prokofiev ~ Gavotte (A7) (duet). Once again this is a good opportunity to learn an exam syllabus piece in the best way possible, namely playing frequently with the teacher. This provides endless opportunities for increased aural awareness, the refining of ensemble, practising aspects of rhythm, timing, and textural balance - all essential qualities which can positively influence a child's solo playing.
Seiber ~ Jazz Etudiette (A9) is fun to play, containing fairly easy and regularly occurring patterns in both hands which should be played in a poised and upbeat, but unhurried manner.
Mozart ~Allegro in Bb, K.3 (A12) has featured before in these syllabi and is a delightful piece. The notes should be easy enough to learn and to play. Achieving the more persuasive kind of elegant Classical style is down to knowing what you are listening for when playing. There is probably no better way to encourage this level of musical self-awareness than to record and compare your pupil's playing with a more ideal version and then work on narrowing the gap.
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B list
Loeschhorn ~ Study in F (B2) is a fairly easy piece to learn and to put together. Getting the most, musically, from it should also not be too challenging. Firstly, a good balance between the hands will improve things enormously. Achieving a smoothly flowing left hand Alberti Bass line will help to make a huge difference to the outcome of the phrasing. Hearing the shape of the phrases in four bar sections will also help.
Dennis Alexander ~ Autumn Serenade (B4) (duet) is a charming piece with a relatively simple primo part consisting mainly of solo right hand playing, some left hand chords and lots of imitation between the parts.
Bach ~ Ariosos (B5) (duet) - a beautiful arrangement from the opening Adagio of Bach's cantata BWV 156. a great opportunity to play great music which is not particularly difficult in this arrangement. Listen to the sensitive recording from the ABRSM playlist. Here is how the original Baroque instrumentation would have sounded:
Bartok ~ Andante (B6) is a simple piece with lots of repetition of the main tune. There is some hand crossing, but the tempo is andante. The capacity to project the melodic line, whilst keeping the accompaniment quieter, will add poise to the playing and textures.
Paul Harris ~ Indigo (B9) taken from his series of miniatures, titled Rainbow, is a gently moving and atmospheric piece, evoking strange moods through its various harmonic palettes, working its way from minor keys, through a modal feel in places, to its final minor 9th chord of mystery.
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