I have been eagerly waiting for the next volume in Victoria Proudler‘s Piano Grades are Go! series to appear, and if you have too, you won’t be disappointed. The two existing books, both of which I reviewed previously, have become mainstays of my piano teaching already. They have been popular with students of all ages, which for me, when 65% of my students are adults, is a real bonus! So in some ways, how do I review and say something different about this excellent new volume?
One of the great things about these books from a teaching perspective is their focus on different aspects of technique. That is not to say that technique is everything, but each piece has a very clear focus, for example, balance, staccato, forearm rotation etc. This was evident in the first two books, and Book 3 covering Grades 4-5 is no exception. The preliminary notes for each piece are very useful: my students even read them themselves! The techniques become more advanced, yes, but there is also plenty of opportunity to reinforce and practise earlier concepts. One thing I particularly liked about Piano Grades are Go! Grades 4-5 is that in addition to technique, there is also a focus on style and communication. Through pieces such as the ‘Toccatina in A minor’ and ‘Be-Bop Baroque’, students are introduced to the baroque style; ragtime, jazz, and blues styles are also covered, in addition to a Chopin-esque waltz in ‘Twilight Waltz’.
Once again, the pieces are carefully graded and arranged in order of difficulty. In the earlier two books, this has been a particularly useful aspect, students being able to work through the book sequentially, a clear progression always evident. With the very welcome focus on technique, communication, style, and interpretation, we shouldn’t forget the music itself, and all the compositions here are of the highest quality. In books like this, it’s always hard to single out particular pieces, but I especially enjoyed ‘Aurora’ with its beautifully sparking 3+3+2 descending quaver patterns and shifting harmonies. I also enjoyed ‘Summer Rain’, with its appropriately shimmering semiquaver patterns. ‘Sicilian Dance’ was a fabulous, lively tarantella, great fun to play.
The publication is of the highest quality, and coming from a publisher such as EVC Music, where quality is key, I would expect nothing less. Like Burgmüller and others before, for me, Victoria’s Piano Grades are Go! series offers us not only studies and etudes for the 21st century, but also a great selection of varied repertoire, carefully graded, and expertly conceived. The music is universally appealing and a joy to both teach and play. If this isn’t on your ‘beginning of term’ shopping list, it should be. This book is another winner, and I recommend it without hesitation.
Published 29.8.24; revised 23.11.24.
[This post contains affiliate links]
Piano Grades are Go! Grades 4-5 by Victoria Proudler, is published by EVC Music, ISBN 9781911359548, RRP £13.00
I was sent a review copy of this book free of charge; however, this review is my honest opinion as a teacher. You can find my Reviews Policy here.
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