Piano Notes were published in early 2017, and offer students and teachers a wealth of practical advice for the entire ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music examination board) piano syllabus from Grade 1 through to Grade 8, which started in January 2017 and goes through to Spring 2019. The notes include all alternative pieces as well as those printed in each graded book, so they make for a very beneficial and handy guide, irrespective of your standard or ability (and are great to keep by the piano as a reference).
Published by Rhinegold, the leading music education publishers, who also organise the Music and Drama Education Expo Event held in February 2017 at Olympia in London, Piano Notes have been written by a team of five writers, all of whom are experienced teachers; Fiona Lau, Katharine May, Michael Round, Murray McLachlan and myself. We wrote around 200-350 words on each piece (depending on the grade), detailing the most important elements, advocating various practice tips and performance suggestions.
My contribution was to write notes for all list C pieces from Grades 1 – 6. I was pleased to find a fairly widespread selection of works; from masters such as Kabalevsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Bartók, through to vibrant piano arrangements, and many Contemporary composer’s works too. Although for my taste, there is probably too much emphasis on the ‘jazz’ inspired style, and not enough on Contemporary classical music, which I believe should be introduced to students from the beginning.
Publications
Melanie Spanswick has written and published a wide range of courses, anthologies, examination syllabuses, and text books, including Play it again: PIANO (published by Schott Music). This best-selling graded, progressive piano course contains a large selection of repertoire featuring a huge array of styles and genres, with copious practice tips and suggestions for every piece.
For more information, please visit the publications page, here.
Melanie Spanswick 
The publication looks very useful for teachers !
Such a wealth of information. How could one manage without it!
What a great idea and so useful. Thanks for sharing it.
Great intro, I hope I win it😀
Thanks Melanie, I’m trying to learn about ABRSM exams for my students as it’s not common where I am. This publication will be a big help!
Gotta start somewhere why not with this book and a cup of coffee ?
This is such an incredibly useful resource – would love to win a copy this year!
I’d love a copy of this-they are so useful when teaching the exam syllabus. A valuable source of inspiration and insights into what are often unknown repertoire.
What a wonderful resource for teachers and pupils to get the best out of their pieces!
I’d love a copy! I’m interested in using ABRSM syllabus with my students and this would be incredibly useful!
Now that something I could really use in my piano studio. My students would really benefit!
An invaluable tool for both students and teachers. This will help students become more discerning in the development of their own personal music style. Well done Melanie !
I would love to win this – I am sure I would find it a very useful aid in preparing my pupils for their ABRSM piano exams. Thank you!
This is awesome resource.
Great publication. Would be of benefit to both teachers and students
I have the 2016 version and found it very useful. I would love to win the 2017-2018
Certainly, one of the very best, and such a friendly companion for the piano teacher, student, and lover of all good things! It will be welcomed by all aspiring, in addition to the well- launched pianist and teacher.
I’ve never tried ABRSM, so this would really help out!
Thanks for the opportunity – looks like a great resource. Would love to win. Thx. 👍
Hi Melanie, I used to follow your blog but lost the connection when I changed my email address, so I’m enjoying getting back to your blog posts. I’d love a copy of the Abrsm notes. Pick me! Pick me!
Would love to win!!! Thanks for the opportunity!!
Would love to win this!! Thanks for the opportunity!!
Thank you for the great opportunity to win such a wonderful prize.
This would be great for my sons who are working through their grades.
I hav several students working towards ABRSM exams, so this book would be very useful.
Wow! Fantastic book. Would be nice to win. 😍😍
Im going to take a look to the book on the web, thanks!
The exam notes are fabulous, for inspiration, learning and getting familiar with new pieces and not to mention back up to show a student who might ‘challenge’ a teacher ‘look – the book suggests the same’!
Love how such breadth of info across all the grades is in one single book.
What an interesting publication!!! Really impressive! 🎶
This is such a useful resource for teaching pieces.
Looks very useful publication and it sounds like they are using a variety of fresh contributors …so would enjoy reading those, including Melanie of course!
What a great book you giveaway! I would love to have a copy !! Thank you 🙂
This would be incredible! Thank you for sharing!
You do find the most amazing books to give away Mel. This will certainly have fresh, inspired ideas that would be extremely helpful to everyone using the ABRSM syllabus
Just what I need? I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
This would be so wonderful!
Would love to win this resource book written by experts who have studied the pieces in depth so I can focus on the important points when teaching my pupils and raise their chances of getting higher marks in exams!
Many thanks to all those who took part; this competition is now closed 🙂