Exam Syllabus Repertoire
ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS
The London College of Music Examinations offer a popular syllabus from Pre-Grade one level to diploma. The 2026 syllabus includes an eclectic mix of piano music to suit all tastes and abilities.
‘Women in White’ from Ghostly Piano Tales, published by Schott Music, features on the Grade 3 piano syllabus of the 2026 London College of Music Examinations.
‘Karma’ from Digressions, published by EVC Music, also appears on the Grade 4 syllabus in the Popular Piano Repertoire list for those requiring a more extensive variety of music at this level.
Nearly 60 of Melanie’s original piano compositions have been included on the Australian Guild of Music and Drama’s 2026 piano exam syllabus. They feature on all three syllabi piano options offered by the board: Classical, Light Classical and Contemporary.
From Preliminary Step Three level right through to the Licentiate diploma level, the music has been taken from the following publications: Lucky Charms (80 Days publishing), Ghostly Piano Tales (Schott), No Words Necessary (Schott) and Simply Driven (Schott).
The RSL piano syllabus is a relatively new addition to Rockshool’s ever-popular Rock and Pop exam syllabus. The 2025 syllabus combines a mix of core repertoire as well as piano arrangements alongside rock and pop tunes.
‘The Lady of Raynham Hall’ from Ghostly Piano Tales (Schott) appears on Grade 3 of the syllabus.
ANZCA (Australian and New Zealand Cultural Arts Limited) Classical Piano Exam syllabus 2025 – 2027 contains a mix of core classical repertoire as well as piano arrangements and less familiar works.
‘Kaleidoscope’, published in Women Composers – A Graded Anthology For Piano (Schott) Book 2, features on the current Grade 6 syllabus where it appears on List D.
The RSL Classical Piano syllabus is a relatively new addition to Rockshool’s ever-popular Rock and Pop exam syllabus. Established in 2020, the RSL Awards syllabus contains a mix of core repertoire as well as piano arrangements and less familiar works.
‘Celebration’ features in the current Debut Grade (or first level) and is a piano duet, first published in Snapchats Duets & Trios Book 1 (80 Days Publishing).
The London College of Music Examinations offer a popular syllabus from Pre-Grade one level to diploma. The 2021 – 2025 syllabus offers an eclectic mix of piano music to suit all tastes and abilities.
‘Dancing Through The Daffodils’ features in Grade 6, on List A. This work is featured in the collection No Words Necessary (Schott Music), published in 2018.
The Royal Irish Academy of Music offer a much-loved syllabus active throughout Ireland, and beyond.
‘Spiralling’ comes from the collection No Words Necessary (Schott Music) and is currently featured on the 2023 – 2026 Grade 7 syllabus, where it appears on List C.
REPERTOIRE SELECTED FROM ANTHOLOGIES
The London College of Music Examinations offer a popular syllabus from Pre-Grade one level to diploma. The 2026 syllabus includes an eclectic mix of piano music to suit all tastes and abilities.
There are two pieces on the Popular Piano Repertoire syllabus from Women Composers – A Graded Anthology For Piano (Schott Music): Rachael Forsyth’s ‘Soggy Shoes Blues’ and ‘Two Cat’s Playing’ by Vera Mohrs. Both appear in Book 1 of the series, and are on LCME’S Grade 3 syllabus.
The RSL Awards music examination board have implemented all three Play it again: PIANO books as well as all three Women Composers – A Graded Anthology For Piano volumes. Both are published by Schott Music. These are part of their Classical Piano Exam syllabus. They are listed as ‘Pre-approved Benchmarked Repertoire’ for the ‘own choice’ element in every exam.
Each piece in every book has been graded appropriately. This applies to each RSL grade, from the Debut Grade through to Diploma level.
The 2025 – 2027 ANZCA (Australian and New Zealand Cultural Arts Limited) Classical and Modern Piano Exam Syllabus contains a piece from the Women Composers – A Graded Anthology For Piano (Schott) on every grade.
Included are works by Friexas, Forsyth, Hiscocks, Turner, Le Beau, Spanswick, Hester Park, and Carreño.
The complete Women Composers – A Graded Anthology series also forms a part module 3 of the Licentiate Teaching Diploma syllabus.
The ABRSM 2025 – 2026 syllabus contains several pieces from the Women Composers – A Graded Anthology For Piano series (Schott Music). Grade 3 features a piece from Book 1 of the series: ‘Allegretto Moderato’ written by Swedish composer Elfrida Andrée from the collection of pieces, Fem Smarre tonbilder, Op. 7 No. 3. Grade 5 includes a piece from Book 2 of the series: ‘Gavotte’ written by French composer Cécile Chaminade from the Album des Enfants, Op. 123 No. 5.
Grade 6 features a piece from Book 2 of the series: ‘Allegretto’ written by Norwegian composer Cécile Anna Severine Lindeman from Character Pieces. And Grade 7 includes a piece from Book 2 of the series: ‘Children’s Song’ written by German composer Maria Görres from her collection Bunte Reihen kurzer Klavierstücke, Op. 6 No. 11.
These pieces are all placed on the alternative repertoire list.
The new ABRSM ARSM Performance Diploma piano syllabus (from 2024) contains a collection of mostly traditional advanced piano music for students to select. Within this collection is a work from Women Composers – A Graded Anthology for Piano Book 3. Teresa Carreño’s ‘Plainte’ or Elegy Op. 17 No. 1 has been included on the list.
Victoria College Examinations have included two pieces from Women Composers – A Graded Anthology For Piano in their new Grade 1 Traditional Piano Syllabus.
‘Joker’ by Barbara Heller is on list A. Minuet in F major by Elisabetta de Gambarini appears on list B. Both are featured in Book 1 of the Women Composers anthology.