Have any of you used this series with students? I've been searching for reviews and have found none. I bought the complete set yesterday and this morning, had a chance to play through Book 1 (there are 4 books at the moment).

More to the point, have any of you used this with students for Auditions, Guild or otherwise? If so, what are your thoughts?

Book 1, which has two complete programs (a total of 9 pieces), seems to be at the upper end of Prep A level, with the exception of the Bach d minor invention, which is really an Intermediate F level piece. The second set could probably be used as a Prep B level set along with a phase or two, if a student were doing a state level audition.

Over the years, I've used a lot of her materials, and from what I've encountered so far, this is reasonably well edited.

Thoughts on the series?

I have not seen it, but just glancing over the titles, it seems like well chosen material for a reasonable price.

I recently got book 7 and 8 of the Festival Collection (FJH) and I really like using those with my advancing students.

I went to a presentation in which Jane Magrath herself introduced the series. She has a strong presence.

I must say I wasn't exactly jumping up and down about this series. The great majority of the pieces are already in the common teaching repertoire, and some of her "20th century" selections aren't really "20th century." Jane's editing, of course, is impeccable, as I've always enjoyed teaching with her other books.

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I love her Masterwork Classics series. It is nicely graded and, though a bit slow, covers so much repertoire and technique that it can easily be the staple of teaching for many students.

As for auditions, festivals, and more, I too either find the selections from common lists or use the Festival Collection. I enjoy many of the selections Marlais puts into these books, even though I do not care for her other books. At this more advanced point though, most of my students are buying Urtext and other sources as we pick and choose pieces.

Audition Repertoire just doesn't offer enough pieces for me to justice buying 4 books for the series. It is, as you mentioned however, very well edited (including how the pieces are well-laid in the text).

My question referred specifically to Piano Guild Auditions, where there are no common lists or annual specific composition lists. Of course, for many students, use of urtext, complete composer volumes, etc., is perfectly fine, but for others, having a volume which is carefully leveled, offers 8 or 9 pieces over the four major eras of composition, is a nice addition.

Nonetheless, I appreciate your thoughts on the series. I've too been using her materials for 3 decades now, and am well aware of and appreciate her high standards.

I'm still hoping another Guild teacher out there may have used one or more of the volumes with students and has some feedback. Thanks.

Oh, I apologize. I misunderstood you on that part. I do not do Guild.

However, I do have a friend who does it. She also uses the Festival Collection or Keith Snell Piano Repertoire series for this, depending on how many pieces she feels the student needs. I can ask her if she's used this one and what she thinks of it or other suggestions.

P.O. I would appreciate that. Thank you.