Hey everyone, just to let you know the RCM Piano Syllubus 2008 is finally out.

Happened to pop by downtown vancouver tom lee today as my friend had a competition there and I saw it at the shop so I bought it.

Quite a number of changes have been made to the syllubus.

Thanks. I was wondering when that was finally going to tke place. The short list that you have supplied shows some of my favorites including Debussy's Estampes and the Rachmaninoff prelude. This fresh repertoire should add some spark to future piano lessons for my advanced students.

I wonder if it's out in the States. Going to check...

Erg! It's still not listing on the Frederick Harris site or on the two online retailers I use most. J.W. Pepper has it listed (if you read the fine print) with a publisher number, but it's not in stock. So much for the March release date. I won't get it until May.

*sigh* I guess I just have to be patient.

Have you seen these?

http://www.rcmexaminations.org/teachinfo/mmpdffiles/MM_2007_JUL_AUG.pdf

http://www.rcmexaminations.org/teachinfo/mmpdffiles/MM_2007_MAR_APR.pdf

ok, actually that's not a list, that's what i'm working on but it is in the new syllubus

and just some info: the beethoven pathetique sonata has been placed as an ARCT sonata now (complete) and the F major sonata has been moved I think to the grade 10 list.

Yes, John, I've been reading the newsletters. I know the biggest changes have been to the technical requirements. I guess I'm just anxious to see the whole thing.

Thanks for the links, however. That newsletter has a lot of good material in it.

It really surprises me that the syllabi are not available on their website in pdf for quick downloading by teachers. Publishing it in print form must be a money loser for them.

That drives me CRAZY! as long as I can remember you could never download them, you had to buy them. Quite an aggravation when i lost mine last year :S

Yes, nor does it mean that it has to be free! They could still charge $5/syllabus per download, if they are that miserly.

I was presenting in Denver at the MTNA conference recently and I got the new syllabus there. Since the piano prep program at the university where I teach just became an RCMT/NMCP school (with a little "nudge" from me), I got a copy from them. As with all previous years, the old syllabus is still valid. It was my understanding these were just the advanced copies, but will soon be available.

I don't know if I will be in the minority here but I was actually a bit disappointed in the new syllabus. I found that there was a lot of carry over in pieces, over a third of the pieces in the new books were the same as the old. And I find it very frustrating to not have all the technical requirements for each grade on one page. The flipping back and forth to different sections is annoying!

I would love to have seen a CD along with the syllabus, something where I could print off the sheets I need or even make a chart/poster to put on my wall to show the requirements. I also noticed that though there is new technique required at different grade levels, they also lowered the metronome markings for a number of things.

The new books, with the added technical book seems a bit of a waste. I already have technique books, scale books etc I really don't need one for each grade level. I also found the type print small, which makes it hard to read.

Anyways.... sorry to rant but I'm still unsure where the benefit of the new syllabus will be found.

Fiiinaly. I have been playing old grade 8 pieces because the syllabus wasn't ready. Now Im starting.

I got it!!! As an exam center representative, I just received this sessions materials and a syllabus was included. Yay!

I have a question not sure,
can somebody helps to confirm?

Are the pieces chosen from old syllabus still valid until Sep 2009?

I'm preparing grade 10 of the old version,also I bought a new one a few days ago.

I noticed that there weren’t pieces I’d chosen from old version in last two period。My exam day is coming in the spring session，now I’m wondering whether I can still play those from old version

I too was at the Denver convention and was able to talk them out of a free copy.

Eventually, I'd like to get my students involved in NMCP. The big problem right now for me is that the NMCP repertoire is different than the IMTA Auditions repertoire - my students would all have to learn two separate programs.

One repertoire list is limiting enough - I like trying out new stuff and finding obscure gems, and being a composer, I'd like to be able to use the material I write for my own students.

From the RCM site:
So, yes, you can use the old pieces for the spring.

Kreisler, what is the IMTA list like? Is it available online?

Thanks very much Korisofia.

Here I have another questions:

The formula scales for grade 10 in the 2008 syllabus chart ask for 3 Majors and 3 Minors.
But in the Complete Pianoforte Technique Book,each Key gets one formula pattern.Am I suppose to prepare them all or just follow the key showed in the syllabus?

For the 3rd,6th and 10th scales,does the"4 octave"just means going by parallel motion instead of formula pattern?

last question,I can still use old technique requests,right?

Sorry for so many questions,I am new for RCM EXAMINATION and is a self-prepared one,thank you for your patient.

Avivi, do what the syllabus says. The Complete Technique book is just to give you all the techniques for all levels. But, if you are using the old syllabus, you will need all the keys in formula pattern. The 3rd and 6th scales are parallel (not formula). I don't believe the scales at a 10th are required in the old syllabus.

Since you refer to this as the RCM program, I assume you are in Canada. I would expect you could find a local teacher who could at least check your preparation to make sure you aren't missing anything. Also, go to the web site and look under "Teacher Information." You can download the newsletter they put out for teachers. This has lots of useful info and answers many questions.

Keep us updated on your progress!

Thanks Karisofia for your kindness and helpful suggestions，you are right，I’m going to do what you mentioned。

I’ve already checked the “Music Matters”，it really helps a lot。I used to read it by blindly serach on the site and didn't realise its value until now.Thanks a lot again Karisofia:)