FIrst, let me state that i am using the September 2001 piano syllabus, NOT the new one (that FINALLY came out, after how long? lol, YAY!)

Anyway, i'm teaching a grade 5 and a grade 8 student, trying to follow the syllabus but also thinking back many years to when i did my grade 5 and my grade 8 and i'm a little confused.

For the triads and chords(grd 5) it says to play root and inversions... now does this mean to play it "normally" in root position all the way through, or does this mean they need to know it starting on any inversion? Do they need to know how to start on different inversions in the grade 8 four note chords?

Also, in grade 5 it says to play the arpeggios in root position only, got that, but in grade 8 it says root position and inversions, then with a footnote saying "major and mino arpeggios are to be played in normal sequence, beginning with root position.

What sequence? I am COMPLETELY lost here, i remember for my grade 8 i was just given a key and an inversion and away I went...

Thank you for your help, i know someone here can explain this all to me!!!

Look at the beginning of the syllabus (p. 19 in my edition). It shows how to play the solid and broken triads for one octave. Grade 5 needs to do two octaves. The dominant 7ths are played similarly.

I believe the sequence for Grade 8 would be root, 1st, 2nd.

yeah i looked at p. 19... so you don't need to know for example : D+ triad 2nd inversion? Just a regular root position D+ triad is all you need to know?

And the arpeggio sequence in grade 8 is just playing the root, pause, 1st inversion, pause, 2nd inversion?

Seems odd to me, not the way i did it! lol.

Yes, assuming by "regular root position D+ triad" you mean that the student will take the triad through all the inversions over 2 octaves. And your understanding of grade 8 is the same as mine. This is the first time I've prepared someone for grade 8. I did not have the advantage of doing exams when I was learning so I cannot comment on what the requirements used to be.

You may find it useful to purchase a Technical Requirements book for the grade in question.