ABRSM has released Encore, the official collection of favourite piano exam pieces. The series includes four books of inspiring repertoire set on ABRSM syllabuses over the last few decades. It’s a great source of captivating and memorable music which can be used for lessons, recitals, and playing for fun. Encore is now available to purchase at www.abrsm.org/encore or from music retailers worldwide. Murray McLachlan, Chair of EPTA, said ‘ABRSM piano pieces have proved time and time again to be pivotal building blocks in the musical development of thousands of young pianists in the world. This vibrant new Encore series brings together the most popular and frequently performed ABRSM grade pieces from recent years. The result is both extremely inspiring and useful.’

Progression at the forefront

Pianists will find a wide variety of best-loved repertoire spanning Baroque to contemporary, from Beethoven to Bernstein. ABRSM grade markers give an instant indication of difficulty, which help inform recital planning, or players looking to discover new music. The series has also been compiled with teaching and progression in mind – each piece introduces a new skill or technique, providing a great bank of content to motivate students and help them prepare for the next level. Concise footnotes facilitate deeper understanding and engagement with the music, signposting the key skills each piece develops. Footnotes also include background information and activity suggestions for exploring the music. Each book covers two grades and the series opens with popular favourites like Hook’s Gavotte and Wooding’s Vampire Blues in Book 1. Book 2 covers Grades 3 and 4, with timeless classics like Top Cat! and Burgmüller’s dramatic Ballade. Satie’s Gymnopédie No. 1 and Haydn’s Vivace assai are just some of the well-known pieces in Book 3, while Book 4 presents advanced players with approachable challenges like Willie Wagglestick’s Walkabout and Allegro from Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 2 No. 1. Karen Marshall, series compiler, said ‘To choose the music for Encore, I initially drew on my own teaching experience and ABRSM exam statistics. The repertoire was then tested on students, as well as numerous teachers and music educators at conferences and workshops across the country.’

Encore testimonials

'A vibrant and inspiring series... what better way to encourage students than with these tried and tested favourites?' Murray McLachlan EPTA		'Pianists will find works they’ve always wanted to play, and discover new repertoire too!' Erica Worth Pianist magazine
'My advice for piano students: it would be a great opportunity for you all to own these books, which contain some of the greatest music ranging from J.S. Bach to this day.' Yicheng Pan ABRSM Scholar (Piano) at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland		'These books are essential collections of popular, exciting pieces. My favourites include the classic Top Cat!, Grieg’s romantic, lyrical Arietta and the delightful, jazzy Blue Sky Blues. I am certain that students and teachers alike will love the versatility of these appealing books as much as I do!' Martin Bartlett BBC Young Musician of the Year 2014

Further information

For more information about Encore, visit www.abrsm.org/encore.