With regard to the difficulty of the examinations, I am about to take
Trinity Grade 6 Electronic Keyboard.  This involves 2 pieces, a composed
piece, scales, arpeggios, technical work and playing in different styles.
This involves playing salsa, march, waltz in 9 different keys based on the
12 bar blues chord progression.  My students are finding this difficult -
so am I even with ARCM (Piano), a good 2:1 honours degree in performance
and composition.  Are the standards of examinations becoming too high?

Another point, I have a number of young talented students who are unable
to stretch an octave.  Why are examination boards so reluctant to consider
this when choosing pieces for their Grade lists.

Yours

Nicholas J Roberts