ABRSM 2023 & 2024 - Grade 8 Piano exam - C:3 Over the Bars ~ J. P. Johnson 

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS ABRSM’s recommended tempo for this piece is 168 crotchet beats per minute, but this seems quite slow compared to the original James P Johnson version and given that this is the final Grade 8 video of the ABRSM exam book series, it seemed a fun idea to play it at a tempo closer to the speed of that original piece, which is significantly faster. (by at least 15 crotchet bpm!) Grade 8 candidates therefore should not be put off by the tempo at which I played this piece in the video, a tempo any faster than 168 bpm certainly would seem to bring out the high-energy and cheerful spirit of the music. However, in the published ABRSM Teaching Notes 2023 & 2024 it states that “Slightly tempering the suggested metronome mark to 152 crotchet bpm may ease some of the demands without adversely affecting the musical outcome.” This is a highly challenging piece to learn at speed - in fact it is extremely difficult to play at tempos over 168 and that is probably why ABRSM have made such allowances tempo-wise. The biggest challenge for most players will be the stride bass line because there are continuous jumps from the lower left hand notes to the chords and this must be practised very slowly in order to build up a relaxed motion - there should be no stiffness in the arm and wrist movement whatsoever. A good piano teacher will be well aware of this and can guide you appropriately. If you don’t master the left hand part you will never get the piece working properly hands together. Furthermore, I would suggest memorising small sections of the left hand part - you will need to be looking at your hand whilst you play and not looking too much at the exam book. Just practising the left-hand part of bars 9 and 10 on a continuous loop to build up the fluency would be a good starting point - once you can play those two bars slowly, try playing along with a metronome to really tighten up the timing - if need be, set the metronome to a very slow tempo and be satisfied with that to begin with as it might well take some time before you can master playing those bars quicker without hitting wrong notes. Some of the left hand parts might be very difficult, or even impossible to stretch - for example the 10ths of bar 76 (2nd time bar) and the following few bars - these may need to be simplified by missing the top note, or rolling the chords - in some cases playing an octave instead of a 10th could also work. Dynamics are left up to the performer - hopefully this video will help give you some ideas! There is scope for light and shade in the contrasting sections. A link is included below to the original James P Johnson version! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-I1kw2JjkxzM.html

just passed grade 3 this week 🙌🏻 grade 8 seems so far away, but so did grade 3 when i started 5 years ago. as a betting man i reckon it’ll be 2035 before i get to grade 8, given the kids keeping me busy and not having much time to practice

1. You played it extremely well 2. Why did I pick this for my grading 😭

Love this jazzy piece! Very upbeat! Such perfect rhythm and really well syncopated! Beautiful!

im only at grade 5 but id definitely choose this piece if i was at that stage ♡

So glad I picked this now it’s one of the only pieces that has me buzzing after I play it. Soo good

Blooming lovely! Sounds so nice I'm playing this for my grade 8! Fingers crossed that i get distinction!

Man I love it! Gotta be one of my favourites from any ABRSM syllabus yet. Very well played too! :)

2 grade 8 pieces posted in one week! Thank you so much 😊

This piece is not as hard so you may think it looks harder because he wanted to play it faster than the required amount. Any piece fast looks hard 😂😂

bloody awesome piece, couldnlisten over and over

I do enjoy this piece, did switch to Debussy’s Arabesque no. 2 since (A) it was easier and (B) I have a newfound love of Impressionism. Still, a great song

The best version I have ever heard!

Let’s goooo 🎉🎉 another beautiful piece and video!!

I love this song ans is jazzy like how i wanted to be thank you so much for this piece 😊

Awesome playing! This is my fav over the bars vid😊

We love you 💞😊

I plan to take it now ^^ sounds amazing

I love this interpretation!

Wow, good playing. Just starting this wonderful sounding piece

I picked it and it’s going well for me

This is like the final boss song of abrsm

I love this song so much!! Wish I was earlier enough to be in grade 8 so badd😅😅😂

This song is played so beautifully! Keep up the good work 🎉

Nice song😊

Why do I like it so much

I love this part 1: 26

I was choosing this piece and I honestly thought you wouldn’t publish your video in time before I went for the exam I guess I was wrong😂

I love this song the most out of the whole grade 8 exam syllabus BUT LMAO I CANT BELIEVE I AM DOING THIS

What on earth hahaha this looks exciting and terrifying at the same time. I feel like at grade 8 you could pretty much play anything 😊

Im literally working on this piece for 7 months

i will pick this sons

Amazing!!!!!

太好听了，我实在忍不住想要彈

SE7 3TR is my postcode. If anyone is struggling come to this postcode and I'll teach you 😊❤

I picked it and I have no regrets

1:28 i am gonna die at this part

Omg I got a disstinction on grade eight😊

Very nice

Best Grade 8 song 🗿

I’m starting grade 8 and this piece seems quite fast and I like it quite a lot

i have a request 😄: is it possible for you to perform Chopin Nocturne op.9 no.3?

Oh mah gawd this is so hard T-T

Choose this if you want to continuously wave at your piano

Hey Master Keyz I wonder how to u usually play the crazy 8ve notes 😱😱😱😱

good job! This sure is challenging 😅

I have tried grade 9 today but it was hard 😰 Then I give up 😭

A quick question, do we have to repeat again and again for the second box or just we just play it like the way in the video🤔️

gon spend the next year playing this song

I’m only on grade 6 but I just think that this is amazing

Nice! I am only at grade 5 and the pieces are already hard so people who chose this would probably have a problem.😅

He always includes a long description. Effort

I can play this song bc I got a piano teacher

Hi mate! just learnt this piece for my C piece of ABRSM grade 8. What do you think are the easiest pieces from A and B groups. Thanks brother.

Somehow I find myself trying to learn this piece and I am grade six!(I mean my abrsm level not age)

How are your fingers soooo long? What should I do if I have short fingers for the LH chords like in bar 49b -55b? Thank you!!!

We have this whole piece of workout in G8 and theres Rondo Alla Turca in the new G8 syllabus?? The standards are gone holy

What will be other easiest piece in c section? Please do suggest me

Is this a good piece for my diploma

Insane performance. I took ABRSM grade 8 with 135/150, and now that I’m playing this, I’m struggling hard 😂

I just practiced this and my hands are shaking rn😂

it will take years for me to learn this piece😢

thank you so much for this video, im in grade 8 right now but im a bit confused on the repeat parts ([1. ], [2. ]) if you know what i mean, could you explain to me what you did here? im not sure if you just skipped it 😭 anyway thank you for the video! 🙏🙏

Question why aren't you playing the repeats? do i need to play repeats for the exam?

How on earth do you page turn!!! I cant find a reasonably place to do it without affecting the flow of the piece!!?!?!??!?!

Second question: would i be allowed to play it faster than the original marking like you did? or would i be marked down for not following the correct tempo

My hand to small😢😢

didnt lock in, lets justr say the edging session ended badly

could you pls do A10

I will explode

1:26 how will I play this I’m only 11 and my hands are tiny

Me in grade 6 looking at grade 8 pieces for some reason

You missed a part

I can’t play that fast, so I played it slower, will it be fine in the abrsm or will I get a lot of points deducted? Thanks!!

0:21 0.27 0.29 0.36

dam i chose this piece😅

Sounds good but hard at the same time

omg so hard

One more grade😢 im grade 7

I got grade 8 in 2 year from grade 1 to 8

This piece sounds and looks really hard and you could easily make a mistake

I heard that songs before

Learnt it in 3 weeks 😂

Original speed is crazy!

Feux follet vibes

0:06

No one in grade 8 will ever pick this piece

I did I am in year 6😢😅 it’s hard

Oh my goodness😂

My hand is not big enough for 1:06 😭

Stuartbunyan3245,I’m doing grade 7 piano😂😂😂😂

There is no way that is grade 8

The fact that i learned this in under 5 hours and im grade 4 just using this vid

Me

Ngl that was annoying

Too fast and complicated