The Crossroads
Grade 5 — Pedal, Harmony, and Sustained Expression
Grade 5 is a genuine milestone. The pieces are more harmonically complex and considerably longer than anything in Grade 4. The sustain pedal is now standard equipment — not optional decoration — and you need to use it intelligently, changing it with the harmony rather than holding it down as a blur-mask. For ABRSM students, Grade 5 Theory is required before progressing further. Regardless of the exam board you follow, developing a basic harmonic understanding now will make everything easier from Grade 6 onward.
Pieces in this plan
One of Chopin's most accessible waltzes — melancholic, intimate, and beautifully shaped. A good entry point into the world of Chopin.
Prokofiev's children's march is dry, mechanical, and ironic — almost a parody of a military march. Completely different in character from the Chopin.
The opening piece of Grieg's famous Lyric Pieces collection — short, simple, and exquisitely shaped. More difficult to play well than it looks.
See the full plan — guidance notes, recordings, and progress tracking.
Free account. No credit card. Takes 30 seconds.
A Farrenc étude at a more demanding level than the Op. 50 étude from Grade 3 — fuller textures, wider range, and a genuine technical challenge. A benchmark piece for this plan.
The opening piece from Schumann's Scenes from Childhood — a simple melody over a flowing accompaniment, but the simplicity is deceptive. It requires genuine tonal control to sound beautiful.
One of the most beloved pieces in all piano music. The melody is a long, ornamented singing line above a gentle left-hand accompaniment. A genuine performance piece and a stretch goal for this plan.
See all 6 pieces — free account, no credit card.