Well I received my examiners report regarding my piano exam some weeks back now. It was as I predicted, the nerves did show in a big way, but he seemed to be able to see through them to hear the rest of the things that I did manage to play. I will briefly run through his comments:
"Technical work:
Scales- I knew them but needed to be more secure.
Broken Chords- RH known, LH needs more fluency
List A piece- A lively performance with bright tone. (Really happy with that comment seeing as I messed up the start a couple of times) This was my bugbear piece too.
List B piece-Keep accompaniment in the background and the melody should really sing. Watch the tempo in the middle section.
List C piece-Aim for more flow in the Prelude. Fugue was steady but hands need to be more co-ordinated.
Extra List-A Suitable list. Well known. Demonstrated your potential.
Aural tests-Melody not quite but otherwise good
Sight reading- quite good
General knowledge-very good
General remarks: Musical character of the piece was understood quiet well. Tone production is developing well. Aim now to play them with more technical refinement and rhythmic pries. Give more attention to the preparation of technical work to achieve a higher grading. Your nerves seem to have got the better of you today. Keep going."
So there it is in a nutshell. I agree with all of it. I felt I put in alot of work where the scales were mentioned but obviously not enough. When I practiced them at home they seem to be ok. That just tells me that the I may need more time to refine all the elements before I book myself in for an exam.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
The wait is over
Arrived at my piano lesson on Saturday and my teacher sat me down with a big smile on her face and read out my exam result. I had passed my exam......(phew)......with a C+. She told me she had been checking the internet all week for the results and found out on Thursday. She only got the grade, as the comment sheet and certificate had not been sent out to her yet. It was a welcome relief, as I was in two minds whether I had done enough. I am really happy with a C+ because I know that that is a good overall mark considering my performance. As I mentioned in the previous post that I had made some errors because of my nerves. I will be interested to read the examiners comments as they are a really good indication of what needs improving and what was done well. I am really thankful to Maria, my teacher, for her great guidance and encouragement, because if it weren't for her I would not have come this far. Also for the encouragement and prayers of family and friends.
So after some discussion about the exam result Maria asked me what I would like to do now. I told her that I would like to do grade 3, but I also want to learn some different styles and add more pieces to my repertoire. So we looked at the syllabus for grade 3, looked at some pieces from my grade 1 series 16 book that I have but have not learned any pieces from. We looked at doing some pieces from my Getting to grade 2 book which has an accompanying CD. This is a really good book because the CD has an amazing little piece of software on it that slows each piece down to a speed you can learn it.
We also chose some books that might be useful for me to get. The Getting to grade 3 book by Elissa Milne was one, and a Hanons finger exercises book, to strengthen my fingers more, was another. A sight reading book would be good too. Maria has the AMEB series 15 grade 3 book and CD, so I think I might have a listen to what the pieces are like in that one and get the series 16 book, so I have a wide variety of choice. I must also get myself a metronome because I really need it to do the finger exercises at the right speeds.
Our final idea was that maybe I should give myself a little longer before I sit the next exam so I can concentrate on learning more pieces and styles rather than just limiting myself to exam stuff, but for now I am enjoying the fact that I have done a lot of hard work and it has paid off. I know I could have done better on the day, but whatever I did on that day was meant to happen to show me what I was lacking under pressure. I just need to take the good and the bad and learn from it. I mean, I could have done worse too. Now I can enjoy playing my piano without the pressure for a while.
So after some discussion about the exam result Maria asked me what I would like to do now. I told her that I would like to do grade 3, but I also want to learn some different styles and add more pieces to my repertoire. So we looked at the syllabus for grade 3, looked at some pieces from my grade 1 series 16 book that I have but have not learned any pieces from. We looked at doing some pieces from my Getting to grade 2 book which has an accompanying CD. This is a really good book because the CD has an amazing little piece of software on it that slows each piece down to a speed you can learn it.
We also chose some books that might be useful for me to get. The Getting to grade 3 book by Elissa Milne was one, and a Hanons finger exercises book, to strengthen my fingers more, was another. A sight reading book would be good too. Maria has the AMEB series 15 grade 3 book and CD, so I think I might have a listen to what the pieces are like in that one and get the series 16 book, so I have a wide variety of choice. I must also get myself a metronome because I really need it to do the finger exercises at the right speeds.
Our final idea was that maybe I should give myself a little longer before I sit the next exam so I can concentrate on learning more pieces and styles rather than just limiting myself to exam stuff, but for now I am enjoying the fact that I have done a lot of hard work and it has paid off. I know I could have done better on the day, but whatever I did on that day was meant to happen to show me what I was lacking under pressure. I just need to take the good and the bad and learn from it. I mean, I could have done worse too. Now I can enjoy playing my piano without the pressure for a while.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Grade 2 piano exam done
I sat my exam on Friday (12/11/2010). I was so nervous once I got in there, its like my blood just rushed to my head and I couldn't think straight. Adrenaline kicked in and my hands just started shaking, my heart was beating like it was going to come out of my chest and I couldn't relax. Taking in deep breaths didn't help. My fingers just felt like jelly.
I went through my technical stuff. Some scales went good and some not so good. My fingers kind of got twisted up in themselves. I asked a couple of times if I could start again. Not so good.
I started my pieces. Menuet was like a nightmare. I started it twice and stuffed up both times but on the second one I just thought I am going to keep going no matter what. Next I did A little flower. That went ok, I got through from start to finish without a mistake. Same with the Miniature Prelude and a slight hesitation between two notes in Miniature Fugue, but I was happy with those because I completed them.
My theory seemed alright and my rhythm clapping, pitch, and singing went ok. Then I had a choice of the extra pieces so I chose Chagrin d'enfant which I felt more confident with and that went well too.
Overall I did most things ok, but not sure if I have done enough to pass. Now the waiting game begins. I couldn't sleep that night thinking about what happened, going over things in my head. I am hoping that what may have seemed like a disaster to me, didn't come across that badly to the examiner. Time will tell.
I went through my technical stuff. Some scales went good and some not so good. My fingers kind of got twisted up in themselves. I asked a couple of times if I could start again. Not so good.
I started my pieces. Menuet was like a nightmare. I started it twice and stuffed up both times but on the second one I just thought I am going to keep going no matter what. Next I did A little flower. That went ok, I got through from start to finish without a mistake. Same with the Miniature Prelude and a slight hesitation between two notes in Miniature Fugue, but I was happy with those because I completed them.
My theory seemed alright and my rhythm clapping, pitch, and singing went ok. Then I had a choice of the extra pieces so I chose Chagrin d'enfant which I felt more confident with and that went well too.
Overall I did most things ok, but not sure if I have done enough to pass. Now the waiting game begins. I couldn't sleep that night thinking about what happened, going over things in my head. I am hoping that what may have seemed like a disaster to me, didn't come across that badly to the examiner. Time will tell.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Another Piece
In addition to the previous post, I have another piece that I have recorded myself playing. It is Two Part Intention by Kerin Bailey. This is a swing/jazz piece which I have really enjoyed learning for my exam, which is coming up in two days. Its upbeat but has a real relaxed feel about it. Well here it is. Hope you like it.
I am fairly happy with the way this one is going. Hopefully I can do it as good in the exam.... (nervously chewing away at my fingernails)...... I've been practicing heaps but at this point I never think its enough.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Me playing one of my pieces
I figured since I have the ability to record what I am playing on my old keyboard, that I should make use of it. I have recorded myself playing Chagrin d'enfant and A little flower then transferred it to my mp3 player and then put it onto my computer. Ah technology is so much fun.
So now I am going to try and put one on here. Lets see how I go.
Oh joy!!!!!........ it worked.
Well that was my rendition of Chagrin d'enfant. I still need to do a lot more work on the tonal qualities of it and iron out the little bugs, but overall I am happy that I can play it from start to end now. I am supposed to play this with sustain pedal but unfortunately the keyboard I played it on doesn't have a pedal. I do play it with sustain on my digital piano but I cant record on that one. Oh well, thems the breaks.
So now I am going to try and put one on here. Lets see how I go.
Oh joy!!!!!........ it worked.
Well that was my rendition of Chagrin d'enfant. I still need to do a lot more work on the tonal qualities of it and iron out the little bugs, but overall I am happy that I can play it from start to end now. I am supposed to play this with sustain pedal but unfortunately the keyboard I played it on doesn't have a pedal. I do play it with sustain on my digital piano but I cant record on that one. Oh well, thems the breaks.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Its been a while
Gee I haven't posted on here for quite some time now. Since my last post I have been working hard on my second grade work. While working on all this new stuff, I felt that with the keyboard I had I was not going to improve much at all where tonal quality and light and shade in a piece, were concerned. I contemplated not doing anymore exams until I could get hold of a better one with more touch sensitivity. When my piano teacher asked me whether I wanted to sit the grade two exams this year I said no. I just knew that I wouldn't be able to do what was expected of me with the equipment I had, but the following week, out of nowhere my husband presented me with a fantastic digital piano. I was elated. It was just what I needed.
It has 88 keys which are so much more like real piano keys should feel. It is a digital stage piano so it doesn't have in-built speakers, but they were also given with the piano and a fantastic keyboard stand. With all this new equipment I really felt that I could now be in with a chance to improve my skills and actually sit the exam. So with some hesitation I informed my teacher that I would sit the grade 2 exam in November. At first it was difficult to get use to the difference in the touch of the keys. They are a lot heavier than my keyboard keys. It really works my hands. There was now only one thing missing.
With two of the pieces needing sustain pedal to be used, I did not have a sustain pedal. I had never used a sustain pedal before and thought if I couldn't get one soon these pieces might suffer. I just kept on playing them anyway, with the normal lifting off of my fingers as if I were playing them with a sustain pedal, then after about a month after getting the piano, my wonderful husband came to the rescue once again. He bought me a sustain pedal that matched my piano. Now there is no stopping me.
With the addition of the sustain pedal came a new challenge of adding foot work to the pieces, but boy it makes such a difference to the way they sound. Its just beautiful to hear them how they should be played, its just a pity that I am not quite at the standard of playing them without any errors. A little frustrating at times when all I want to do is hear the piece played through in its entirety and it doesn't happen, but I am happy all the same.
I have received the date and time for my exam now and have the same feeling as I did last year, that I am not really ready for it. I suppose I never would feel ready for it if it were up to me, but my mum said to me, at the time when I told her I wasn't sure whether I wanted to sit the exam, whats the worse that could happen, you fail, its not that bad, your life doesn't depend on it so don't worry, just sit it, so I am. My teacher also said to me that she would not let me sit the exam if she didnt think I could pass, so with all these people encouraging me, my confidence is growing little by little.
There is one piece that is giving me much grief though and that is the Menuett. It just hasn't come together as well as I had hoped by now. Its a very challenging piece and at the moment I am playing it very disconnected, and I haven't played it through once without a mistake. Not sure what it is that I am having trouble with, its straining my brain. I really enjoy playing the Two Part Intention. I love its swing timing and jazzy notes. The Miniature Fugue.....OMG. This is one piece that I cannot play without looking at the music sheet and that is really odd for me because I play most of my pieces from memory and find if I look at the music sheet I loose my place. I know, its quite strange that that would happen but it does. Not with this one though. I am pretty surprised though that I can play it without looking at my fingers.
Any way the exam is on the 12th November 2010 and so the pressure is on.
It has 88 keys which are so much more like real piano keys should feel. It is a digital stage piano so it doesn't have in-built speakers, but they were also given with the piano and a fantastic keyboard stand. With all this new equipment I really felt that I could now be in with a chance to improve my skills and actually sit the exam. So with some hesitation I informed my teacher that I would sit the grade 2 exam in November. At first it was difficult to get use to the difference in the touch of the keys. They are a lot heavier than my keyboard keys. It really works my hands. There was now only one thing missing.
With two of the pieces needing sustain pedal to be used, I did not have a sustain pedal. I had never used a sustain pedal before and thought if I couldn't get one soon these pieces might suffer. I just kept on playing them anyway, with the normal lifting off of my fingers as if I were playing them with a sustain pedal, then after about a month after getting the piano, my wonderful husband came to the rescue once again. He bought me a sustain pedal that matched my piano. Now there is no stopping me.
With the addition of the sustain pedal came a new challenge of adding foot work to the pieces, but boy it makes such a difference to the way they sound. Its just beautiful to hear them how they should be played, its just a pity that I am not quite at the standard of playing them without any errors. A little frustrating at times when all I want to do is hear the piece played through in its entirety and it doesn't happen, but I am happy all the same.
I have received the date and time for my exam now and have the same feeling as I did last year, that I am not really ready for it. I suppose I never would feel ready for it if it were up to me, but my mum said to me, at the time when I told her I wasn't sure whether I wanted to sit the exam, whats the worse that could happen, you fail, its not that bad, your life doesn't depend on it so don't worry, just sit it, so I am. My teacher also said to me that she would not let me sit the exam if she didnt think I could pass, so with all these people encouraging me, my confidence is growing little by little.
There is one piece that is giving me much grief though and that is the Menuett. It just hasn't come together as well as I had hoped by now. Its a very challenging piece and at the moment I am playing it very disconnected, and I haven't played it through once without a mistake. Not sure what it is that I am having trouble with, its straining my brain. I really enjoy playing the Two Part Intention. I love its swing timing and jazzy notes. The Miniature Fugue.....OMG. This is one piece that I cannot play without looking at the music sheet and that is really odd for me because I play most of my pieces from memory and find if I look at the music sheet I loose my place. I know, its quite strange that that would happen but it does. Not with this one though. I am pretty surprised though that I can play it without looking at my fingers.
Any way the exam is on the 12th November 2010 and so the pressure is on.
5 pieces decided
I have now decided on the 5 pieces that I will do for my grade 2 exam.
AMEB series 15 booklet
List A: Menuet
List B: A Little Flower (Gurlitt)
List C: Miniature Prelude and Miniature Fugue (Rowley)
Open pieces
Chagrin d'enfant (Peeters)
Two part Intention (Bailey)
I've been given a fair bit of practicing to do over the holidays, so hopefully I will get the time to do it all.
AMEB series 15 booklet
List A: Menuet
List B: A Little Flower (Gurlitt)
List C: Miniature Prelude and Miniature Fugue (Rowley)
Open pieces
Chagrin d'enfant (Peeters)
Two part Intention (Bailey)
I've been given a fair bit of practicing to do over the holidays, so hopefully I will get the time to do it all.
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