Trinity Grade 8 Exam advice needed!

[aragonaise]

Hi all,

in an impulsive moment somewhere in October, I walked into a music school and registered myself for the Trinity Exam Grade 8, which is in December. I thought I could actually pull off this little stunt, but now it seems I might not be able to.

The 3 pieces I've chosen and prepared since are:
1) Beethoven Sonata Op 10 No 1 in C Minor 1st mvt
2) Meditacion by Carlos Chavez
3) Ain't Misbehavin' by Fats Waller arr by David Gaukroger

Any comments on these 3 pieces?
I have no prior knowledge about Carlos Chavez and the Internet yielded few results for me too. Can anyone feed me anything about his music?

Anybody taking Trinity too here? I am currently struggling with the Toccata by Frederick Delius (a compulsory piece). I need advice on how to master this atonal piece which is already getting on my nerves.

I'm also very poor in sight-reading and aural, as I've never taken any prior piano exams before. I was basically self-taught. Hmm....my exam is 3 weeks away. Any strategies to get past this?

Thanks! Any comments will be appreciated.

[fuel925]

It sounds like you are horrendously under-prepared for a high level exam which is only 3 weeks away. If I were you, I would cancel your place at the exam.. if you tell them you are ill, most colleges will give you a discount when you retake.

[g_s_223]

You could also look round and enquire at the ABRSM Forums at https://forums.abrsm.org/index.php?https://forums.abrsm.org/

I'd say you are totally unprepared for the examination, from what you have said.

[dmk]

You need to be able to play your study....I agree that the Toccata is a pill but you MUST be able to play it....From what you are saying I think you have not spent enough time with it slowly, are panicking before you exam and trying to learn it too fast.  Let me know the bar numbers and what the problems are, but people can only help you so much via internet, you really need a teacher!!!

The TCL sightreading is a dog, far harder than the AMEB and I think than ABRSM but, ABRSM is slightly different being a quick study rather than genuine sight reading. 

If you say you stink @ sight reading and ear tests I hope you have EXCELLENT pieces to make up for the marks you will loose on these sections plus your study. (rem 20/20/20 3 pieces 10 sightreading 10 eartests 10 scales 5 viva voce and 5 for study)....

Last time I taught the Chavez we found information in the hard copy of the Grove's Dictionary..

[aragonaise]

Thanks all for the replies.

to dmk: dare I say the toccata is harder than even the Chopin Revolutionary Etude? I have never encountered anything so tough before, especially when played at speed 116.

The killer bars for me are from 10 to 15. The problems are the atonal leaps in very fast speeds for the LH. At least for Revolutionary, the LH plays broken chords and they are fairly managable.

Can I play the Toccata at speed 90? I think i wanna forgo speed for accuracy. Perhaps I wont be penalised too much for that?

Yea, I am aiming to score 17/20 for the 3 pieces. and 10/15 for Technical Studies, and I can pick up a few points from the rest to get past 65/100! And that sums up my strategy. I have done a recording of Chavez at the Audition Room. Please comment on it if you have time to spare. Mucho gracias!