Piano Forum

Topic: Am I eligible to take the diploma exam?  (Read 1956 times)

Offline supertonic

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 40
Am I eligible to take the diploma exam?
on: October 13, 2006, 11:21:15 AM
I have passed ABRSM Grade 8 with barely 113 mark although my sightreading is quite good at 17/21. Am I eligible to proceed to DipABRSM in the future? Or am I just limit at this stage no matter how hard I try, because of lack of musical talent?

Offline pianowelsh

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1576
Re: Am I eligible to take the diploma exam?
Reply #1 on: October 14, 2006, 08:51:13 PM
You have to have I think grade 6 theory (check that in the syllabus)  Of course you are eligable in the future - anyone can take the exam.. to be successfull I would wait a few years maybe 3-4 and deepen your level a bit at the grade 8 standard before staring on a dip.  Consider a performance assesment with one of the pieces before you commit to a dip and you will have a better idea of how ready you are.

Offline humblemonkey

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 42
Re: Am I eligible to take the diploma exam?
Reply #2 on: October 15, 2006, 03:11:29 AM
Do you have to have sat the grade 8 exam before doing the diploma? Or is the theory all that is required? (for future reference)

Offline supertonic

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 40
Re: Am I eligible to take the diploma exam?
Reply #3 on: October 15, 2006, 06:22:24 AM
To both, thanks for your reply,
I know I am eligible from the criteria point of view (they only require ABRSM gd 8 performance, no need for gd 6 or 8 theory), what I mean is will I be good enough to take the Dip exam since my grade 8 is a bare pass, of course I understand it will take at least a few years for me.
Do you know of anyone who can pass the Dip even grade 8 is not so outstanding?
Deep inside, I worry I might not have the talent and so no matter how hard and how long I try I will not success. If so, I should not think about it.

Offline rhapsody in orange

  • PS Silver Member
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 233
Re: Am I eligible to take the diploma exam?
Reply #4 on: October 15, 2006, 08:27:32 AM
Hi supertonic,

It really depends on how much you want to achieve that diploma. If you really set your mind to it, I believe it can be achieved. Different people may have different capacities so it just depends on how much work you are willing to put into it =). Do you currently have a teacher? Maybe you could do some troubleshooting to figure out what exactly could be improved on so that you could perform better the next time  ;)
Anyway, an exam grade is just a measure of your playing standard at that particular point of time. Anything could happen after the exam. You could work very hard and improve tremendously, or you could just slack off and not progress at all. So, don't worry too much about it. If you really want it, just go for it and work hard for it  ;)
when words fail, music speaks

Offline meli

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 67
Re: Am I eligible to take the diploma exam?
Reply #5 on: October 15, 2006, 10:57:14 AM
You are definitely eligible to take the diploma (teaching or performing?)  but it depends how hard you are willing to work for it and what your goals are. If you are feeling very motivated & hardworking, I bet you could do it earlier but if not, so what? I would use the time now to grow, explore and learn more about music (with a teacher of course!) so don't rush into it i.e. I HAVE to do it in 1 year. Enjoy your musical journey. Good luck!

Offline hyrst

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 439
Re: Am I eligible to take the diploma exam?
Reply #6 on: October 15, 2006, 07:32:46 PM
I think that if you really want the diploma, if you can listen to the diploma level music and 'feel' it or hear it inside, if you can look at the music and begin to understand it, then you have the ability to achieve it.  It might take you a while, with exploring a wide range more music to develop your playing (not just learning the diploma pieces).  You need to work out what areas of your playing need development - is it control, expressiveness, speed, etc.  Give yourself some time to develop and feel confident.  Deepen your experience as a musician.  IF you have the passsion, you need the know how.  The grade is not a measure of your potential, but of your performance at the time - just as Rhapsody said.

Offline supertonic

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 40
Re: Am I eligible to take the diploma exam?
Reply #7 on: October 16, 2006, 07:43:31 AM
Thanks hyrst, meli and rhapsody in orange (nice name too) for the very kind and encouraging words. I see what you mean. Actually I have made my own reflection and I realized I could have done bettter at least by drilling on the scale which I cannot blame for "the lack of talent".
I will print out your words and keep as a reminder for myself and work out for the goal, which is something I really want to achieve. I have a teacher and maybe I should ask him directly rather than posting the question on the forum but I was afraid his answer would be negative at that time.
I know playing the piano is not for the exam but I want to know if I am up to certain standards and there is always better incentive when there is a goal to acheive.

Offline pianowelsh

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1576
Re: Am I eligible to take the diploma exam?
Reply #8 on: October 16, 2006, 10:31:08 AM
It sounds to me like grade 8 might be creating a mental barrier for you. because you are associating your pianistic lack of worth with a lower mark at that level.  My advice as a teacher would be to start the dip repertoire and also learn a new grade 8 programme and retake the grade 8 maybe a year or even 2 down the line. that way you will have the confidence because of having worked at a higher level of pieces and also you will be able to proove to yourself that you can pass a grade 8 really well. You should strongly consider a performance assesment (ABRSM do these) before taking a diploma because it will give you important feedback on your progress from a trained examiner who is listening in the same way as a dip examiner.
For more information about this topic, click search below!
 

Logo light pianostreet.com - the website for classical pianists, piano teachers, students and piano music enthusiasts.

Subscribe for unlimited access

Sign up

Follow us

Piano Street Digicert