Grade 5 (thoughts and ideas)

[mefidys]

Okay I just started grade 5 yesterday. I've been playing for less than 2 years, and have jumped from grade 1 to 3 and now onto 5. I'm 15 and I dont actually have a piano (cringe I know) So I'm working off a keyboard, that doesnt have enough keys for all the songs and no pedals, which is extremely annoying but hasnt really hindered my progress so far. Anyone else in the same situation? I know I have to get a piano at some point but I'm not exactly loaded with cash at the moment so I dont wanna bug my parents with it.

Also anyone else doing grade 5? or have any other questions about what I said? Theres some things in the book that I dont understand and neither does my teacher who has only been teaching for 2 years so I dont blame her =P
(I'm doing grade 5 with the royal irish acadamy examinations thing btw)

[healdie]

yes I am doing grade 5 in April (ABRSM) and I am 17 and been playing for 2 years as well

what in the book don't you understand? if you ask here we will do our best to answer your questions

[mefidys]

okay well in the RIAOM book for grade 5, in one of the piaces (étude op 47, no 15) around bars 17-18, theres like this broken line thing going up and down from bass stave to the treble stave and I'm just not really sure what you're supposed to do there

[devane]

You mean "Heller étude op 47, no 15"

youtube.com/watch?v=IJr3j5Imok8

I have it, NOT the RIAM grade 5 book(I'll be taking grade 3 or 4 maybe later this year) so it could be different.

 Have you listened to the cd or the guidelines on the Lyric FM podcast?
The one of the Examiners from RIAM talks about the pieces.
rte.ie/radio1/podcast/podcast_pianokeys.xml

He mentions bar 17 as being where the melody changes from left to right. So I would think the notation you have is indicating this.

ps
Using a keyboard all the time can make things very difficult. I had a keyboard for a year. A good way to start off instead of forking out 1000's. But I bought a DP (Yamaha p140) at Christmas. I found it difficult to play on a real piano or DP when all I practice on is a keyboard. Having the left hand play softer than the right is all but impossible and when I played on a real piano sometimes no sound came out or too much sound as I tried to adapt. Now I feel like I've started again in terms of making a nice sound.

In your lessons what do you practice on?

In the podcast it states it involves a lot of pedal work!.
He says there is no way you can get by without the pedal.

You should have a pedal by now. You can't expect to pull it off on the day of the exam. There is a piece in grade 4 (the old swing) where you need 2 pedals so it must be grade 5.

Good luck

Devane

[pianochick93]

I'm also doing grade 5 (AMEB) and I agree with the others - a keyboard will not help you. My local newspapers often have people giving away pianos because they don't want them anymore. Try that for a start.

As for your teacher not understanding things, do you have a music teacher at your school that you could ask perhaps? I find that my teachers know more than my piano teacher simply because of the experience they have had.

[devane]

@pianochick93
I forgot about all the unloved piano/DPs that get bought at Christmas.
New Years Resolutions must be over by now? A good time to buy.