Grade 2 exam

[dahmin]

Hello all,

My daughter is practicing for her ABRSM Grade 2 exam.  She'll be playing the following 3 pieces:
Biehl's Allegro grazioso, Reizenstein's The First Snowdrop and Elissa Milne's Mozzie.

There's still areas to work on such as having a steady tempo and dynamics.  Please check it out and comment.  

Thank you

[perfect_pitch]

Biehl - Just be a little careful with a couple of the semiquaver passages in the right hand, a few just sounded almost in perfect time, but gave me the impression that she wasn't truly controlling her hand properly. Make sure she relaxes her right hand as she does them, so as not to tense up in anyway.

Reizenstein - Make sure that the scale that crosses from RH to LH does not sound disjointed and that the volume sounds smoother. She plays the LH part of the scale softer than the RH (0:35), so try to make it sound like one hand is playing, and don't let the volume dip suddenly.

Milne - What's the dynamic marking of the last D? Sounds odd to have the last few chords nice and forte to end with a very meagre and quite D?

Apart from that - she'll be fine. Hope that helped.

[csharp_minor]

I’m not a teacher but played the 1st and last piece for my grade 2 last year. Sounding good! For the first piece she just needs to be a little careful and keep a steady rhythm. I think the dynamics are fine.

Mozzie sounds really good. It’s good she has pointed out the accents thoughout the piece, I remember my examiner gave me a good comment for that.

What's the dynamic marking of the last D? Sounds odd to have the last few chords nice and forte to end with a very meagre and quite D?

If I remember correctly, the last bass note at the end of Mozzie is supposed to be played quieter; I don’t think the recording picked it up very well as its right at the bottom of the keyboard.  I think she’s bound to get a merit at least with her pieces now and with a smile like that maybe a few extra marks!   Good luck!

[dahmin]

Biehl - Just be a little careful with a couple of the semiquaver passages in the right hand, a few just sounded almost in perfect time, but gave me the impression that she wasn't truly controlling her hand properly. Make sure she relaxes her right hand as she does them, so as not to tense up in anyway.

Reizenstein - Make sure that the scale that crosses from RH to LH does not sound disjointed and that the volume sounds smoother. She plays the LH part of the scale softer than the RH (0:35), so try to make it sound like one hand is playing, and don't let the volume dip suddenly.

Milne - What's the dynamic marking of the last D? Sounds odd to have the last few chords nice and forte to end with a very meagre and quite D?

Apart from that - she'll be fine. Hope that helped.

Thank you for taking the time to watch the videos and gave your feedback perfect_pitch

Yes you're right.  She needs to watch out for the semiquavers. About the scale crosses from RH to LH, she did the decrescendo too late so it sounds as though her LH made a sudden drop of volume.  And for the last D, after the fortissimo chords, yea, it is mezzo-piano.  A rather large contrast.

I let her know about these comments and she is taking it into account.

Now she really needs to work on her sight-reading.
How to go about it?!!!  I have couple practice books on the subject but she seems to struggle as she's rather scared of doing it... 

[dahmin]

I’m not a teacher but played the 1st and last piece for my grade 2 last year. Sounding good! For the first piece she just needs to be a little careful and keep a steady rhythm. I think the dynamics are fine.

Mozzie sounds really good. It’s good she has pointed out the accents thoughout the piece, I remember my examiner gave me a good comment for that.

If I remember correctly, the last bass note at the end of Mozzie is supposed to be played quieter; I don’t think the recording picked it up very well as its right at the bottom of the keyboard.  I think she’s bound to get a merit at least with her pieces now and with a smile like that maybe a few extra marks!   Good luck!

Yes she should practice the pieces more on the metronome for a steady pace of tempo.

Thank you very much for your feedback!  I'm nervous too.  I hope she'll do well.  Her exam will happen in winter time here.  Gotta make sure her hands aren't freezing before the exam!!!

 

[perfect_pitch]

Now she really needs to work on her sight-reading.
How to go about it?!!! 

Try starting with a few of the beginniner Mikrokosmos from Bartok... that should be fine for her. My teacher starts her 6 year olds with that, so it should be a good start.

[dahmin]

Try starting with a few of the beginniner Mikrokosmos from Bartok... that should be fine for her. My teacher starts her 6 year olds with that, so it should be a good start.

Thank you.

A little update.  My daughter passed her Grade 2 exam with Distinction (137/150) last winter 2010 and Grade 3 exam with Distinction (132/150) this June 2011

It's apparent that she needs to work on her sight reading and aural.
Thanks for the advice.  Will check out beginniner Mikrokosmos from Bartok.