practice on digital piano worried about exam piano dif

[innerspirit]

i've only just starting learning to play (about a month of leassons) and practice every moment I can as really enjoy playing

Im learning my pieces for my grade 1 later this year and started to worry (maybe unnecessarily)

I've bought a Yamaha Arius (ydp141) digital piano due to space (hoping to buy upright next year, fingers crossed.

My concern is that even though my piano says it has weighted keys etc....when I goto my lessons with my teacher I cant play as well on his grand piano...(esp trying to play soft) the keys seem heavier and if I have to play notes quickly esp my little finger they dont seem as responsive and almost stick down (this is a new piano and know its prob my technique or something)

Im worried that when I go for my grade 1 exam that I will find the piano there strange and wont be able to play my best and achieve the level I do in the comfort of my own home

Is this a normal concern? or will I just get slowly used to play different piano's as i suppose none are just like your own.

[oxy60]

You're experiencing what it is like to be a pianist. No two instruments will be the same. The more you play the more you will find out how big those differences are. What threw me off more than once was having to play a real clunker on the spur of the moment.

Even when you get an acoustic piano don't rely on it being the same as other acoustics. Go to a large piano store and play the same piece on several pianos. You will soon notice tons of differences.

[jimbo320]

Hi Innerspirit,
IMHO: Just like actors do a dress rehearsal for a reason, you should practice on the piano you're taking the exam on a few times before the exam. Mastering the ability to adapt to whatever piano you have at the time is part of being a polished pianist...

Jimbo

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

I think everyone has to deal with this... I have an acoustic piano,  my piano teacher's piano feels pretty much like mine... but I've had exams on pianos that were incredibly heavy  I still haven't figured out how to adjust properly, but it's getting better.

If possible, it's best to practise on your exam piano. I know for me, I didn't/ don't have that option, so I just practise on a bunch of different pianos to learn how to adjust.
I think examiners may understand a bit. During my last exam, my examiner was playing my ear tests and he remarked "wow it's hard to do this on this piano".
Just play your best, and I'm sure you'll still do well. Don't worry about it too much!

PS:For my last exam, the notes I played wouldn't sound if I pressed the key and changed the pedal at the same time... Can anyone explain this?

[nanabush]

Always start with scales on an exam... typically they wouldn't let me 'warm up' on the piano, so hopefully the 5 minutes of them asking me scales would do the trick!

If you are worried about the notes not sounding, make sure you are putting good weight on whatever piano you play.  Get used to sinking to the bottom of the keys (even if it was a weightless keyboard!).  It's really tough playing on the surface of the keys on a heavy piano.

Are you doing RCM system? 

[innerspirit]

thanks for the replies everyone

Yeah I suppose doing scales is a good way to get a quick feel of the piano for my exam.

I'll be doing ABRSM in the UK so my first piece is Gavotta (No. 3 from progressive lessons op81)

if that meens anythings to anyone ;-)
I like the piece though and the contrasting loud/quiet parts even if it took my hand co-ordination to a dif level than i was used to

but you know what they say 'what doesnt kill you will make you stronger'

I get a great feeling when on a friday, sitting down looking at a new piece and thinking 'this is just just impossible'
then after a few day and rough copy of the original starts to take form and by the end of the week im comfortable with playing a ressonable play through with just the need of a little pollish here and there.

Ive got a lot a good advice and helpful idea's from this web site....so thx everyone again

[jadekirby]

 i haven't been playing long either and have noticed the same thing. it is so annoying because i just get use to one piano then i have to go play on another and i always mess up when i have a lesson with my teacher because he has a grand and i have a very weighted key electric. its annoying but i have gotten use to it.  good luck with your exam.