I failed my ARCT piano exam...?

[banananne]

Hi everybody! I'm new to this forum and I would like to hear some of your opinions on my situation :/

I'm 15 years old and I have been playing piano ever since I was a little girl. I'm really nothing special and I don't have that much musical talent (I'm not being modest, I'm completely serious). I mostly do piano because it's an extracurricular that'll look good on university applications but I DO enjoy it and I work hard.

I did my ARCT performer's a week ago and I was surprised to see the results came back already. I got a 66. Now, I'm pretty shocked because I had expected a much higher mark. Hear me out. I spent 2 years practicing my pieces and I have been to countless recitals and I have also done a few competitions. I thought that I was pretty well prepared.

On the day of the exam I didn't have a single memory slip, and I basically played as well as I usually do, with no extra slips or mess-ups.

Oh, also around 2 months ago, I went and did a mock exam with an extremely hard marker who used to be a RCM examiner but she's at least 80 now and retired. I got a 68. By the way, I know that she's a hard marker because I improved around 10% when I did my Grade 10 exam. Also, my teacher gave me a 75 when she gave me a mock exam. Since June, I've been working extremely hard and I personally think I have improved a lot since then. I have school year-round and I practice more during holidays and breaks.

I'm just wondering WHY I would get such a low mark compared to what I usually get.. thoughts? By the way should I re-take the exam or concentrate on Grade 11 in school? I feel guilty spending another $650 or whatever it is of my parents' money because of this unfortunate situation.

Thanks everybody!

[cometear]

This is an unfortunate situation. Do you think you could record yourself playing a piece. We do not care about the recording quality but it would help us be able to explain what we believe happened. Right now my gut is telling me that in the situation you had the notes but lacked more complex and important things. I am not talking about passion or expression because there are other ways involving technique and knowledge to achieve prize-winning and successful sound and you may be lacking this. A recording would help.

[prestoconfuocco]

Sorry about your exam, that's too bad.
Like someone already said, start off by recording yourself and posting it here, there are plenty of people the can help you out.
Something else you can consider (Though unusual) is revising your entire way of playing the piece for a while. Sometimes when you play a certain piece for a long time (Like you said you did,) it gets a bit "stale" (And it's difficult for you to notice, but other people do), maybe that's the reason you didn't pass.
A good way to freshen it up a bit is to pick up a whole new interpretation. Try listening to different preformances on youtube, pick the version you relate to the least, and try copying it.
Play only that version for a while, and only once you think you've mastered it, start over from scratch, and make up a brand new interpretation, that you think is best.
I know it sounds a bit strange, but it works. But try saving it as a last resort.
Best of luck, if you do the exam again tell us If you passed!

[amelialw]

I'm sorry to hear that...but like you said you did a mock exam under a really strict examiner and received 68; so a likely reason would be strict examiners then. Correct me if I'm wrong but there are always 2 examiners present for ARCT so it could be the case that one gave you a lower mark then the other and that's the way it balanced out. It's common to do competitions and recitals beforehand but that doesn't guarantee a pass even if you do well for those; sometimes we just don't perform as well on the exam day and sometimes it's the examiners preference.

Like someone above said it might be a case of the pieces getting stale; I nor my teacher in Canada personally believe that you don't study a piece continuously over a period of 2 years...you will always need to take a break and learn new pieces.

My advice would be to take a look at the comments sheet; take it to your teacher, read through carefully...think about it, see if you want to swap any pieces (let your teacher advise you regarding that) and re-take the exam only when you are really well-prepared.

[awesom_o]

I'm 15 years old and I have been playing piano ever since I was a little girl. I'm really nothing special and I don't have that much musical talent (I'm not being modest, I'm completely serious). I mostly do piano because it's an extracurricular that'll look good on university applications but I DO enjoy it and I work hard.

I think we have found our problem!
A Performer's ARCT is meant to be a serious musical qualification. It is not meant for Sunday-duffer pianists who don't have much musical talent and play the piano because it makes them look good! A professional musician can hear in the sound that you mostly do piano because it's an extracurricular that'll look good on university applications.

Why should the RCM award its performance-level diploma to someone who treats music as a means to an end in such a shallow manner?

I suggest you take a hiatus from the piano and use the time to reflect upon your relationship with your musical studies! 

[jknott]

why are some people on this forum so rude?

there may have some valid points in what you say to the OP, but the way you say it ...

feels like the rule on pianostreet is "post at your peril"

[banananne]

thanks for the replies!

honestly I expected rude replies (it's the internet after all...) but i'm glad that I did recieve some good advice. In response to the rude comments, I will say that I clearly mentioned that although my main goal in music (everybody needs a goal to succeed) is to do well for my future, I try hard and accept the fact that talent-wise, I am nothing special.

anyways, I looked into getting a second opinion and thoughts on my pieces from another teacher. hppefully I will be able to change some things, learn some new pieces or hopefully reinterpret my old ones, and then successfully re-take my examination next year.

thoughts? anything else I should do to prepare?

[quantum]

I've always considered exams, such as the RCM system, a synthetic benchmark and not representative of a student's ability.  As much as the exam system would like to operate in a method of fairness to all that take exams, the truth of the matter is that subjectivity is rampant.  People serving on juries have their opinions and their preferences, and to various degrees will express them regardless of any form of rubric implemented to increase the likelihood of a fair and consistent evaluation.  It is very difficult for some people to silence their opinions in favour of a more objective methodology. 

That said, I'd say to retake the exam if you wish.  Think about whether you really need an ARCT.  Would you prefer to just move forward and continue studying and loving music?  ARCT is just an exam, it doesn't make or define you as a person or a musician.  If you are considering a degree in music, a BMus far outweighs an ARCT in credentials. 

If you wish to retake, study the comments, rethink and refine your pieces as those above have suggested.  However, don't over analyze yourself to death.  Hopefully, when you decide to retake, you will get a different set of examiners.