Dis my DipABRSM retake yesterday

[yamaha]

Hi all 

I did my DipABRSM retake yesterday at 4.15pm.   

I was nervous but nothing like as nervous as last time and I played a lot better. I did make mistakes but nothing too terrible ( I thought). I didn't have any comlete breakdowns like last time and managed to keep the music flowing despite the mistakes. I just hope I did enough to get the extra 6 marks that I was short on the recital last time. The pass is 24/60 I believe so surely you are allowed some mistakes?

I read on this forum somewhere the benefit of potassium for nerves.  I didn't feel like eating much but had some Lucozade sport instead.  Dont know if that  is why I wasn't as nervous or because I was more prepared but hey, I'm not complaining 

Just thought I'd share.  Enjoy 

[kaff]

If you were only short 6 marks, and you felt much better about this time, surely you'll pass?  I do hope so. 

Kathryn

[yamaha]

Thanks    Fingers crossed , results in 8 weeks! 

[kaff]

Can you tell me what the viva questions were like?  What sort of research did you do for the viva?  Were the questions as expected, based on your research?  As you've proobably worked out by now, the viva section is the bit that I'm most concerned about.  The programme notes I feel I can work on and perfect over a period of time with assistance from my teacher; I know what's required in the recital section (I don't necessarily mean I know I can do it, but I know at least how to attempt it!), and the quick study I can work on.  But the viva's a bit of an unknown quantity as far as I'm concerned, as I've never done anything like it before musically.  Did the questions stick closely to the pieces you were playing, or did they wander off into other areas?

All assistance appreciated

Kathryn

[bravuraoctaves]

Good luck.

[yamaha]

Can you tell me what the viva questions were like?  What sort of research did you do for the viva?  Were the questions as expected, based on your research?  As you've proobably worked out by now, the viva section is the bit that I'm most concerned about.  The programme notes I feel I can work on and perfect over a period of time with assistance from my teacher; I know what's required in the recital section (I don't necessarily mean I know I can do it, but I know at least how to attempt it!), and the quick study I can work on.  But the viva's a bit of an unknown quantity as far as I'm concerned, as I've never done anything like it before musically.  Did the questions stick closely to the pieces you were playing, or did they wander off into other areas?

All assistance appreciated

Kathryn

Hi Kathryn 

To make my answer relevant, my pieces were..............

Bach Prelude and Fugue in F# min  Bk 1
Beethoven Pathetique
Schubert Impromptu in Gb D899
Bartok Dance No 2 from Mikrokosmos Vol 6

The questions.................

Why did you choose your programme?
Why did Bach compose Well Tempered Clavier
Using the score, please show me where all voices enter in the Fugue.  Also for each entry I was asked if SATB.
What instruments was WTC composed for?
How do these differ from piano?
Using the score, explain the form of the Pathetique 1st movement.  I was also asked the key at various points in the music.
How does the piano of Beethovens time differ to the modern piano?
What other works did Beethoven compose in C min?
What made you choose the editions that you are using?
Have you listened to any of Schuberts songs?
What were the most challenging aspects of your programme and how did you overcome them?

They are the questions (that I can remember)  from my first exam.  At my resit, they were a lot more......vague.  Not many direct questions at all.  Things like.........

Tell me about Beethoven
Tell me about Bach
Tell me about Schuberts Impromptus

I think the questions may have been open ended this time so as not to duplicate the questions I was asked last time.  Maybe they wanted to give me chance to show my knowledge more generally.  I hope I did ok because I passed the viva last time but you cant carry forward a credit so I had to do all parts again  (under 2000-2004 syllabus)

I hope this helps you in some way.    Have you been to the ABRSM website?  The new (for 2005) syllabus is available for download and now contains specimen viva voce questions and also sample Distinction/Pass/Fail answers. Very useful.  Unfortunately for me, there was no such guidance available when I did my exam, the 2000-2004 syllabus doesnt have sample Q&A 

Good Luck 

[kaff]

Yamaha - thanks so much for taking the time to do this.  Yes, I've already looked at the ABRSM website, downloaded the syllabus and looked at the sample questions .  They are useful - but what you've just quoted me is much more useful because it lets me see how the questions are developed, how they relate to your whole programme, and how broad the required knowledge base is.  It's useful to know, for instance, that you were asked about the development of the instrument itself, and that you were expected to have a wider experience of each composer's work than just his piano music.  I think I might even manage this! 

Kathryn 

[bernhard]

I believe the ABRSM just produced a DVD about this exam, giving tips about how to prepare, what the examiners will be lookin for and samples of the pieces commented by the examiners.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[yamaha]

Yamaha - thanks so much for taking the time to do this.  Yes, I've already looked at the ABRSM website, downloaded the syllabus and looked at the sample questions .  They are useful - but what you've just quoted me is much more useful because it lets me see how the questions are developed, how they relate to your whole programme, and how broad the required knowledge base is.  It's useful to know, for instance, that you were asked about the development of the instrument itself, and that you were expected to have a wider experience of each composer's work than just his piano music.  I think I might even manage this! 

Kathryn 

Glad to help 

[kaff]

I believe the ABRSM just produced a DVD about this exam, giving tips about how to prepare, what the examiners will be lookin for and samples of the pieces commented by the examiners.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

Thanks for this Bernhard - I didn't know about the DVD, and  I'll have a look for it.

Kathryn

[bernhard]

Have a look here:

https://www.abrsmpub.co.uk/marketing_diploma_dvd.html

Best wishes,
Bernhard