Grade 8 exam how important??

[resourcefulhedgehog]

I took my grade 8 piano a few weeks ago and to my disappointment received a merit (126/150). I feel like it was really unfairly marked  - I had little to no mistakes in my scales and the examiner took off like 4 marks because of a "lack of tonal shaping" and I think my pieces were really harshly marked, in the past I usually always get above 27/30 and here I only got 27 on my best piece. Apparently the examiner only gave 2 people distinction that day and 4 people merit, so it's really annoying to know that I might not have these problems if I'd had a nicer examiner who only needed to give me FOUR more marks.    I'm aware that for a lot of people a merit is really good, but I really wanted the top mark considering grade 8 is the last and most important grade. 

Because of this I decided I would try to retake with the aim of a distinction- well, I had my retake today and I'm pretty sure it went worse than before, but of course maybe the examiner will be a more decent person. I was just really nervous, much more than I usually am, and it hindered my playing and I couldn't concentrate in the aural. I don't have the mark yet, but I'm wondering, just in case, if there's a point in retaking a THIRD time? Third time lucky and all that.... How important is the grade 8 mark if I go on to do diploma and get a good score? My only misgive is that leading conservatoires in the UK have a standard of Grade 8 Distinction . To be honest I'm a little embarrassed already that I had to do my Grade 8 twice. 

[dizzyfingers]

I took my grade 8 piano a few weeks ago and to my disappointment received a merit (126/150). I feel like it was really unfairly marked  - I had little to no mistakes in my scales and the examiner took off like 4 marks because of a "lack of tonal shaping" and I think my pieces were really harshly marked, in the past I usually always get above 27/30 and here I only got 27 on my best piece. Apparently the examiner only gave 2 people distinction that day and 4 people merit, so it's really annoying to know that I might not have these problems if I'd had a nicer examiner who only needed to give me FOUR more marks.    I'm aware that for a lot of people a merit is really good, but I really wanted the top mark considering grade 8 is the last and most important grade. 

Because of this I decided I would try to retake with the aim of a distinction- well, I had my retake today and I'm pretty sure it went worse than before, but of course maybe the examiner will be a more decent person. I was just really nervous, much more than I usually am, and it hindered my playing and I couldn't concentrate in the aural. I don't have the mark yet, but I'm wondering, just in case, if there's a point in retaking a THIRD time? Third time lucky and all that.... How important is the grade 8 mark if I go on to do diploma and get a good score? My only misgive is that leading conservatoires in the UK have a standard of Grade 8 Distinction . To be honest I'm a little embarrassed already that I had to do my Grade 8 twice. 

I've revised my answer, realizing this is a conservatory bound (probably teenaged) student.
No comment.
Post a video of your playing and we'll give you a "distinction" award in our comments.

[thorn]

How important is the grade 8 mark if I go on to do diploma and get a good score? My only misgive is that leading conservatoires in the UK have a standard of Grade 8 Distinction . To be honest I'm a little embarrassed already that I had to do my Grade 8 twice. 

I got into a UK conservatoire without Grade 8 Distinction or a Diploma. I didn't even get a merit for Grade 8. They primarily care about how you play in your audition. So my advice is to forget retakes and focus on your audition program. You don't say how old you are- if you have time to prepare a diploma before you need to get an audition program together then by all means do a diploma.

[essence]

I failed grade 4, tried again and got through on a pass mark (100). Never took another piano exam.

[dizzyfingers]

I failed grade 4, tried again and got through on a pass mark (100). Never took another piano exam.

Wise man.

[lelle]

The paradox with performing is that the harder you try to succeed the harder it is to succeed. The aim needs to be to enjoy playing, because you have very little control over what accolades you get from others.

[quantum]

If there is a lesson to be learned here, it is that grading musical performances is subjective.  If you have aspirations to pursue more advanced music studies in conservatory or university, this is a sad but true reality.  Grades don't give validation that you are a good musician, they are the score you get for playing in an academic sport. 

Get some grades to further your music studies.  More importantly get outside of that world, and make some real music. 

When you tell people you play the piano, most don't ask about the grades you received.  Rather, people would be more inclined to ask what music can you make. 

[resourcefulhedgehog]

If anyone is interested I somehow did get that distinction in the second exam I took (135/150) so that post was a lot of unnecessary stress 

[dizzyfingers]

If anyone is interested I somehow did get that distinction in the second exam I took (135/150) so that post was a lot of unnecessary stress