Any Canadians out there?

[lagin]

Is anyone here living in Canada and doing the RCM thing?  If so what grade are you in, how far do you plan to go, and what is your favorite piece out of the current syllbus?
I live in B.C.
in grade 10 RCM
I like the Pathetique sonata
Am planning to go all the way with performers' and teachers' ARCTs

[doowlehc]

hi i am in Toronto.  I done ARCT the performer's diploma.  I find the syllabus very narrow.  For example I am amazed there is no Skryiabin at all for ARCT!  this is ridiculous!  My favorite piece of Skryabin is Sonata #5

[aki]

Hey, I'm from Burnaby, BC.  I got my ARCT perfomer's diploma.  I love anything by Lizst, he's my fav composer

[lagin]

Hey, guys.  How long did it take you to do grade ten, and then how long for your performers diploma.  I'm trying to figure out how many years I have to go still.  Does the theory get really hard?

[JP]

Hi! 

I live in MTL.. Finished grades but did not do ARCT, since it wasn't related to my career choice & the imposed repertoire isn’t very rich..  However I did follow various programs/seminars/workshops that focused on the technical & interpretive aspects of playing  (non RCM)..  My taste in music seems to be simliar to Aki's..


And yes it gets hard. While the practical remains somewhat plain, the non practical gets considerably difficult.  Even history, which should be interesting IMO, wasn't that great IMO.  I know because even though I didnt write the exams, I helped a friend study for them and consequently absorbed much of it..



For those wondering, I'm in an accounting program (CA).. But classical piano remains my true love.

[doowlehc]

However I did follow various programs/seminars/workshops that focused on the technical & interpretive aspects of playing  (non RCM).. 

Hi can you tell us more about which programs / seminars / workshops  that focused on technical & interpretive aspects?  I would love to attend these myself.  Where can I find these info?

[JP]

Hi can you tell us more about which programs / seminars / workshops  that focused on technical & interpretive aspects?  I would love to attend these myself.  Where can I find these info?

Hi..
The last one I attended was week long program in Northern Cali.. North of Napa valley.
Probably the most beneficial of them all..  Also very $$$$

Seminars were held at Vincent d'Indy https://www.emvi.qc.ca/

[JP]

Hi can you tell us more about which programs / seminars / workshops  that focused on technical & interpretive aspects?  I would love to attend these myself.  Where can I find these info?

One more thing, you might want to look around the RCM.. They used to have these type of sessions.. From what I've heard they were kinda impromptu, but still worth checkin out.

[lagin]

Hey JP,
Since you've been through most of the RCM exam, tell me, do the more advanced exams differ much in expectation from the intermediant ones?  The last and actually only exam I've written was grade six.  Now I'm doing grade nine this spring.  Hey what was your grade 10 rep?  Got any suggestions for me?

[JP]

Hey JP,
Since you've been through most of the RCM exam, tell me, do the more advanced exams differ much in expectation from the intermediant ones?  The last and actually only exam I've written was grade six.  Now I'm doing grade nine this spring.  Hey what was your grade 10 rep?  Got any suggestions for me?

Its been a few years, I cant really remember.. I'll tell you what, tomorrow I'll be at the music school, so I'll check out the syllabus and study/rep books and let you know..
My little brother is doing gr8 this year and from what I can easily tell, ear training and theory are where the difficulties are at.. I hope you've kept with the learning program since gr6..

[lagin]

Actually, JP,
I just did my grade six last August, then skipped to grade nine.  I started in grade 3 and didn't write an exam for that grade, but I competed in a festival.  Then I skipped to grade six where I did write an exam.  So I've only been playing for a year and a half so far.  To have come so far so fast, I know there must be a God!  Seriously, I do give Him credit for anything, and everything that's good in my life .  Someday I want to be on the college board of examiners for RCM.  That's one of my goals, anyway.  So far for grade ten I've been thinking of Beethoven's Sonata in E, Ballade in d-, by Brahms, and some late 20th century prelude.  Hope to here from you soon, and yes ear training and theory are the hardest!!

[JP]

Actually, JP,
I just did my grade six last August, then skipped to grade nine.  I started in grade 3 and didn't write an exam for that grade, but I competed in a festival.  Then I skipped to grade six where I did write an exam.  So I've only been playing for a year and a half so far.  To have come so far so fast, I know there must be a God!  Seriously, I do give Him credit for anything, and everything that's good in my life .  Someday I want to be on the college board of examiners for RCM.  That's one of my goals, anyway.  So far for grade ten I've been thinking of Beethoven's Sonata in E, Ballade in d-, by Brahms, and some late 20th century prelude.  Hope to here from you soon, and yes ear training and theory are the hardest!!

You've been playing for 1.5 years and you're going to do gr9?  I'm not sure what to say or think for that matter.  If you dont mind me asking, how old are you?  Are you studing with a teacher?  And what major works done last..?  Just for me to know what type of pianist I'm discussing with..

Also which festival did you compete in?  Is the Quebec/Ontario one?   

[doowlehc]

Hi Lagin good for you... how much you practise weekly?

Jp, Actaully I really think if anyone has strong love of music, and practise diligently, proceeding to Gr 8 or 9 after 1.5 to 2 yrs is entirely possible.  I started practising when I was 11 yrs old, and at 13 I did my Gr 8 piano exam from RCM.  I am sure it is not uncommon at all.  I heard kids started 5 yrs old and can play Gr 7 when they are just 6 yrs old.

[lagin]

Hi, yes I'm studying with a super duper very experienced teacher who has been teaching for twenty years.  She has her ARCT teacher's diploma and her ARCT performers.  She is also a RMT (registered music teacher) for our area.  I'm nineteen.  I started playing at eighteen.  When I started I did know Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge and so on.  I also knew eighth note, quarter note, rests, ect.  I was tinkering with Bastiens primer and level one book on and off for years, so that's where I got my info.  I used to go through hymns and right all the letter names by the notes so I could "play them."  Then my mom said, "Why don't you take piano lessons and become a teacher."  So I did .
     I played grade three in the Vernon, B.C. annual music festival and got third place with my 20th century piece, but didn't place with my Beethoven.  That was in March 2004, then in August 2004 I played my grade six exam, and got 85.  Now I'm almost done grade nine, and I'm playing my exam June 16.  I just finished competing in this years festival.  I got 2 first places and 1 second place.  (For one of the first places, I was the only entry, so I don't think it counts ).  I have to compete in the Schuswap festival in one more month.  To answer your question, doowlehc, I practiced around 18 hours per week in grade three, 24 hours a week in grade six, and now try to hit the 30 mark for grade nine.  I'm trying to find a replacement for my part time job, so I can quit and go for 35 hours a week.  My parents, bless them, are supporting me anyway until I get my degree and start teaching.   These hours don't include theory though.  I'm constantly squishing that in whenever I can.  I'm almost done gr. 3 harmony and gr. 3 history which are the co-requisites for gr 9 practical.  Man, I sound like I'm typing an application form or something!  But you wanted to know.  By the way, I'm totally serious about my last post.  God gets all the credit.  I would have definitely injured myself with all the technique by now if it weren't for Him.  Mind you, I've come close, more than once.  People say music is a gift, right?  So every gift needs a giver.  I cant explain why else I'm so crazy about music all of a sudden in my life.  I mean, I get the biggest kick out of scales!   So could I have done all this?  "No, no, and no."  But He did, and I'm so thankful.  So there you have it.  Anyway, do you have any suggestions for my grade 10 repertoire JP?  How about Rachmaninoff?  The piece of his I really want to learn, and might just learn for fun anyway is not in the current syllbus

[lagin]

Oops, I forgot you wanted to know what I'm working on. 
Prelude and fugue in c minor, no 2, Bach
Sonata in G Major, 1st movement, Beethoven
Impromptu, Schubert
Over the Rainbow, arrg. by George Shearing
Study in C Major, Czerny
Scherzo, Niels Gade
and I've starting a gr. 10 piece, Ballade in d minor, Brahms

[klick]

I am Canadian from Ontario, but I'm omly Lvl 6 RCM, which i find extreamly eazy and hate doing. I feel i should be higher, like 7 or 8 becuase I have perfected Moonlight sonata Mvt. 1 , and the Pathatique Mvt. 2 and my friend tells me that they are higher than 6 but my teacher says I have to do 6 and wants me to take my time and what not. but whatever. I love music and proud to be Canadian.

Current Lvl 6 Rep:
Sonatina in G+ - Dusseck
Roundup - Previn
Minuet in G- -  cant remeber who too lazy to get book
Tocatina (#2 in book) - cant remeber who either
Game of Patience (#13 study) - Not too sure

[cordelia]

I live in BC, currently doing RCM Gr. 10, hoping to do an ARCT in a few years.

[lagin]

Hey Klick, I remember those songs, well, hearing others play them.  Mine gr. 6 rep. was different.  I love practically all of them.  If you picked them, then we have very similar musical taste .  My teacher made me do grade 6, too, even though I could handle tougher stuff, and I'm glad she did because it gave me a chance to build up my technique and play a variety of different composers.  Moonlight is ARCT level (gr. 11), and Pathetique is grade 10.  But don't feel too held back because my teacher played the moonlight sonata for her grade 11 exam along with a whole bunch of other stuff, and you know what?  She didn't have a single memory lapse out of the whole 65 pages of repertoire.  You know what else?  They failed her because her technique wasn't quite up to standard.  I guess maybe her fingering could have been a little more clear or maybe her eighth notes were uneven too much.  So, that's awesome if you can play the songs, but the best way to know if you're exam ready is to be able to play through all the technical requirements of the grade at speed without a break and without hurting yourself.  It took my over 5 hours the first time I tried this with the grade nine technique!!  On the up side, when you get there, you'll already have a couple songs ready and think how easy note reading will be after learning those pieces, in fact by your post, I've gathered that you've already found that out.  If you want your teacher to put you ahead, I would bring up your technique to maybe grade 8 speed, show her you can physically handle the grade, and ask to be advanced.  If she says no after you've done this, then I'd ask why.  Go Canada

[lagin]

Cordelia, what are your pieces?  Did you just start this grade?  Maybe I've finally found someone exactly where I am.  Where do you live in BC?
lagin

[cordelia]

I did just start Grade 10.  Right now I'm doing the Bach Prelude and Fugue in D Major, the Haydn Sonata in B Minor, Studies 4 and 10 (the Berens and the Rachmaninoff), and a mountain of technique.  I'm also doing some stuff from Gr. 9 still (the Shumann Romance and the Ravel Menuet).

[klick]

Thnx alot lagin.

I'm geussing your correct, in that I need the technique, and the Moonlight and Pathatique are slow and not extreamley hard songs, I can just paly em because of my hand size and what not. Thnx again.

[lagin]

Glad I didn't discourage you Klick .  What is your technique at anyway?  Are you ahead of the game or struggling to keep up.  Most of my stuff is faster than it needs to be, but not my arpeggios .  They're getting there slowly but surely. 

[klick]

I can do all the Grade 6 tech preety well. ( c#-, Ab+, f-, f#- A+, g-, Bb+, c-, Eb+)
I just gotta work on the speedy and the consistency on them, and i should do fine.

My teacher this week really pissed me off and said I will have to wait to do and exam! It realy made me mad, seeing how I know Grade 6 well, and I got 84 in my Lvl 5 exam, which I didn't even want to do. I want to get over Lvl 8 b4 i hit University and this setback is probably hurting my chances. I don't see why I can't skip 6 from here and go on to 7 or 8, but oh well.

[lagin]

Hey Klick,
Try learning the grade eight technique and bringing it up to grade eight speed while you wait for your grade six exam.  It's okay to skip gr. 7 technique because grade nine is an overview of everthing you learned up to that point so you'll get the scales you missed then.  If you can do this over the next couple months, you can show her after your gr. 6 exam.  Maybe she'll let you skip seven then.  I even learned a couple gr. 7 songs to show my teacher I was ready to skip.  If not, maybe she'll let you only spend a short time in grade seven and not do an exam until eight.  If she makes you do an exam every grade, I'd definately, politely, as her for her reason why she thinks this is necessary.  Maybe you could propose trying a skip and seeing how it works.  You can always go back if she thinks your progress is unsatifactory.  If you're struggling with getting your gr. 6 tech. up to speed, that's probably why she said no.  Let me know how it goes.

[keys]

Hey,

I started lessons when I was eight years old, my first teacher retired and I had a year on my own. When I started with my new teacher I skipped from gr. 4 RCM to gr.8 RCM, I wrote the exam the week I turned twelve. I would totally go for gr.8 klick. It's pretty accessible. I took grades nine, ten, and ARCT slower so I could catch up in history, harmony, etc.

[lagin]

Hey Keys,
So what level are you on now?  Where in Canada do you live?
And where'ld JP go?  (I'm not asking you that )

[keys]

Hey lagin,

I am playing my ARCT performers this June. I finished all of my theory stuff last spring (woot!) I'm from Saskatchewan.

[lagin]

I'm sooo jealous!  What I would give to be done all my theory!  As of after this May exam season, I will still have Harmony 4, Harmony 5, Counterpoint 4, Analysis 5, History 4 (if I pass history three which is in question ), and History 5.  Which one is the hardest?  Oh, and I've been wanting to ask someone who's done there ARCT, did your teacher always get you to play from your thighs and stomach?  Mine does, but I don't get how to do it.  Do you push your weight into the keys from your foot braced on the floor or what?  Plus I need to stay relaxed.  I need some help here

[doowlehc]

how come there is only me from Toronto?

[keys]

I'm sooo jealous! What I would give to be done all my theory! As of after this May exam season, I will still have Harmony 4, Harmony 5, Counterpoint 4, Analysis 5, History 4 (if I pass history three which is in question ), and History 5. Which one is the hardest? Oh, and I've been wanting to ask someone who's done there ARCT, did your teacher always get you to play from your thighs and stomach? Mine does, but I don't get how to do it. Do you push your weight into the keys from your foot braced on the floor or what? Plus I need to stay relaxed. I need some help here

Haha yeah, I was so happy when I finished all of the exams! I ended up writing my History, Harmony and Analysis 5 all on the same weekend. Got it all over with. History 4 was definitely harder than 5, but I wrote my history 4 under the old syllabus, I think they've made it a little more manageable in the new one. In my experience, the key to success with music history is flash cards. I made my own, it totally helped me remember the details. My teacher has never told me to play from my stomach or thighs, sounds like another way of saying to play using your entire body instead of just your hands. I'm small; I had no choice but to learn to utilize as many muscles as I could while I play or else my technique would suck. For all things it helps to keep your core stable.

how come there is only me from Toronto?

How come I'm the only one from Saskatchewan? Oh yeah.. we have no people here.

[lagin]

Seems like we're getting quite the Canadian club going on here.  So, how old are you guys, what are you doing now, and am I the only girl here?  It's hard to tell from the user names.
I'm 19, and still very learning piano.  I'm working as a part time unofficial therapist for an autistic girl, but I'm trying to find a replacement as I need more time to do my zillion theory courses

[doowlehc]

Seems like we're getting quite the Canadian club going on here.  So, how old are you guys, what are you doing now, and am I the only girl here?  It's hard to tell from the user names.
I'm 19, and still very learning piano.  I'm working as a part time unofficial therapist for an autistic girl, but I'm trying to find a replacement as I need more time to do my zillion theory courses

I am 30 years old, a guy, working in a software company (...borrrrring....! haha)  I been playing piano for almost 20 yrs!  wow time flies.

[fred smalls]

IM CANADIAN!!!! AND PROUND TO BE!!!! CANADA IS THE BEST COUNTRY!!!! Im in grade 10 rcm and thats pretty much it! WOW, caffine makes me a whole new person!!!

[lagin]

Hey, nice to meet ya, doowlehc.  That leaves Keys, Klick, JP, Cordelia, Aki, and now I guess we have a Fred Smalls, too, since I've been typing this.

[JP]

Hi Lagin good for you... how much you practise weekly?

Jp, Actaully I really think if anyone has strong love of music, and practise diligently, proceeding to Gr 8 or 9 after 1.5 to 2 yrs is entirely possible.  I started practising when I was 11 yrs old, and at 13 I did my Gr 8 piano exam from RCM.  I am sure it is not uncommon at all.  I heard kids started 5 yrs old and can play Gr 7 when they are just 6 yrs old.

Yes I know its possible.. I have student who is gifted, he's one of those kids to who you can explain vectors while the others of his age are still working on simple additions (1+1=?)..
But, before I give one single second of my time to someone I need to know that he is really who I think he is..

[JP]

Hey Keys,
So what level are you on now?  Where in Canada do you live?
And where'ld JP go?  (I'm not asking you that )

I'm right here!
I'm sorry I wasnt able to post earlier, I had an exam I wasnt much prepared for..
I'm also sorry I didnt look at the syllabus and selection of pieces for your grade, there's always someone pulling on my sleeve while I'm at the school.. Anyways, I'm teaching tomorrow, so I'll make sure to check it out. Promise. 

[doowlehc]

Yes I know its possible.. I have student who is gifted, he's one of those kids to who you can explain vectors while the others of his age are still working on simple additions (1+1=?)..
But, before I give one single second of my time to someone I need to know that he is really who I think he is..

Who are you referring to?

[JP]

Seems like we're getting quite the Canadian club going on here.  So, how old are you guys, what are you doing now, and am I the only girl here?  It's hard to tell from the user names.
I'm 19, and still very learning piano.  I'm working as a part time unofficial therapist for an autistic girl, but I'm trying to find a replacement as I need more time to do my zillion theory courses

LOL, all this time I could have sworn you were a boy..
Well I'm a dude.. 22 yrs of age, I finished RCM grades a few years ago.  After which I really started learning the highly technical aspects of piano playing.  I am forever a student.  

I'm a full time accounting student (Chartered Accountancy), completing my BSc this month.  I'll then proceed to the masters in taxation (tax law) in June..  I teach about 25 hours a week, mostly beginner and intermediate, however I have 4 advanced level students who possibly have greater general musical knowledge than I do.  Sadly all this doesn’t leave me much time to spend with my beloved instrument, hopefully one day the situation will be different.  I used  to go to church every Sunday, now I average once per season.

If you're wondering why I didn’t continue my studies in music and make a career out if it, its simply because of the lack of financial security.  I can live with it, but if one day I have a kid, God willing, I want him/her to grow up in ideal conditions or at least to have enough to live reasonably well, as I did..

Finally, God is real.  The fact that you thanked him in one of your posts made you score points with me.  
People often call on him when they are in need, but rarley thank him for the good they receive.

[JP]

Who are you referring to?

Umm, in which sentence?

[fred smalls]

People often call on him when they are in need, but rarley thank him for the good they receive.

Thats a good point.

[keys]

IM CANADIAN!!!! AND PROUND TO BE!!!! CANADA IS THE BEST COUNTRY!!!! Im in grade 10 rcm and thats pretty much it! WOW, caffine makes me a whole new person!!!

lol I know the feeling

Seems like we're getting quite the Canadian club going on here. So, how old are you guys, what are you doing now, and am I the only girl here? It's hard to tell from the user names.
I'm 19, and still very learning piano. I'm working as a part time unofficial therapist for an autistic girl, but I'm trying to find a replacement as I need more time to do my zillion theory courses

Good luck with all that theory! I am also a girl, part of the pianoforum sisterhood

[lagin]

Hey Key, Yah, I guessed you were a girl  

That's cool that you believe in God too, JP.  You just scored points with me too.    

Hey, does anyone know if in exams the examiners purposely ask for the hard keys like C+ V7 arp. (all white keys), or f#- harmonic formula pattern scale, or do the mostly ask for nice easy things like E+ scale, ect.?

[jiwongirl]

i'm 19
i live in toronto
i did my gr 10 a few years ago, and i'm not bothering to do my ARCT (at least for now) because i refuse to learn theory and history
 

[lagin]

Hey jiwongirl,
Welcome! What are you going to do instead?

[rlefebvr]

Well, I am as well chirp in as Canadian as well.

[jiwongirl]

Hey jiwongirl,
Welcome! What are you going to do instead?

i'm just finishing my 2nd year of honours music
 

[lagin]

What's honours music, jiwongirl?  I haven't heard of it.

Question:  So these provincial competitions that occur every year...I know you can only get in by being selected from a local festival, but how do they select?  The highest overall grade?  Is it the adjudicatiors decision or the board that puts on the festival?  Do you generally have to be pretty young?  Curious.

[fred smalls]

Hey, does anyone know if in exams the examiners purposely ask for the hard keys like C+ V7 arp. (all white keys), or f#- harmonic formula pattern scale, or do the mostly ask for nice easy things like E+ scale, ect.?

If I recall correctly, you are in grade 9. I just took my grade 9 exam on January 19th (yes that date is imprinted in my memory, wierd thing is my grade 8 was on the exact same date the year before ). Really, they will ask you a mix of hard and easy scales ect. (never the really hard ones).  But truely, its not like they are vultures, out to ask you the hardest scales and wait to pounce on you as soon as you make a mistake. I made quite a few mistakes in technique (nervous, ahhh) and still came out with 9/10 in that area. So they are really just looking for overall control, ease and fluency; not amazingly note perfect to the death 

BTW: I did get F#- melodic and had just practiced it that morning, but completely froze. I took a while to get through that one, but it was really the only hard scale i got. I think they usually make you do one hard one.

PS: I got 87 on that exam! Man I was stoked, after it was over I felt I could have played everything better. Maybe not

[doowlehc]

What's honours music, jiwongirl?  I haven't heard of it.

Question:  So these provincial competitions that occur every year...I know you can only get in by being selected from a local festival, but how do they select?  The highest overall grade?  Is it the adjudicatiors decision or the board that puts on the festival?  Do you generally have to be pretty young?  Curious.

They have age limit.  and I am passed it .. .damn!  I think the age limit for piano is 28 or something

[lagin]

I'm not passed the age limit, but my technique and lack of performance experience might hinder me from getting such an honor.  Still, I can dream.....  How do they make there decision and who are "they?"  Is it just a random overall impression, based on percentages, what?

Hey Fred,
Thanks.  You gave me a bit of courage for my upcoming exam