Any Canadians out there?

[nanabush]

I got a question.... the current stuff I'm playing, I've calculated around 1 hour and like 5 minutes, with short breaks....

Bach Italian Concerto
Grieg Sonata
Brahms G- Rhapsody
Ravel Sonatine
Ginastera Danzas Argentinas
Rach Etude op 33, Eb major


Do they honestly cut you off immediately after an hour?  I hope not...

[lagin]

Are there any pieces that you can speed up just slightly to make sure you are under an hour?  Sometimes I've seen recordings of sonatas at 17 minutes, and then by another performer at 21 minutes.  I don't know what to tell you otherwise.  It probably depends on the examiner, too.

Your last piece isn't 5 minutes long is it?  Because if it is, they may stop you before you get to start it.  And then you might lose the marks for that piece, and that would be like 15% if you do it in the order listed.  Personally, I wouldn't risk it.  I've made sure my pieces stay under 50 minutes to allow for pauses between movements, and pleasantries, is there are any in that type of exam.  (No, if you're wondering I'm not at ARCT level, but I've picked my pieces already for the summer). 

I know this is an aweful way to fix the problem, but if you did have to change a piece I wouldn't touch List A or B.  They take too much trouble to learn in the first place.  What does your teacher say?

[nanabush]

Well, it was kinda my mistake, I thought they originally said that it has to be minimum of an hour  so I was picking long[er] pieces.  My list A there is NO way I'm going to learn anything else.  I'm quite a bit into the IC, and I do not want to resort back to the P/F in C# +, <shudder>.  I know it so-so, but i havn't played it in a loong time.  I do not want to have to endure the torture of relearning that fugue to performance level.  List B I'm not changing either, there is no way I'm learning an entire other sonata.  List C I'm really considering changing, perhaps to a less-commonly-played piece that is around 2-3 minutes, shaving off quite a bit.  List D, maybe, the sonatine wasn't too much strain learning, finishing off third movement up to speed.  I could probably switch with a Debussy prelude, or perhaps Jeux D'eau, which I think I could tackle.  List E I don't want to switch.  There is very little in list E that I would want to play, Prokofiev Sonata 3, which is about the same length, if not, longer, than the Danzas.  Prokofiev Toccata I enjoy [listening to], there is no way I'm ready to play it.  I can only find about 1/4 of the list E's online, whether its a sound file or pdf, so I'm kinda stuck here.  Etude, I pretty much picked one of the shortest etudes, so no point in finding one less than about 1:50. 
    All this to say, any suggestions for a short, (no longer than 8 minutes for list D and no longer than 3 minutes list C) piece I could play, and if possible, one that isn't too well known, that is on the ARCT syllabus.  this only really applies to people in canada...

[lagin]

Hmm, my list D is only 4 and 1/2 minutes long, but it is VERY well know, being Rach's Prelude in g minor, op.23. 5, AND your etude is already by him, so that rules that out.  At least in my teacher's eyes, but I'm not so sure she is right.  You are in such a hard spot there.  I think if I were you, I would go for Debussy in list D.  I think he is list D anyway.  Hey, you know what?  www.classicalarchives.com  If you look at the recordings, you can download 2 free each day, but more than that you can see how long they are.  That's how I picked my pieces.  I found a composer I liked.  Then I decided how long of a piece I wanted.  Then I listened to the ones that fit the description.  Try that?  Oh, and you can find losts of "snippets" of List E stuff on Amazon.com where they give you free demos.  Then if you find something you really like, you can hunt someone down who has the whole recording.  How long is your List E anyway?  I have a pretty cool List E piece you might like.  But it's just over 6 minutes long, so it might be too long for you anyway.  I picked 2 of Samuel Barber's Excursions because they don't sound "gross."  (Btw, I think your list E is "gross!"   It's what my teacher played and I was like, WHAT ON EARTH WAS THAT!!  But don't worry.  Atonal random stuff is growing on me , but Excursions, though not in a "key," does sound tonal. 

(On a side note, I once told a visiting clinician that I didn't want anything that "sounded 20th century" for my ARCT.  She was teaching a workshop on 20th century music which she actually specializes in.  I told her this during lunch break.  Then after, during the workshop she says in front of everyone, that she's going to play a piece which probably isn't to lagin's taste or something along those lines in jest .  Then that night after she gave a 45 minute 20th century performance, after which the  like scariest, Russian teacher at the school at which the workshop was held says in front of everyone again, "maybe lagin will start to change her mind now ."  Me and my big mouth, lol!  But I'm just not a fan yet.  Good thing it wasn't a big workshop, and I knew lot's of people anyway).  Anyway, let me know what you think of Classical Archives, k?

[nanabush]

Exact same experience with the Ginasteras here. I was stuck on list E, and my teacher really didn't want me playing the Prokofiev 3rd sonata, still don't quite know why... so she whips out the Danzas Argentinas, and I'm like, are you kidding me?  What is that ... and I remember posting earlier on this forum asking for advice on how to tell a teacher you really dont want to play a piece they strongly suggest.  But after listening to Argerich's performance of it many times over, this piece has grown on me.  The first movement is like 1:10 long... it's so short, and it's so god damn weird.  The second movement I think is gorgeous, you can tell it's got that spanish influence, sorta i guess....  .... the third is so impressive, but ssooooo difficult!!!!!  in total this piece is roughly 7 minutes.... probably one of the longer pieces for list E I'd guess.... 


-----------------

I've found like 20 pieces for list D haha.... I know some of them are obvoiusly past me in terms of technique, but w/e these are all around 6 minutes or less..

Debussy: reflets dans l'eau, l'isle joyeuse, feux d'artifice, toccata from suite

Ravel:  Toccata from tombeau de couperin, ondine, alborada del gracioso, jeux d'eau.


The sonatine which I'm finishing now I did not ever find it too difficult.  Some of these are around there, so if anyone's playd any of these, any advice on any of these pieces if I do choose one of em?

[lagin]

Have you tried sheetmusicarchive.net to follow along with a score?  That's a good way to hear and see exactly what those "hard sounding" parts are doing.

[keys]

Hey Canadians,

Is there anyone here from the GTA who could recommend a teacher in Mississauga? I studied in Toronto last year but I'm living in Mississauga now and I don't want to commute. I'm post-ARCT level and I enjoy competing and performing. I was on the ORMTA site, and these names sounded okay: Aira Castella, Janet Elizabeth Hinton, Pamela Huang, Larissa Zoubareva. But yeah, all I can do is look to see who has gone past the ARCT level themselves.  They could all be completely insane for all I know.             

[lagin]

It's time to resurrect this thread because I am now waiting for my grade 10 RCM results.     It's been 11 days and counting.  It took 13 days last year to get the mark back and just over a month for the comments - I'm hoping they are quicker this year .  Is anyone else waiting? 

[klick]

Good Luck lagin!!

I just did my RCM 7, waiting for my results as well. 


Klick

[lagin]

Cool, grade 8 has really nice pieces in it, what have you picked for it so far?  And when did you do your grade 7 exam?  I mean which day?  I'm sure you'll do great!  I did mine on the 15th. 

Let me know when you get your mark back.  I'm so curious as to what my grade 10 mark is because I switched teachers only a month before the exam and completely changed everything.  In the exam I just prayed and tried not to think about the changes so as not to mess myself up, so I'm not sure how much was the "old" way, and how much was the "new."  I'm really hoping I didn't end up doing half and half - especially with stuff like articulation . 

I only had one complete memory lapse and it took three runs to get going again .  Ah well, I never liked that piece much anyway.  I've never had a memory lapse in an exam before so I'm curious to see how much I get docked down for it. 

What grade 7 pieces did you do -- Fur Elise?

[nanabush]

I get so nervous going online and typin in the info... then clicking proceed.. then there's just the single number 

[lagin]

I KNOW, and it's even worse for me because as I'm taking ALL THAT TIME to type in my birthdate and RCM access number, I'm thinking. "it won't be there yet, now don't get excited,"  AND THEN SUDDENLY it says,  "The mark you are attempting to access is not available at this time.  Please try again at a later date."   Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  All that suspense for nothing!

[lagin]

*Sigh*  My patience is being tested to the EXTREME.  Still no mark, 2 weeks after the exam, and if it's not there tomorrow, then it's the long weekend, and it won't even have a chance to be here until next Tuesday, which will be almost 3 weeks after my exam!  Wow, they are very slow in coming this year.  Anyone else have theirs yet?

[lagin]

For my own record (for next year when I'm wondering where me results are ), they came out on Friday, the 29th and my exam was on the 15th which was a Thursday.  Still no comment sheet though. 

How about you Klick?

[klick]

Still havent got mine in the mail yet. I think that you can check online but I don't know my conformation no.    I really have forgot about it, I moved straight into Level 8, aiming for a January Exam.

Klick

[lagin]

That's great Klick!  And the January exams are later this year 15th to the 27th I believe so it give you a few extra weeks to prepare.  What pieces have you picked? 

Btw, if you go to www.rcmexaminations.org and click on "contact us," you can call the number there, and I bet they would give you your confirmation number because your results are most likely up there now and maybe even your comments (access by clicking on your result).  If you're waiting for the mail, it will probably be at least 2 more weeks because they are pretty good at waiting until the last minute of the 4 - 6 weeks to send them out!  Well, I live on the other side of the country and usually get mine after 6 weeks, which means that they mail them out after 5 weeks because it takes 5 days to get here from Toronto.

But I would definately call them if I were you and press 1 to get a person on the line when the machine starts talking. 

[klick]

Meh, I'll wait for my Level 7 marks in the mail. Level 7 doesn't matter anyways  .

As for my Level 8 Pieces I have picked;

Section 1: Bach - Invention no 6
Section 2: Clementi - Sonatina op 36 no 5 mvt 1 OR Cimarosa - Sonata in Bb+
Section 3: Liszt - Consolation no. 1
Section 4: Peterson - Gentle Waltz ........ (Canadian love )

as for the Studies I am not sure yet. I will post when I make my decision.

[alwaystheangel]

gentle waltz, beautiful piece.  Wish I had learned it.

Meh, suppose I could learn it now.

My piano students' marks came in!  one that I was expecting 70's got an 83, which is a miracle!

[lagin]

Wow, that is quite a jump!  Were you expecting low 70s or high?  And what grade is the student in?

You have much more patience than I, Klick.  The comment sheets should be up either tomorrow, the next day, or Monday at the latest, I'm hoping, and you can bet I'm checking every day. 

You didn't want to do that Tango one, the Molonge D'angle or something like that ( I have no idea how to spell it)?  Have you started any history or harmony yet?  Now would be a good time to get a jump on it because it gets a bit intense as the grades go on, especially when they lumped 4 of the theory exams into one grade, ARCT that is. 

[alwaystheangel]

I was expecting around 74.  He's in grade four  but he's entering 11th grade.  He's big into musical theatre, squash, tennis, swimming, drama... He doesn't have time to practice b/c his mother has him in so much stuff!

[klick]

I did consider the tango, but c'mon man.... Peterson is CANADIAN  . Its a must play, regardless of piece quality. RCM has a good rep (for me anyways) for having a lack of good Canadian pieces, so i thought I would take the opportunity to play it.

As for the theory front my teaching is taking it with me like a turtle. I am studiny my level two theory right now. I really want to do history and harmony soon, but of cource I must complete level 2 frist.

[frau]

I am from St. Albert (near Edmonton), Alberta!
I am in Grade IV RCM - I've been playing for a year and a half, and taking it easy. I am comfortable playing pieces at a grade VIII level, but I get easily frustrated with practicing such pieces because my sight-reading is not up-to-par.  Right now I am focused on getting a handle on the basics - I've witnessed and experienced enough to know how important it is not to get ahead of yourself in piano (At a masterclass, I once saw a girl play a Chopin Mazurka, only to have the visiting artist tell her she would be able to play the piece in about 20 years time), although it is only good to give one's self a good challenge!
My hope is that by the time I finish my master's degree (6-7 years away), I will be able to study music in university (I will FINALLY be able to study what I LOVE!!!). It is a very exciting thought, indeed.
As for my favorite repetoire piece, I have to go with the Muzio Clementi sonatina in C Major (III movement) from the grade III book.