Any Canadians out there?

[doowlehc]

ah I found it;.; https://www.fcmf.org/PDF%20Files/syllabus2005.pdf

this is the syllabus for the provincial / national music festival

[fred smalls]

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

I am glad to have helped. It's a miracle you understood what I was talking about in that paragraph. I tend to get off topic and my sentences get confused and jumbled....

BTW: Does any one know where I can find recordings of Scriabin playing: I've found out they exist which is sweet! WOW. Hes my fav composer. I think I'll go post that in "whos your fav composer", wait, do they have that? I'll make it! (See, that started out as a joke, but then I started getting confused and jumbled!!!)
LOL

[JP]

Lagin, finally here's what I would suggest.

List :
A- P&F in A-
B- Beet, Sonata in F-
C- Liszt, Liebstraume 3
D- Rach, 1 or 4 or 5  (whichever)
E- Bartok, 1 of the Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm or Kabalevsky, Var in A-


This is a high-risk repertoire & resembles what I played.  It was the 1st time I was playing RCM repertoire that I enjoyed, so I didnt mind the extra risk at all.
Besides when I'm playing/performing I'm in somewhat of a state of unconsciousness. And after a performance I have no recollection of what just happened.
Anyways, this is about you. 

If you prefer a strategic repertoire (for examination purposes), let me know, I'll suggest different pieces.

[jiwongirl]

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

it's a four year music program
B.A is three years, B.Mus is 4 years
 

[lagin]

Cool! Thanks J.P!  By high risk do you mean really super hard because that would be perfect? I want pieces which, at festivals, will help me place over the other well played pieces because the examiner will know they are that much harder.  Plus you learn more by playing tough stuff.  I love Rach. no 5!  I don't think it's an option in the syllbus, but that's one piece I definately want to learn regardless.  Thanks again.

[JP]

Cool! Thanks J.P!  By high risk do you mean really super hard because that would be perfect? I want pieces which, at festivals, will help me place over the other well played pieces because the examiner will know they are that much harder.  Plus you learn more by playing tough stuff.  I love Rach. no 5!  I don't think it's an option in the syllbus, but that's one piece I definately want to learn regardless.  Thanks again.

I wouldnt say super hard, but among the harder pieces of the RCM repertoire. 
All the pieces I picked are from the RCM syllabus.. Even Rach 5.

[fred smalls]

Sorry to intrude, but this is a repertoire for grade 10 right? Also, by rach 1,4 or 5 do you mean preludes? And which opus?

[JP]

Sorry to intrude, but this is a repertoire for grade 10 right? Also, by rach 1,4 or 5 do you mean preludes? And which opus?

You are excused. 
This is a message board you know.. 

Yes, grade 10.

About the Rach, I wasnt very clear and I think Lagin might have misunderstood. I was talking about his FANTASY PIECES (Elegie, Polichinelle & Serenade).  Provided the RCM has them in there original forms and not simplified versions.

You're also not too far from gr10 right?  Its a very interesting repertoire, check it out.
But beware, its not for the faint of heart.  It requires a certain steadiness while performing.
They are very musical (in the usual sense). 

[fred smalls]

Yeah, I'm in grade 10, getting off to a slow start thou...
I'm thinking somewhere along the lines of:

A:pf in e+ book 1
B:Pathetique 1+2nd mvmts
C:chopin ballade no.3 (that will be hard) or nocturne op.15 no.2
D:scriabin op.11 nos.1 and 14
E: no idea maybe prokofiev march for the love of three oranges?

Its pretty energetic! lol i like it

[lagin]

Yah, I was hoping it (Rach 5) was on of his preludes.  I haven't heard his fantasy pieces yet.  Will probably learn the prelude anyway.  Hey, Fred, are you sure you want something so common as the Pathetique?  I dunno.  Is it harder to pass commonly known pieces at an exam?  Gotta run, my harmony is calling, actually it's demanding to be heard since I have a lesson first thing tomorrow.  Bye

[keys]

I played the pathetique 1&2 movements for my gr.10 exam. I liked it so much better then any of the other sonata's, I decided to go for it. I've been playing a lot of well known pieces lately, I finally have the skill to play anything out there, so I'm playing those stunning pieces that made me want to play piano in the first place. It's been tons of fun, although I might regret it later this month when I'm competing

[mxs]

Hi fellow countrymen,

if any of you are from GTA, where do you usually go when one wants to see a pianist concert. I've been looking everywhere for the last five days, but cannot see anything scheduled. I find it kind of weird that culture centre like Toronto has nothing scheduled for this year. At least that's what I was told everywhere (Massy hall, Roy Thomp.  etc.

Maybe it's not exactly piano hotbed here, or am I missing something.

Thanks a lot.

[Alde]

Hi fellow countrymen,

if any of you are from GTA, where do you usually go when one wants to see a pianist concert. I've been looking everywhere for the last five days, but cannot see anything scheduled. I find it kind of weird that culture centre like Toronto has nothing scheduled for this year. At least that's what I was told everywhere (Massy hall, Roy Thomp.  etc.

Maybe it's not exactly piano hotbed here, or am I missing something.

Thanks a lot.

Check this website.  It is a complete listing of all the concerts within the GTA.
www.thewholenote.com

[mxs]

Thanks Alde, but I've already had a look. The listings ends at Apr 7 so it's outdated and still even if I look throuhg April I don't see that many classical pianist concerts.

This is the link I've used.

https://www.thewholenote.com/wholenote/index.html


Is there any DVDs out there from live concerts?

Thanks

[Alde]

Thanks Alde, but I've already had a look. The listings ends at Apr 7 so it's outdated and still even if I look throuhg April I don't see that many classical pianist concerts.

This is the link I've used.

https://www.thewholenote.com/wholenote/index.html


Is there any DVDs out there from live concerts?

Thanks

I just checked the website and the concert listings end May 7th.

[Jay_Matt]

hi,
da name's Jason. i am following the British system i.e. i do the ABRSM exams. i am rather interested in this RCM Canadian system. i once had a Canadian english teacher and she told me that she ahd done Grade 9 back in her country.

gotta go 4 now,

Jason

[Alde]

hi,
da name's Jason. i am following the British system i.e. i do the ABRSM exams. i am rather interested in this RCM Canadian system. i once had a Canadian english teacher and she told me that she ahd done Grade 9 back in her country.

gotta go 4 now,

Jason

try this website
https://www.rcmexaminations.org/

[klick]

Srry fellow Canadians havent been on 4 a while, really busy with school and such. 

I am 16 from London, Ontario

In Grade 6 RCM and hating it!
Dreams of getting it over with already and only been doing 6 for 3 months lol.

I really like listening and theory alot more then playing, which is very weird but what ever. I am good at theory, got 99 on both Prelim and Lvl 1. I know they are easy but i think thats still a good mark.

[fred smalls]

I really like listening and theory alot more then playing, which is very weird but what ever. I am good at theory, got 99 on both Prelim and Lvl 1. I know they are easy but i think thats still a good mark.

Ewwwwwwwwww, theory. Believe me, you won't like it once you get to harmony, rudiments = fun, harmony = hell. I got 96 on prelim, 1, and 2! You win!

[lagin]

I got 99 on my Rudiments 2.  Do I win?  I didn't do Preliminary or level one.  I mean I did the books, but not the exams.  Harmony three isn't bad, but I don't know about four.  I'm just starting the book.  It seems a bit tricky.  I have a really good teacher--Imant Raminsh.  Have you guys heard of him?  He works at the music school in my town. 

[fred smalls]

I got 99 on my Rudiments 2.  Do I win?  I didn't do Preliminary or level one.  I mean I did the books, but not the exams.  Harmony three isn't bad, but I don't know about four.  I'm just starting the book.  It seems a bit tricky.  I have a really good teacher--Imant Raminsh.  Have you guys heard of him?  He works at the music school in my town. 

Yes, you win, well you tie with klick for no.1 (unless anyone can match/beat 99%). lol.
I think i may have heard of you teacher, which is pretty good since i live in bc.

[allthumbs]

Greetings from North Vancouver, BC

I am currently working on my Grade 10 repertoire and studying Grade 3 harmony for my Grade 9 RCM certificate.

Grade 10 Repertoire I have chosen is as follows;

Study No.8 - A Trifle, Op.2, No.12 by Anatol Lyadov

Study No.10 - Etude-tableau, Op.33, No.8 by Sergei Rachmaninov

List A - Prelude an Fugue in D major by Bach

List B - Sonata No.8 "Pathetique", Op.13, Movements 1 & 2 by Beethoven

List C - Nocturne in Bb minor, Op.9, No.1 by Chopin

List D - Claire de lune by Debussy

List E - Plainte calme by Olivier Messiaen



I did my first piano exam (Grade 8 ) ever in 2000 when I was 49 years old and my Grade 9 piano exam in 2002 at 51.

This was accomplished after starting to play the piano again in 1995 after a 20+ year hiatus from playing. I started formal lessons for the first time in my life 3 years later in 1998 (took lessons though as a kid  from my mother).

Needless to say, it was tough when I started, not so much the Grade 8 pieces but, all the technical stuff that I never really studied seriously. I did play on my on through high school and into University, but never scales.

Anyway, I guess the reason I'm mentioning this is that anyone, no matter what age they are, can do their piano exams if they put their mind to it.

The only problem now is having the time to practice while working full time and raising teenage daughters. I do find that at the Grade 10 level, I need to be practicing a lot more than the 30 hours a month I managed to do through Grade 8 & 9 and still get first class honours and honours respectively.

I will be able to retire in 2 years, then it's full steam ahead on my Grade 10. I hope to have all the theory our of the way by the time I do the Grade 10 exam.

My ultimate goal, (if I score high enough on the Grade 10 exam) is to do the Performers ARCT. Hopefully before I'm 70. I only hope I get a geriatric (like me)  piano examiner who thinks that the Fantasie-impromptu at half speed sounds fast enough!

Cheers

"allthumbs"

[klick]

My teacher thinks I am disabled I think and doesn't rush me into new topics, so I have just started Rudiments 2, its interesting stuff, to me at least, but im sure most people would disagree. The good thing about my teacher is that he marks very hard. He also is in no rush to put me in an exam so I can get a mark over 90%. So I think that I will be taking Prelim 2 in the Winter Exams. We will see what happens then, and we can decide the true winner   

[lagin]

Well, we seem to have pretty high theory marks, but what's your best practical exam mark?  My one and only (so far) mark is for grade six--85%

[lagin]

Hello?  Guys..................................?

[soundtrk]

Mine: 90 in grade 9

A person at my piano school:
96 in ARCT

A guy from my high school:
92 in ARCT teacher's (I think he was the highest in Canada for that year)

[klick]

As i said before I am not the best player.....and I have only taken Grade 5 and got 84 on it. Im good at preety much anything but playing pieces from my repetoire. Studies, Ear stuff, scales and all that is good.

[lagin]

Hey Canadians.  I'm playing in a local festival tomorrow morning.  I've entered 4 pieces.  There's 3 of us in Baroque, 3 in Classical, 5 in Romantic, and 5 or 6 in 20th century.  I'm a little nervous, but excited.  I hope my teacher comes.  I've never practice this hard in my life!  Key word being practice.  I've played, learned songs, ect. for the same amount of hours I'm doing now, but I haven't ever been this detail focused before.  You get out what you put in, so we'll see how it goes.  Even if I mess up or whatever, it's just a festival, but I'm still kind of pumped--hence the post

[klick]

Best of Luck Lagin. MAybe in about 2000 years or so ill be playing at a festival or summin  .

[fred smalls]

Greetings from North Vancouver, BC

I am currently working on my Grade 10 repertoire and studying Grade 3 harmony for my Grade 9 RCM certificate.

Same situation here. Also playing the same Beethoven as you. Got 87% grade 9, 86% grade 8. But in my opinion, it's the examiner. I mean, I know people who have got 80 and deserved 90 and people who have got 90 and deserved 80.

Peace
Fred

[JP]

Hey Canadians.  I'm playing in a local festival tomorrow morning.  I've entered 4 pieces.  There's 3 of us in Baroque, 3 in Classical, 5 in Romantic, and 5 or 6 in 20th century.  I'm a little nervous, but excited.  I hope my teacher comes.  I've never practice this hard in my life!  Key word being practice.  I've played, learned songs, ect. for the same amount of hours I'm doing now, but I haven't ever been this detail focused before.  You get out what you put in, so we'll see how it goes.  Even if I mess up or whatever, it's just a festival, but I'm still kind of pumped--hence the post

So how did it go?

[lagin]

Well, I got first place in 20th century, and they don't tell you who got second or third or whatever.  It's really wierd, you only know who got first.  He was an odd examiner.  Some people got firsts, and we still can't figure out why!  So I agree with Fred.  It really depends on the examiner.  At the last festival I got 87 percent and first place with my Baroque, and now after months of polishing, I got 83.  Go figure!  Mind you it's a prelude and fugue, so very subject to opinion.  My teacher is really pleased with how I played, so that's good!  Right now, I just want to be done with these pieces sooooooooooooo bad.  I've had them almost a year, and still 50 more days to the exam.  Polishing, polishing, polishing.  I realize they can still improve, I'm just bored
Such is life I guess. 

Hey Klick, you can compete in a festival if you want.  They begin at grade one.  My first festival was in grade three.  Talk to your teacher about it.  You've probably missed the ones this year, but they start again next winterish.

[klick]

I should see about entering competitions. Now it is jut getting to the high enough playing skill to do well.  Congradulations on at least one victory!

[lagin]

Klick, you can definitely enter!  Almost every festival I've been to has had someone completely go blank.  This time the judge even had to give a girl a look at her music so she could continue.  Mind you, there are the ones who will steal the show, too.  My teacher just enters us so we can learn from what the adjudicator says and do better at our exams.  Festivals aren't hard core competitions, but they still give scholarships if you win, which is nice (I wouldn't know ).  I doubt the scholarships are that much anyway. 

[klick]

I see. I geuss I will look into it. Ill see whats in Ontario, remotely close. I am not great but maybe if I picked up an easy Chopin or something exciting-er (if thats even a word) then people like Dussek  , then I might be able to spark an intrest. Im really bored of these gd gr 6 pieces. Especially the section B. So it might be a good time to try a new piece. any suggestions?

[lagin]

Do you want a grade seven piece or a grade six piece?  What's your style?  Fast and dissonant, slow and lyrical, comical (sp.)?  Let me know, and I'll give you some suggestions from the syllabus.  My all time favorite grade six piece is either the Sonatine in G Major by Dussek, or the study, Fluttering Leaves, by Heller.  I've got some cool gr. 7 ideas too, if you want something harder.  Let me know your style of music and fav. composers first.  BTW the Dussek piece is kinda peppy and fun, and Fluttering Leaves is really pretty.  Kinda opposite but both nice   Get back to me

[Groggy60]

Hi,

I live in Ottawa, working as programmer.  I got my grade 8 many years ago (oh my, 21 years ago). My talent is sight reading and reading music. So, I play many different songs regularly at a grade 8 and 9 level. There is so much wonderful music at that level - classical, ragtime, modern advanced solos.  I don't memorize anything and I even used sheet music in my grade 8 exam.

Currently, I enjoy playing Mozart Sonata Bflat K540 and several different Bach 2-part Inventions (for warming up).

I am working on Gerhwin's Rapsody in Blue. Very hard piece to site read, need to actually learn it.  Any idea what grade it would be at?

[klick]

Well I would love a new challenge. So like a Level 7-8 piece i geuss. I love playing stuff of all kinds. I geuss a new slower song would be nice. Maybe something that is rarely played. Maybe something slow and emotional. I don't have alot of those. In fact i don't have any slow songs in my grade 6 books that i am doing for my exam in August.

Any ideas? Thnx a lot Lagin.

[lagin]

There is such a pretty piece in the grade eight book.  I haven't played it, but my friend has.  It's called, Chanson Triste, I think.  It means, Sad Song.  I can't remember who it's by off hand, but let me know if you can't find it.  I can always ask my friend next time I see him.  Never mind, I found it.  It's by Kalinnikov.  I don't see how you can't love it.  Give it a try and let me know how you like it.  If not, I'll try again.

[Disarmedpianist]

Can anyone let me know the syllabus for RCM History 3? I've looked all over and fell upon a huge list of books... that i really don't intend on reading them all... lol. Seeing as there are some among us who have completed/doing their ARCT, I'd appreciate some pointers from you guys. Thanks

[lagin]

Do you want to know what textbook to get or what is required on the exam?  I'm studying for it with The Enjoyment of Music Ninth Edition, by Machlis and Forney.  It has everything I need to know except for one piece and one composer.  It's like 90 bucks, but it is usable for History 4 and 5 as well.

[nanabush]

I'm in Ottawa, nations capital w00t, just finished grade 10, starting performers, well not starting I have been playing that level for about 1.5 years...

Grade 10 i playd

prelude fugue in d major by bach, dont know which book sadly lol
movement 2 and 3 of pathetique (i hate the first part)
valse brillante by chopin
doctor gradus ad parnsassum by debussy
march for the love of three oranges by prokofiev, gotta love tha song
and etude tableau in g minor by rachmaninoff, the easy one.. lol
study in c major by moszkowsky from 15 etudes de virtuosite




Can you comment on what I plan to play for performers_
_______________________________________________

-chromatic fantasy and fugue by bach
-sonata op 7 by grieg, it's so noname yet amazing
-either fantaisie impromptu cuz it's really stinkin ez fer performers, or hungarian rhapsody 2, almost dun the friska
-either peurta del vina by debussy, gibet frum gaspard or jeux d'eau
-list e no dam clue, hate modern music
-concert study i'm leaning into first etude by liszt the prelude in c major or black key etude oooooor revolutionary



if you can provide any comments on any of those pieces, tips anything even though this is wrong thread.... comon...... comon!!!... camon!!

[lagin]

hey klick,
sorry in the long time reply.  I don't have the music and if you can't google it, then you might have to buy the book and not tell your teacher.  You'll need the book eventually, any way.  Hey, let me know how the piece is coming once you start, okay?  bye

[f0bul0us]

There's a difference between performing a repertoire that's "risky" and one that's just completely out of your league. A repertoire is supposed to be comprised of pieces that demonstrate variable levels of performance ability, this sometimes means playing a melow-natured nocturne instead of an overzealous scherzo.  Compare and contrast your perspective repertoire before you dive into it, a well-thought of program will always have a balance of technical ability and musicianship.

Also, I recently found out through preperation of the ARCT examination that the RCM syllabus is not limited completely to what is written in the text. Concertos and chamber works are also very acceptable exam pieces, along with composers and pieces unlisted in the exam guidelines. Ofcourse, each selected piece music coincide with the level of ARCT or above and is subject to approval from the RCM.

Good luck!

[nanabush]

So I just contact RCM and ask if the piece is acceptable?  Do you think they'll accept Rach 3?  j/k

[Siberian Husky]

hey i wanna be canadian too..and shop at Future Shop..LOL...

[lagin]

Ah hem, Mr. Husky, you are suppost to be practicing moonlight.  REMEMBER!  Lol, boys.
turn this computer off right now and go be a good boy and practice!  sheesh!

[Siberian Husky]

i also want better healthcare

[nanabush]

GO FREE HEALTHCARE !!

[klick]

TOMMY DOUGHLAS!!!!