Grade 1 standard

[cossie0]

Hi

I am an adult and have been learning for a few months and according to my teacher making very good progress. 

I am currently using the Alfred basic beginner course and have got through books 1A, 1B, and 2 using the Technic, Notespellar and lesson books. I have recently started book 3. I expressed an interest to my teacher recently to take the grade exam and asked at what stage I would be capable of going for grade 1 and he said at the end of book 3.
Just wondering if anyone out there that is familiar with the books I mention agrees with that or should I be looking at doing now or even leave it later in the series. I think it goes up to book 6.

I asked the question as some people seem to be at grade 5,6,7 even 8 very quickly and I wonder just how long after they started learning they took their grade 1.

What is the process around these exams? Is it just you in a room with one examiner or are there a few examiners or is it an open room where everyone can hear and watch you play and hence increase the nerves.

Is there a website where I can look at grade 1 difficulty pieces.

thanks

[Steve T]

Assuming you're in the UK (can't speak for other countries) the ABRSM, Trinity College and Guildhall (I think), all offer graded exams in piano.
Trinity seem to offer a little more scope in terms of repertoire and I believe that ABRSM are the most 'traditional' as they are associated to the Royal Schools of music. Whatever, the grade levels are very similar.
For ABRSM you'll need their books: Scales, arpeggios and broken chords (grade 1), Examination pieces (Grade 1), Aural tests (grade 1), Sight reading exercises (Grade 1).
You need to learn by heart the scales, arpeggios and broken chords. Also 3 pieces. The exam pieces are split into 3 sections (a, b and c). You need to pick one from each section and learn it. (you can use your music for the exam pieces in the exam but NOT for the scales etc). You then need to practice the aural tests with your teacher.
Exams run (I think) 3 times a year and cost about £30 to enter.
The exam format is just you in the room with the examiner. He or she will ask you to play a random selection of scales and arpeggios and broken chors with a random choice of left or right hand. (Bear this in mind when practicing, ie don't just do what feels easiest. Once you've learnt them all, jump randomly from LH to RH and from scale to broken chord to arpeggio in no set order, this will prepare you for a possible hard examiner, and is good for your technique).
Next he'll ask you to play your selected pieces from each of the sections (a, b and c).
(He may ask pieces first or give you the choice. If you have the choice I'd go for scales first to get a feel for the piano). The key here is not to stop!!! If you screw up keep playing in tempo and try to recover. (very important and may get you extra marks than stopping).
Next is sight reading. You get 30 secs to look at a piece of the examiner's choice and play it. Most people are worst at this. Check the tempo, key signature and check the score for any leaps. Handy tip here: when he asks you to begin, before you play anything place your hands on the keys with the correct fingers on the correct keys. If you start with RH on your piece ENSURE your LH is already in position and that you know which note to play first when it comes to it!!! This is a lifesaver at early grade levels. MOST important. Even if you can't read it or freak out, play in tempo, play each hand as is required by the score and DON'T STOP. If you play a load of wrong notes but keep the temo (noticing the rhythm of the piece), you'll get marks. If you stop, you'll get none of a token couple.
That's it. You get the results in a few weeks.
I don't understand why your teacher hasn't told you all this???
In terms of when you're ready, get the books, start the scales etc and then pick a piece and try it with your teacher's help. Hands seperate first until yuo can play each hand 50% faster than the required tempo, then start putting the hads together. Finish each practice session with a slower than normal play through hands seperate. This is great for establishing good technique and helps what is known as Post Performance Improvement (ie when you're asleep).
One other tip, once you've learnt the pieces, play them to anyone who'll listen to help getting used to performing in front of someone other than your teacher. It'll help in the exam.
BTW I think the Alfred books are excellent, you'd do well to continue with them.
Good luck, enjoy the journey 

[Steve T]

Oh, nearly forgot, all the info you need on exams is at www.abrsm.org
When you buy the examination pieces book, make sure it covers the year you intend to sit the exam (they go out of date). The date's on the front.

[bravuraoctaves]

You do 1 a year. Adults learn faster so its uncertain.

In a room with 1 examiner.

It's not as bad as people make it sound.

[kaff]

My daughter's learning with the Alfred series at the moment, and is also on Book 3.  Her teacher's just suggested it's time to start on the Grade 1 exam pieces.  I actually bought the exam book a while ago just to see what it's like, and the pieces do seem to be broadly comparable in terms of difficulty to Book 3 of Alfred's.  I think they're more interesting musically - some of the Alfred's pieces are quite fun, but I find others pretty dull.

Can't fault Steve T's advice.  It's probably worth getting the exam pieces book sooner rather than later.  The current syllabus runs till the end of 2006, so you're going to be ready for it sometime before then!  What I've been doing since I got the book, is playing through the pieces for my daughter to listen to so that by the time she comes to learn them she's familiar with them.  This should make the learning process easier.  If you can get someone to do that for you, it wouldn't be a bad idea.  Alternatively get your teacher to play them and record him playing.  You can buy a CD from the ABRSM with all of the pieces on, but obviously that costs money and the interpretation is pretty bland (presumably so as not to influence candidates' style?)

Hope this helps

Kathryn

[Steve T]

You do 1 a year. Adults learn faster so its uncertain.

In a room with 1 examiner.

It's not as bad as people make it sound.

For what it's worth I believe one grade a year was bandied about by teachers who want to keep making money from pupils...(how cynical am I?)
Depending on your availability of a piano and how long you practice (quality practice) daily, good teacher etc. you can halve that. Some get to gade 4 in a year, others take two years to grade one...it's in your control.
Bear in mind that there is no rush here, relax and enjoy the journey.

[cossie0]

Thankyou for you comprehensive replies. I have looked at the site at what the exam consist of and

Yikes!! 

The Aural looks to be a bit daunting. I did not realise you had to sing. Looks like this may not be a good idea after all, pretty embarrasing for an almost 40 year old male.

Maybe that is why my reacher did not say much about it.
thanks
Darren

[galonia]

The Aural looks to be a bit daunting. I did not realise you had to sing. Looks like this may not be a good idea after all, pretty embarrasing for an almost 40 year old male.

Can you whistle?  In Australia, the AMEB examinations system (similar to the ABRSM in Britain) allows candidates to whistle instead of sing - particularly teenage boys whose voices are breaking, although you are not in that category.