Piano exams?

[Bouter Boogie]

Next Wednesday I have to play for my piano exam 
I'm nervous to death, especially because of the 1st half of my repertoire 

These are the pieces I'll play:
Toccata in G - Bach
Sonate in F KV 332 - Mozart
Etude op. 10 nr. 5 - Chopin
Suite - Jáhin

Has anyone also have their piano exam these days? I'm so nervous to forget my text during my play  Especially with the 3rd movement of the Toccata of Bach.. Any advice? Please calm me down!   

[sonatainfsharp]

Experience. It only gets easier the more you do it, so it is exciting that you are starting now.

[rachmaninoff_969]

Hey, I just did an exam and I sympathize with you...it is pretty tough on the nerves.  My program consisted of the following:

First Half
- Bach fantasia in c minor
- Grieg sonata, Op. 7
- Scriabin prelude op. 8 no. 12
Second Half
- Liszt/Beethoven: Symphony no. 5

I agree with the previous reply...the more you do it, the easier it gets (on the nerves that is).  The other thing is learn your pieces until you can play them in your sleep.  So often I feel underprepared when going into a recital.  ANYWAY, GOOD LUCK!
 
- A

[lagin]

My exam is TOMORROW MORNING!  My pieces are

Prelude and Fugue in c minor, Bach
Sonata in G Major, Beethoven
Impromptu, Schubert
Over the Rainbow, George Shearing's Arrangement
and 2 studies

I get nervous too, but the one thing that really helped calm me down is knowing that it doesn't really matter.  A mark is still more or less someone's opinion.  If I get a poor mark that doesn't mean I'm a bad piano player, and likewise, a good mark doesn't mean I'm really something.  If I fail, I can always take the test again.  I know what my parent's think of me and I know where I stand with God, and that's what matters.  Sorry if this doesn't help . 

[Kassaa]

My exam is TOMORROW MORNING!  My pieces are

Prelude and Fugue in c minor, Bach
Sonata in G Major, Beethoven
Impromptu, Schubert
Over the Rainbow, George Shearing's Arrangement
and 2 studies

I get nervous too, but the one thing that really helped calm me down is knowing that it doesn't really matter.  A mark is still more or less someone's opinion.  If I get a poor mark that doesn't mean I'm a bad piano player, and likewise, a good mark doesn't mean I'm really something.  If I fail, I can always take the test again.  I know what my parent's think of me and I know where I stand with God, and that's what matters.  Sorry if this doesn't help . 

But Bouter is in a Young Talent Class, just as I am, and here, if you screw up your exam, you're getting kicked of the conservatory.  (I don't know if that's the same on Bouter's conservatory.)My exam this saturday, I'm nervous as hell, too.

[rob47]

- Liszt/Beethoven: Symphony no. 5

hahah good for you.    How did your reading of this MASSIVe transcription go??

[ligurian]

Yes my exam is also on saturday, like first thing in the morning...AHHHH. Young Talent Class, yes thats something I'm in too...Amsterdam Conservatory.

[nanabush]

Lagin if you've done ur exam yet, tell me how it went?  My repertoire was similiar to yours for grade 9.

[lagin]

But Bouter is in a Young Talent Class, just as I am, and here, if you screw up your exam, you're getting kicked of the conservatory.  (I don't know if that's the same on Bouter's conservatory.)My exam this saturday, I'm nervous as hell, too.

Hm, that does add a level of stress I do not have.  I would be nervous then too, but I would still know that I have chosen to trust God with the outcome.  If I did my best then that is all I could do.  If I slacked off, then I'd be worried with just cause.  This isn't the perfect, cure all jitters, solution, but I do find it helps me be okay with the outcome of things.  I find the more it matters to me, the more nervous, stressed, and freaked out I get.  If I try to remember to put God in the number 1 position, then it takes some pressure off the other situations.  Of course, I'm no pro at this, but I'm learning.  ;)My 2 cents.

[Kassaa]

Yes my exam is also on saturday, like first thing in the morning...AHHHH. Young Talent Class, yes thats something I'm in too...Amsterdam Conservatory.

Haha, I'm there too, who are you?

edit, let me guess, are you Nick?, you have to play at 9.30 then.

[ligurian]

  Whoa. How did you...? Yes I'm Nick...and you are...? Actually mine's at 10, but yah...

[Kassaa]

I'm Tim, from Purmerend

Btw, I have the time schedule, and you are at 9.30, someone else is at 9.45, and I'm at 10.00, so you can't be at 10.00

[ligurian]

*** . mine says that I'm at ten. Shi'ite. I should tell my parents...

[Bouter Boogie]

I'm Tim, from Purmerend

Btw, I have the time schedule, and you are at 9.30, someone else is at 9.45, and I'm at 10.00, so you can't be at 10.00

Great! Nog meer mensen uit Nederland?    I'm from Veldhoven, nearby Eindhoven 

[Bouter Boogie]

But Bouter is in a Young Talent Class, just as I am, and here, if you screw up your exam, you're getting kicked of the conservatory.  (I don't know if that's the same on Bouter's conservatory.)My exam this saturday, I'm nervous as hell, too.

Anyway, I don't think I'll get kicked out of my conservatory if I would screw up my piano exam.. It's not that bad with me  It's just something else between me and some teachers that I'm afraid of  Too complicated to explain and not very necessary  It only makes me more nervous than I already am 

[Bouter Boogie]

It seems that it's the time for piano exams these days  Good luck to everyone!

[Kassaa]

In about four hours I'm done.

EDIT- I passed the exam.

[ligurian]

Wow. I played like sh*t and still passed...Dude, I'm all depressed now, I feel like I have sunk to a new low...Honestly, my self-confidence is like zilch now....

[Kassaa]

Wow. I played like *** and still passed...Dude, I'm all depressed now, I feel like I have sunk to a new low...Honestly, my self-confidence is like zilch now....

You didn't play bad, I heard you, really, it wasn't bad.

I played bad, my Mozart was the opposite of happiness, and they said, stop when you are at the reprise, and I stopped at the repeat.

Even worse: they said: "play your Cramer etude and your Chopin Nocturne"
I played the Cramer, and then started Chopin Etude, they stopped me after a few measures and said, we said that you had to play nocturne, then I said: No!, you asked the Etude.  So, I just started the wrong piece :| It was quite embarrassing.

But, instead of ligurian, I'm quite happy that I passed the exam.

[Bouter Boogie]

In about four hours I'm done.

EDIT- I passed the exam.

Congrats 

[jhon]

Hey, I just did an exam and I sympathize with you...it is pretty tough on the nerves.  My program consisted of the following:

First Half
- Bach fantasia in c minor
- Grieg sonata, Op. 7
- Scriabin prelude op. 8 no. 12
Second Half
- Liszt/Beethoven: Symphony no. 5

I agree with the previous reply...the more you do it, the easier it gets (on the nerves that is).  The other thing is learn your pieces until you can play them in your sleep.  So often I feel underprepared when going into a recital.  ANYWAY, GOOD LUCK!
 
- A

Scriabin's Op.8/12 is an Etude (in D#m), not a Prelude. 

[lagin]

I'm sure I passed because you only need 60% to do so (though no one really counts you as ready to go on if you get that low), but I wish I knew exactly how I did.  I have to wait like TWO WEEKS still.  Sigh.  My teacher's ideal is like 85%, but considering I blanked a few times during the technique part, I'm thinking thats not gonna happen.

[nanabush]

I felt the same way for grade nine and I actually got 85.  How did you feel about the sight reading or ear tests, because perfect marks on those can compensate for a few marks lost on technique... then with some decent-good marks on your pieces, you will have no doubt over 80, probably closer to 85.

[lagin]

Well, the only place they could nail me in sight reading was in expression, because my notes and tempo were correct all the way through.  Sightclapping was NOT GRADE NINE!  Seriously there was even a rhythm in there that isn't introduced until grade ten, so I'm not sure how I did there cause I was to busy concentrating to notice mistakes.  I did forget to accent strong beats and I did lose it for sure in the last of the 8 bars.  But I think it was mostly right.  Eartests are my weak spot.  This could very well not make it out of the 70s.  Only on one piece did I have a rough go of it.  The other's as well as the studies were fine.  Hey, Nanabush, how long does it take to get results online?  I'm in B.C., so that's like 5 days to get mail to Ontario.  Would you say maybe 12 days?

[chelsey]

Are these RCM exams?

My piano teacher is on "vacation" judging exams around the country these last couple weeks ..  If any of you have a shorter middle aged lady with shoulder lenght dark-blonde hair and really bold makeup (lol, I love her dearly) named (Dr.)Charlene Biggs let me know

[prettypianoplaying]

Charlene Biggs judged me with Donna Mak on my ARCT exam on June 9th!

I Passed!! Im soo happy!

[chelsey]

Charlene Biggs judged me with Donna Mak on my ARCT exam on June 9th!

I Passed!! Im soo happy!

lol that's awesome! congratulations!! aww Charlene.. she's such a sweetheart. I spent the last 18 months studying with her and she is such a gifted teacher. My lessons are so inspiring.  She gets home from her rounds with the RCM this Thursday and I can't wait to talk to her about my OMFA stuff.. Anyways may I ask what center you played at? and what did you play for your program? Congrats again!

Chelsey

[Kassaa]

Bouter: Good luck tomorrow, I hope that you will pass your exam.

[Dazzer]

Congrats

She passed

YAY.

[prettypianoplaying]

Bouter: Good luck tomorrow, I hope that you will pass your exam.

I played at the Hamilton Center. I've had your teacher adjudicate me before when I was younger, at kiwanis festivals and other competitions.  I really liked her!  I'm glad she was my ARCT examiner!

Here's what I played:

List A:  Pre/Fugue in C# major (Bach......of course)
List B:  Sonata in A+ op.120 (schubert)
List C:  Rhapsody op. 79 no.2 (Brahms)
List D:  Hills of Anacapri (Debussy)
List E:  Excursions #3 and 4 (Samuel Barber)
Etude: Un Sospiro (Liszt)

What level are you working on?

[prettypianoplaying]

lol that's awesome! congratulations!! aww Charlene.. she's such a sweetheart. I spent the last 18 months studying with her and she is such a gifted teacher. My lessons are so inspiring.  She gets home from her rounds with the RCM this Thursday and I can't wait to talk to her about my OMFA stuff.. Anyways may I ask what center you played at? and what did you play for your program? Congrats again!

Chelsey

Oops, I quoted the wrong person!! I meant for this quote up above!

[Bouter Boogie]

Bouter: Good luck tomorrow, I hope that you will pass your exam.

I passed with an 8.5 out of 10  What mark did you get anyway?

[Bouter Boogie]

She passed

YAY.

  

[pianinho]

My suggestion...is to not be worried...Have fun with your music. About the 3rd movemente of toccata...think only by your head far of the piano. Listen to it without playing.  Do it then u will see that you will play better after in the piano. Good luck!

[Kassaa]

I passed with an 8.5 out of 10  What mark did you get anyway?

Congratulations!!!

We don't get marks here for your playing. They tell you what was good, and what not.

[chelsey]

What level are you working on?

I'm working on ARCT listed stuff (that's the level i played kiwanis and omfa stuff, too) but as I'm going to university in the fall, I spent the year preparing my audition, and it'll depend on what my prof has in mind for me next fall whether I do the ARCT exam or not. Personally, I'd like to, but we'll see what happens. Charlene said once you have a Degree (B.Mus) it doesn't matter whether you have your diploma or not. I still want it though, lol.

Anywyas congrats again on your exam! It really is quite a feat, you should be really proud of yourself. I really like what you played for your program the Bach C# major P&F is my favourite!

[lagin]

Congratulations!!!

We don't get marks here for your playing. They tell you what was good, and what not.

I wish it was like that here.  People, including myself, get hung up on the mark and winning, rather than learning. 

[Bouter Boogie]

Congratulations!!!

We don't get marks here for your playing. They tell you what was good, and what not.

So what was good about your play? 

[Kassaa]

So what was good about your play?

My Chopnoct (9.1), my cramer went pretty well too.

Less good was my Mozart, it sounded like it was played without happiness  (because I was so nervous), and the commission said something like that.

[pianote]

as far as the nervousness is concerned... i've found that nothing has prepared me more than constantly competing and constantly finding opportunities to perform. the more you perform your pieces the more comfortable you will be with them.

[prettypianoplaying]

Charlene said once you have a Degree (B.Mus) it doesn't matter whether you have your diploma or not. I still want it though, lol.

You should get your ARCT too if it's possible because it shows that you are able to play up at the ARCT level.  Alot of people who have a B Mus cannot play an instrument at that level. It would be good especially for advertising if you want to teach people in the future or if you already are.
What do you plan on using your B. Mus degree for after you finished university?