ABRSM's Ten Top Tips for Graded Exams

 Ten top tips - graded music exams

1. Arrive in the waiting room at least 10 minutes before your exam is due to start. Last-minute panics do not help the playing or singing
2. Use the time before your exam to get your music and instrument ready – you can warm up silently by moving your fingers or blowing though your instrument
3. Feeling nervous before an exam is natural. Try smiling as you go into the exam room – it will help you relax
4. Make sure you are comfortable before you begin. If the stool or music stand is the wrong height, don’t be afraid to adjust it or ask for help
5. It’s fine to ask the examiner if you can warm up by playing a scale or a few bars of a piece
6. You can choose to do your exam in any order. Just let the examiner know
7. Try to keep going in the exam even if you make a mistake – it probably won’t be as disastrous as you think
8. Don't worry about pauses between your pieces – the examiner will be writing and will tell you when to start your next piece
9. Your examiner may stop you during a piece if he or she has heard enough to make a judgement
10. Remember – the examiner is on your side and is looking forward to hearing you perform!

Adult Pupils' Challenge

It occurred to me that we older pianists need little challenges in order to keep us focussed and to give us a reason to play and practise, and so this is my idea.

We should devise a 3 piece programme each, to include one fairly easy piece, one more demanding one and a duet. Also to include some relevant warm-ups for each piece and a verbal introduction for each piece- you can write it out as a writen programme if you want.

For example my choice might be: Chopin Prelude in C minor, Beethoven Rondo, Pathetique Sonata, Finger Bustin' Boogie duet by Wedgwood. Your programme will be different of course, have a think and aim for a summer completion.

We could have an afternoon tea/ playing session or just work on these in lessons, it's entirely up to you. Recording the programme is also a possibility!

Practising a pain?

If practising is a pain, take a look at my Piano Practising guide on the Guides and Reviews page.

Purchasing pianos.

One of my pupils came back from the holidays having improved so much that I had to ask him why? He replied that he had bought a new piano and couldn't stop playing it! Just what every piano teacher wants to hear.

I do hope that all pupils have a decent piano; it can be a digital (plug-in electric) or an acoustic(normal) one. However, playing on a keyboard, if you are learning to play the piano, is not very satisfactory as it feels different, good dynamics can't be obtained and very often there aren't enough octaves or even pedals. Progress will be slower.

If you want to buy a digital piano, Roland,Yamaha and Casio do some excellent models at varying prices. If you would like an acoustic piano, you cannot beat a Yamaha U3 but do look at others. Allegro in Chelmsford always has some secondhand pianos of all types and makes in and they are always happy to speak to customers about what would be best for them. Alternatively you may consider buying one elsewhere. Make sure all the keys and the pedals work, that it can be tuned and that it sounds good- your child will know! Extra info is available here from the piano tuners association: http://www.pianotuner.org.uk/pta221.htm

Winter weather!

As snow is forecast for next week it seems a good time to remind everyone of the joys of lessons via Skype. If you have Skype on your computer, we can have a lesson even if you can't get to my house or school. This is really useful if your child has an exam, audition or competition this term.

Skype can be downloaded at: http://beta.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-computer/

I look forward to hearing everyone play, whether it's live or via Skype!

Lessons and exams...

Lessons resume again this week for everyone so do remember to bring your music! I do not expect you have to have done a huge amount of practice over the holidays- unless you have an exam this term (!)- but prepared to enjoy getting back into the swing of playing and practising.

Next week (week be 14th Jan) there will be no lessons on Monday or Tuesday, privately and at MHS, as I am away working for ABRSM. Back to normal after that though.

If you are taking an exam this term (I will have sent you an email), here is a link to the ABRSM exam fees page: http://gb.abrsm.org/en/exam-booking/fees/

I am looking forward to seeing you all again.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to you all and may 2013 be a great year for you and for your music making.
Many thanks for all the Christmas good wishes, cards and gifts; I appreciated them very much.
Don't forget to watch the New Year's Day Concert from Vienna tomorrow: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00glnh8