Can I just have a little whinge about grade exams, please...

[Lancelottie]

...because my two have theirs tomorrow.

They've both worked really hard (and my scale-resistant son has got them cracked at last).

They've practised the pieces till we are all sick of them, and if anything they're starting to go downhill.

And they're both ill today. High temperature, sore throats, raspy breathing. They play wind instruments. There is no way they're going to do the exams. I guess that means we lose the fee (as it's not the sort of bug that warrants a doctor's cert) AND I have to listen to the sodding Skye Boat Song and Let's Call the Whole Thing Off (appropriate, I suppose!) for several more months.

Oh humph.

[TheFirstLady]

I feel your pain. We have Grade One cello and Grade Three violin coming up soon.
Maybe it's a 24-hour bug?

[brimfull]

dd got two mahoosive cold sores just before her flute exam

[MaryAnnSingleton]

oh poor things and poor you..maybe they'll rally round by tomorrow.
Ds is doing his grade 2 singing in the summer and so far I am not driven made by Poco Poppa Pizza or Westering Home or The Dark Island

[Lemonmeringue]

Don't give up hope till the last moment...

If they really can't take the exams, is there any point in rescheduling them? They've done the work and achieved the standard, can it not just be assumed that they would have passed and can now move on to the next level?

Hope they stage a rapid recovery.

[Lancelottie]

Oh thanks all (I really was just having a self-indulgent whinge...)

DS in particular was very keen to do well in this one (grade 5) as it 'qualifies' him to play in a better band and to go on a holiday music course he's got his eye on. I think you do need to get grade 5 before grade 6, don't you (not a musician myself, so I don't know)

DD is not too bothered, though she found out that I'd taken DS for a pizza after his previous exam and seems to have pinned her hopes on doing the same!

I haven't cancelled the accompanist yet but I'll need to make the decision tonight.

Good luck to all other gradees!

[caffeineaddict]

Lancelottie
I feel your pain too. Various dcs doing various grades and it is a joyless slog. The house echoes to the grinding of teeth as the scales are being played badly.

Eldest son ducked out of a violin grade last term cos he couldn't face it. He went to the docs and claimed a back injury meant he could not play and got a certificate (there is some truth here). We got half the fee back.

Agree don't give up until last moment, and if they've done the work, just move on.

MaryAnnSingleton - Please feel my pain. dd doing grade 2 in a couple of weeks. 'Morning has broken' sung like she's on the plane to Dignitas.
Good luck everyone!

[steamedtreaclesponge]

Oh dear - remember the pain of practising for music exams well! But as you say, listening to them is probably worse

Incidentally, you don't need Grade 5 before doing any other exams; you can skip grades. You do, however, need Grade 5 theory before you can do grades 6-8 in practical exams.

[steamedtreaclesponge]

PS - hope they get better soon!

[MaryAnnSingleton]

caffeine -I shall feel your pain !

[webwiz]

Well they aren't the only ones - DD2 struggled through her flute exam today. She couldn't play any of the high notes in the scales properly even though she managed her pieces ok (her teacher said just have a go but I wish I'd just written the whole thing off). It turns out she has tonsillitis so no wonder she couldn't play the stupid instrument.

[snorkie]

I would have thought both the orchestra and the holiday course would accept that he is 'of that standard' even if he misses the exam lancelottie. They don't usually require the actual exam to have been taken, but might want a note from his teacher confirming his ability.

[Lancelottie]

Thanks Snorkie -- that sounds worth a try. His teacher said he's 'more than ready' so would probably be happy to do that.

[snorkie]

How are they today? Best wishes if they're giving it a go, and hope they're feeling better soon either way.

[Lancelottie]

Dire. But at least that makes the decision easier -- they really can't go out like this! Thanks for best wishes.

[islandofsodor]

You may get a half credit for the fees if you write to the exam board. I once got one for a student from a different exam board without a doctors cert (she has broken leg).

You don;t need to pass Grade 5 before doing Grade 6 (though you do need Grade 5 theory if it is ABRSM) and most courses etc only say you have to be Grade x standard as some people don't take the exams at all. In piano I did Grade 1,Grade 3, Grade 5, Grade 6, Gtade 7 and 8. In singing I went straight to Grade 5.