Music exams - what do your dc do in the run up?

[maggiethecat]

Dd is doing her grade 1 violin on Thur and she seems ok about them (she is very reserved about meeting new people so I think any anxiety would be related to this aspect rathter than performing).

Tomorrow I'll let her practise in the morning as usual but will have to restrain myself from blabbering on about what she should/should not be doing.

What do yours do in the run up? do they practise on the day?

[Seeline]

My DS did grade 1 piano at easter. I really tried to lay off in the last few days - he knew what he was supposed do be doing even if things weren't going right! I didn't make him practise on the day as I thought if things went badly it would really put him off. I hadn't realised that I would be able to hear him playing outside the room when he took his exam which threw me abit. One piece he completely mucked up and stopped several times, and one of the others wasn't much better! I couldn't see how he would have passed so spent the next few weeks stressing to him how it didn't matter what the result was - he got 108 in the end (100 being a pass)! I think they are quite lenient at this stage so don't stress too much! Good luck!

[meltedmarsbars]

Two practice sessions with the pianist in the two weeks run-up, then normal practices in between.

As Seeline says, don't stress. The examiners want to encourage children to play, not put them off! They realise that it can be a stressful time for the kids - they are human too, you know.

I'm sure they can tell who pratices and has talent and who doesn't.

Best of luck to Maggiethekitten!

[meltedmarsbars]

(I mean the kids practice with the accompanist)

[PrettyCandles]

Ds did his Grade 1 violin last term. After a rocky start he really took responsibility for his practicing - I'm prouder of that than of his Merit!

We didn't do anything extra in the run-up to the exam, just made sure that he went to bed at a reasonable time and had breakfast. We talked a bit about taking his time, trusting in his own ability, and particularly about enjoying himself, as when he enjoys himself and rela es he plays better.

On the day we turned up early, because he wanted a bit if extra practice, but we weren't allowed to practice. As one examiner goes into their exam, the next goes into the rehearsal room with the accompanist. They get to practice for as long as the preceding child is having their exam.

I didn't go with him, but his music teacher took him into the rehearsal room Nd checked his violin's tuning. I didn't see ds again until after his exam.

Ds said afterwRds that he had enjoyed playing with the accompanist. She steadied him abd helped him keep time, which allowed him to pay more attention to the dynamics. He knew he had made a few mistakes in various parts of the exam, but expected to pass. He found it an enjoyable and un-threatening experience.

HTH, and good luck!

[maggiethecat]

That's all very encouraging. I've told her to just enjoy herself. I've also asked her to try to keep playing if she makes a slip as her tendency in practice is to want to start over.

Taking your time is so important (teacher also said that it means that there's less time for aurals - not sure he should have been happy to pass that tip on!)

Did not realise that she would get a chance to rehearse with accompanist. She may not want to rehearse - we'll see.

At the moment I think we'll go to the park this evening after school so she can run around and then come home and do a short practice and then maybe nothing tomorrow morning - exam is after lunch.

[nymphadora]

dd1 has her grade one clarinet in 2 weeks. I have to phone the accompanist to arrange a practise before the exam. Need to get her to practice more though.

[maggiethecat]

Pretty, meant to say that I did not realise she could do rehearsal on the day with pianist. I called her up to enquire and she said she could not do one with her (perhaps bcos exam is being held at her house and she may also be a steward, not sure). But apparently she can do a warm up.
I'll let the child do as she pleases.

[caffeineaddict]

Really important that she's warmed up, so make sure she gets time to warm up. Good luck, am sure she'll enjoy it.

[maggiethecat]

Ok Caffein.

We did practice after park this evening and she said her G string was out of tune (I can't tune esp since her violin has no fine tuners - long story). So whacked violin around to friend who tuned it. But raises the question of tuning at exam - I will go with her, no teacher. Pianist has said she can't tune. Can I ask that examiner tunes?

[PrettyCandles]

Ds's teacher was at the exam centre. We presumed that several of her pupils were taking exams that day.

I don't understand why your dd has not had a practice session with her accompanist.

[maggiethecat]

I realise that I was not clear. She has had rehearsal with accompanist last week but I thought that you were saying that on the exam day there would be a rehearsal room if she wanted to practise with accompanist.

I think it's ok if she doesn't do practice run of her pieces immediately before exam but I take Caffein's point that she should prob warm up.

Hopefully someone will be able to check if violin is in tune. Dd can hear if it's out of tune and if it is and there's no one on hand to tune I'll say something to someone.

[snorkie]

The examiner isn't supposed to tune, but equally the child isn't expected to be able to tune before about grade 5 as I recall, so I suppose some examiners might help if asked nicely even if they're not supposed to.

Do tell your child to try everything they are asked. I know of one youngster who when asked to play the next piece just said 'No, I don't want to' and the examiner had no choice but to award nothing for that section of the exam, which inevitably resulted in a fail. Even a very bad attempt will give at least a third of the marks - so for example even if they have a complete block about a scale they should make some notes or play a different scale rather than looking blank.

I'd let your child practice on the day if they want to or not if not. If the practice goes badly tell them that the 'exam always goes well if the practice before goes badly & not to worry'.

[maggiethecat]

Well it's over and I followed various bits of advice offered. She had a practice this morning but was more keen to watch a bit of tv with her breakfast. Then she went to school and I picked her up a couple of hours later, she had lunch but did not want to practise. We had a big laugh about some dream she had.
Got to exam, no one else was there so no one to ask to check tuning on violin. I had an electronic one and could see that strings were roughly in tune, G string was flat but did not want to try to tighten.
Steward whisked her away with much of a warmup and to be honest I don't remember dd tightening her bow .
You will understand my relief that it's over!

For dd's part she came out and said the examiner was nice and that altho she messed up one of her scales she was pleased that she carried on. Then she skipped off back to school, happy to be back with her friends

[maggiethecat]

meant to say without much of a warmup

[PrettyCandles]

Feeling good about your performance in a test is a fairly good sign.

[maggiethecat]

For sure she has good nerve. I told her after exam that I could hear that for one of her pieces she played the last note, pizzicato, bang on time with the pianist. She smiled and said 'I know, I watched as she raised her hand to play the note'.

[snorkie]

You know, I sometimes work as an exam steward for music exams and I think it's fair to say that in the main the children are far less stressed about them than the parents. Glad to hear it seemed to go well - I'm sure it did.