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Original poster

ABRSM, Trinity etc Spring session exams - who's on the bench?

218 replies

Floottoot · 06/03/2018 09:32

DS is taking grade 5 cello ABRSM next week, and I have a flute pupil taking grade 5 this week ( both dates different exam centres).
Pupil is destined for a merit, I think. Her pieces are pretty good, scales could go well if she concentrates, aurals should be fine as she's already passed grade 7 piano, but sightreading is inexplicably weak; she really struggles with rhythm, despite my best efforts and her piano experience.

DS's pieces are great, his scales are pretty secure but he's finding legato arpeggios a bit of a chore ( made harder by changing from a 1/2 size to a 4/4 size cello this term), his sightreading has the potential to be good ( he does well when I'm standing over him, cheering him on!) but he's prone to forgetting the last sharp/flat in the key signature and making the odd silly rhythm mistake, and his aurals are ok...IF he would just sing!
He's taking the exam at school, which is very convenient but does mean I won't be able to hiss last minute reminders at him!

So, what grades are other people's children/ pupils taking, and how's it all going?
As a parent of an exam child, I can now fully empathise with my own mum, who had to endure 2 of us taking exams in 3 different instruments, plus theory - much easier to be the child doing the exams! 🤣

OP posts:
Original poster
Floottoot · 14/03/2018 12:40

My attitude to exams is to use them as way markers, rather than work towards them. I've seen too many children who take exam after exam, without ever really exploring other repertoire of working on good technique; the worst example was a pianist who declared that he was glad he'd never have to play another scale again after taking grade 8.
They are useful for motivating students, but IMO the student should already have reached the approximate standard before entry is discussed, and they should be a means to an end, not the end itself.

I can pretty much predict that my grade 5 pupil will turn up at her next lesson with the grade 6 music, sadly.

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LooseAtTheSeams · 14/03/2018 07:57

Musical I'm in awe - I'm finding grade 5 very challenging! Very best of luck!

catkind · 13/03/2018 22:47

Wow, good for you musical! I think anything like that is much more of an achievement for an adult with all our other responsibilities in life.

string, we're the other way around - I wasn't bothered about exams but teacher thought it would be good for them.

Hi paradise, first time exam takers here too. I was told that trinity we'd find out at the end of the week (which is also the end of the exam session at this venue). I think ABRSM may be a bit longer but not the weeks it used to be when I was a child?

Musicaltheatremum · 13/03/2018 21:22

Making me nervous. I'm nearly 55 and going to sit trinity grade 8 piano in June. I sat grade 7 2 years ago and got a distinction. But don't think I will this time. I find my fingers just don't go as fast as they used to. Wish I'd done it as a teenager but career got in the way

stringmealong · 13/03/2018 20:59

2 grade 7's & a Grade 3 being taken by my students this term- only one do I have confidence in that they have put in the work to get a really good result, others have pratted about too much for my liking. As a teacher I hate entering students for exams as I find it holds up their learning & shackles us to learning everything in such a prescribed order. But being pushed by these parents to enter them. I'd be less nervous if I were taking them myself!

ParadiseCity · 13/03/2018 16:15

My DD has a grade 1 coming up, neither of us have much idea what to expect. Do they tell you there and then or do you find out later?

catkind · 13/03/2018 16:11

Always a tricky situation when a parent has a different view; in this case, the parent argued that she didn't mind what result the child got...

Sheesh, you're kind to keep on teaching the pupil at all after that. Pupils' results do impact on a teacher's reputation, it's not just up to the parent and child.

Original poster
Floottoot · 13/03/2018 10:47

Japanese, yes, it was an unusual situation to have a parent insist their child take the exam when advised against it. Even moreso when I recommended that, in that case, she needed 45 minute lessons in the run up to the exam...but the parent refused.
Always a tricky situation when a parent has a different view; in this case, the parent argued that she didn't mind what result the child got...

OP posts:
Original poster
Floottoot · 13/03/2018 08:14

Irvine, well done to your son for keeping motivated whilst not having a teacher - that's impressive! Everything crossed for him for the exam - sounds like he'll do great.

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Original poster
Floottoot · 13/03/2018 08:11

billybagpuss, are you a private piano teacher?
That's certainly a good number of candidates! Definitely worth considering a special visit at your home - at least that guarantees your pupils are playing on a piano they're used to.

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billybagpuss · 11/03/2018 16:23

Actually thats a really good idea, I have a decent Bechstein piano, could just about fit a reasonable chair and table in for the examiner. Thank you all, I will consider further. still petrified though its the most I've had by far.

user789653241 · 11/03/2018 13:49

My ds is doing grade 2 piano end of this month, after no teacher for 6 months since July last year. We needed to go for it since he has been practicing since he did his grade 1 last spring. Finally got teacher back in Feb, but fingers crossed, for mostly DIY exam prep 2 years in a row.

BeBesideTheSea · 11/03/2018 12:08

@MadCats lol - I meant cats! Sorry for the derail

Wafflenose · 11/03/2018 12:03

I might have 21 exam candidates in the Autumn term - probably at three different venues. But I expect that some won't be ready/ won't want to, and others might give notice to stop by then, for all I know... lots of them are little recorder players, and the promising ones seem to be encouraged to stop (by parents) and learn something different! :(

Kutik73 · 11/03/2018 11:44

I see. Grade 8 is roughly 30 mins, isn't it? Suppose you can fill 2 hours and half easily with the numbers you are entering, billy. The exam centre DS's teacher uses has such a crappy piano. We would be super happy if the teacher let her pupils take exams on her lovely Stanley & Son piano! (but she won't for several reasons..).

Radiodependent · 11/03/2018 11:32

I think if you have 3 hours you can arrange a visit from ABRSM yes.

Kutik73 · 11/03/2018 11:26

billy, you may want to arrange the exams to be taken place at yours? I heard you could call an examiner if you have plenty pupils taking the exams on a day. If it's piano, your pupils can play on the familiar piano too.

DS's teacher doesn't do this so I am not sure how true this is. But just a thought.

billybagpuss · 11/03/2018 11:16

Good luck every body. I have one in this session Trinity grade 2, I will be very surprised if she doesn't get a distinction.

But Oh God I am an idiot, I've just done my list for next term and if everyone goes for it, which they probably will I have 22 in across multiple centres. Including 1 grade 8 and 3 grade 5's and possibly a grade 6. Please reassure me, I know I'm in for a long term.

Radiodependent · 11/03/2018 11:09

Taffeta I had a student who found scale memorising very hard - she had other problems with memorising too and saw an ed psych about it, the result of which was that she got a report which led to her being allowed extra time and a glance at the book before each scale in the exam (Still book shut for the actual playing). Slightly extreme solution but it gave her a lot of confidence.

Taffeta · 11/03/2018 10:44

Cool Smile DD loves playing. She plays in lots of different bands, which I’ve encouraged from the start as I’m keen for her to love it with others and for it to become hopefully something she cherishes for life.

I wasn’t keen on her doing grades really, as I worried it’d be just another thing to get competitive about, and for her to feel less. But she really wanted to do grades, so here we are!

Original poster
Floottoot · 11/03/2018 10:37

Taffeta, definitely NOT just for high flyers! All our DCs on here are different ages, started learning at different times and are at different stages. I'm a professional flautist, teacher and mum to DS who is 12 and taking grade 5...so absolutely NOT a prodigy! 🤣
I just love hearing about children learning instruments and enjoying playing.

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catkind · 11/03/2018 10:11

Hey taffeta, from where we're at grade 3 is a far distant objective!

Taffeta · 11/03/2018 09:04

Joining in a little nervously, as these threads sometimes strike me as just for the high achievers.

DD taking ABRSM G3 flute in two weeks. Pieces are great, scales & arpeggios not so much. She’s doing Trinity G4 recorder next term, new board for recorder as recommended by her teacher, as she finds memorising scales very hard. Be interesting to see how it suits her.

Madcats · 10/03/2018 22:40

@Bebeside Are you talking about cats or kids?
We are down to one sociopath siamese (14 next week, his brother died about 2 1/2 years ago) and DD is 10 (yr6).

This is the video that might explain beginner jazz (flute)

I think I might do a bit of homework/reignite my very rusty music brain before I get DD too excited (and email her music teacher/school dept to see if this might be a goer).

BeBesideTheSea · 10/03/2018 21:24

Thanks Madcats (how many do you have by the way). That is reassuring. I love the sound of jazz flute. DS is more into folk music at the moment Grin

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