Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Grade 1 piano exam help

36 replies

thekarlie · 14/11/2018 17:38

My 9 year old daughter took her grade 1 piano exam today and is now very upset and panicking.

She said her scales were perfect apart from 1 note she hit incorrect in the broken chords.
Sight reading was easy (her words) she played the sharp, tempo and dynamics.
Aural she was very happy with.
La Donna e mobile and when the saints she played very well and was very happy with.
Dans la forget lointaine She said was going fine until half way through she hit a wrong note and then she said she panicked and played it terrible, she just couldn’t get it back. Played most wrong thereafter. She said that was the worst she has ever played that one

So she has been very emotional and thinks she has failed - she is so frustrated as the rest of it was almost perfect.
Does anyone know if she’s still could pass? I’m not musical and have never experienced music exams so am unsure how strict or perfect you need to play. Any help or advice on this would be much appreciated.

OP posts:
Original poster
thekarlie · 14/11/2018 23:21

Thank you so much to everyone for all your help, support and advice x

OP posts:
NotMusicAgain · 14/11/2018 23:11

Believe me, she will pass, absolutely fine. You will be celebrating in two weeks time.

Original poster
thekarlie · 14/11/2018 22:46

Fingers crossed it will be fine.

I think nerves had a big part to play in it, my daughter suffers with anxiety anyway. We did try a few times to get her to play for the school in assembly but she bottled it both times.
She also sat her theory exam last week and came out all smiles and was really happy how that one went so hoping that we get the marks at the same time and we can focus on that one if the worst happens and she fails the practical

OP posts:
horseymum · 14/11/2018 19:33

These are exactly the pieces my DD is playing in two weeks, will be glad to see the back of them. Honestly it sounds like she had done fine, you can see how they mark pieces online, it describes what they are looking for. Even if she had not played one piece to her best, the rest will make a difference. Hence the reason teachers want them to be confident in all the sections to give a bit of leeway for one part to go badly on the day! It's nerve-wracking waiting though! Can she get a chance to play at assembly or something similar to experience performing for fun rather than just an exam. Shame not to perform the pieces now they are so good!

whenwillthetwitchstrike · 14/11/2018 19:06

If it is at all possible for an examiner to pass a grade one student then they do as they know how disheartening it would be to fail. As PP have said, your DD can lose 1/3 of the marks and still pass. Even if the notes in the final piece were wrong, if the rhythm or expression or something was right, she will get some marks for that.

Original poster
thekarlie · 14/11/2018 18:58

Thank you so much, fingers crossed she’s done enough to pass. I just know she will be so upset if it comes back that she has failed.

Ditto, if I never hear them again that will be too soon lol
I don’t think we will bother with exams from now on as I feel it has taken all the enjoyment out of it for her.

OP posts:
MeltingWax · 14/11/2018 18:25

P.S. both of my DCs played 2 of those pieces for their Grade 1 exams. I was sick of listening to them by the end Smile

MeltingWax · 14/11/2018 18:23

Each part of the exam is marked separately. Each piece is worth a maximum of 30 marks so even if one of the three is a disaster she will pick up some marks for it and then combined with the rest of the sections am sure she will be just fine. Smile I know it's frustrating for her as she feels she could have played better. That's just the nature of the exam process - it can only ever be a snapshot and what might have been played perfectly at home can get affected by nerves, etc.

GoodHeavensNoImAChicken · 14/11/2018 18:05

She will most likely pass. Tell her not to worry, it’s a good experience either way and to carry on enjoying playing the piano

Anythingforacatslife · 14/11/2018 18:04

She’ll probably still pass, doesn’t sound like she made too many mistakes on the rest of it. However if she doesn’t pass it’s not the end of the world, she can just move on.

keiratwiceknightly · 14/11/2018 18:01

Pass mark is 100/150 so she can lose nearly a third of marks and still pass.