Adult music exams

[DaphneDeloresMoorhead]

Is it self indulgent to take a music exam at 45 ? I've been pursuing a childhood dream of learning the flute as dd plays it (you can imagine why I selected it 😂) and I've got to the point where I can play her grade 1 syllabus. I'd need a few lessons to polish up my technique but I really want that achievement. Is it silly ? Im also restarting piano lessons after stopping at g6 and despite having told the teacher im not interested in exams I think I do want to but just feel it's a bit... self indulgent when it's not as if im going to have a dazzling career as a concert pianist.

I guess the competitive child in me wants that certificate

Do it! Although I should add that my adult students all get insanely nervous, far more so than the kids, be prepared for that.

I've done ABRSM exams as an adult. I did piano and flute prep tests and grade 1 flute. I found the exam books with CDs really helpful in preparing. I did find it hard to find someone to accompany me though at the exam.

The examiners were lovely, shocked, as usually it's children but pleased to see an adult doing the exam.

I also did theory to grade four as an adult (I failed grade five by two points!!!!)

I'm no longer able to play due to disability but I'm glad I did it when I did.

Go for it!

Becca my daughters flute teacher is happy to do the honours

Well sod it i'm going to go for it in the winter session. Why the hell not !

I don't see anything wrong with taking a music exam as an adult at all, I wouldn't do the same instrument as my child though so in your situation, I'd do a piano exam and let my child do the flute exam.

She's better than me Chic 😂

Go for it! I just sat my Grade 1 Piano (I did up to Grade VIII violin when I was a child) and passed - with a merit! I was v nervous - mucked up each of my pieces a bit (mind just went blank) but I got a lot of joy in passing! I am 45 too!!

Ah this sounds so great OP - definitely go for it! Learning the piano is on my bucket list for when I get any spare time (not sure when that will be 😂) and I imagine entering exams helps you to move forward and progress?

I'm more than a decade older than you OP and I just say my grade IV piano last year. I've been having lessons as an adult returner for a few years now.

I'm now working towards grade V. I know what you mean about it seeming a bit daft, or possibly self indulgent, but I want proof to myself that I'm making progress and the only way to do that with learning an instrument is to continually make yourself learn pieces that are a bit too hard for you ...

I don't know if I'll go all the way to grade VIII as I doubt I have the talent and I'll be in my 60s by then! But I will go for grade VI when I've got V under my belt.

@DaphneDeloresMoorhead that's great news!! No reason at all not to go ahead and get booked in! Good luck!

Good luck!
I sat Grade 5 flute as an adult having failed it dismally in my teens. It was so much better when I knew that I was doing it to please myself and not teacher/school/parents, plus this time round I got to choose my own pieces.