Support group for parents of children taking music exams!

[Wafflenose]

Hello, I'm feeling excited, nervous and wobbly because my daughter is taking her first music exam in three weeks. I'm a music teacher and am very used to getting children through the exams, keeping the parents informed, helping to focus practice, etc, but this is my first experience with my own child doing an exam and for some reason it's more scary than putting other people's children in! I think she will be OK (and the other thirteen I have entered this term) but I'm not!! Any tips for the 'other side' (parents rather than music teachers) for how to keep us both calm on the day would be gratefully received! Does it get easier as they become more experienced? Am thinking not...

She is taking part in the local music festival tomorrow, to gain performance experience. She's wildly excited, and I've got the jitters!!

Thank you all. I am very relieved.

DD started at 3, but it's not right for everyone. She was reading well, and rather large. DD2 is 4.5 and neither of these things, so she will have to wait a bit longer!

I'm no expert, but have got about 300 candidates through exams with both boards (mostly ABRSM until a few years ago). I fine with TG it's slightly easier to get a pass, slightly easier to get a merit, and slightly harder to get a distinction, because of the marks needed to get each of these (the merit category is wider than for AB). I like the choices they get too, and now use TG for all my recorders, and for clarinet/ flute at Grade 6+ if they haven't done enough theory or are really awful about learning scales!

If I remember correctly, Circular's DD wants to do music either at conservatoire or uni? If so, then it will be important to do the theory exams regardless of which board her practical exams are. A grade 8 is a grade 8, playing wise, but they still want you to have the theory too. DD1 is doing ABRSM for all her other exams, just not recorder because of the credibility issue (which I personally think is a perceived rather than a genuine issue, IYSWIM. Once the recorder playing establishment has more AMRSM graduates (if you like) in its ranks thinks will be more equal).

My DDs got their results last night. They both passed comfortably but there were no merits or distinctions. DD1 in particular is taking this badly but I'm hoping this will encourage her to pull her finger out for the next exam.

PANIC! DD was supposed to be in her exam now, but DH rang to say he is stuck in traffic. They left an hour ago but have been stuck in traffic for half an hour, moving at snail pace.

We have called the centre where she is taking the exam and they say they will try and accommodate her, but we have no idea when she'll get there. POOR DD1...................

phew just got a call from DH, they finally made it - half an hour late!! She is next, fingers crossed xx

Oh dear, poor DS got 127 merit for his G7..He was aiming at distinction and will be dissapointed. As usual, aural and sight-reading let him down. It didnt help that he stumbled on one of the fast pieces (played it so many times in concerts , never happened before!).Got 20/21 for scales though..Oh well at least we can forget about it now for a while and move on to other pieces :)

Pianoboy has done really well to get 127! Individual examiners can make the difference. THis kids think there are 2 sorts- nice ones that mark low and stroppy ones that stress you out but if you can ride it out the marks seem better!

Fivehours again see above comments. A pass is great :)

Orange, hope she wan't too shalen by it all.

No disrespect to organists, but DS's examiner was one.In my experience, organists for some reason mark lower..?Or am i way wrong?

127 is great and no-one will ever care about grade 7 once he's done grade 8, so use it as a learning exercise. It's useful to know that aural and sight reading need more work and that exam nerves can affect otherwise secure pieces.

Examiners are levelled occasionally, so should be broadly the same whatever their instruments, but you do seem to get more lenient ones and more harsh ones sometimes. Our experience is that the nice smiley reassuring ones tend to be the harsh markers and the scary, stiff blank expressioned ones are often surprisingly generous!

I know they are levelled but the comments often don't fit the marks given! We've had both " slight slip in X " in aural tests and full marks given to "lovely answers" with the verbal q " do you have perfect pitch" then 8/10 !!

Pianomama I suspect organists are more grumpy..... but maybe that's just my experience LOL

gelo - you are absolutely right. He can afford to take his time for all-important G8 and learn that a maximum focus is always required for any performance. And to take more time for sight-reading, it is strange as he had a very high mark for s/r for G5. He got 14 out of 21 even though I heard him playing a very convincing - sounding piece from behind the doors..
And yes, examiner was smiley :)
DS is playing one of the exam pieces at the weekend in a very grand venue in London so I think I won't tell him about his mark until afterwards :)

Wafflenose -TG is music schools choice for recorders, believe HOD is an examiner. Perhaps ABRSM would have been better, as really hoping for distinctions on the higher grades. Weakest area scales but teacher insisting she sticks with them for TG..

MordionAgenos - yes, that's her. Recently done Grade 5 theory (distinction), mainly to compensate for possibly not having an A* GCSE prediction (school not very generous with predictions).
Also means she can take higher grades on piano and violin as and when. wasn't aware other theory grades were essential for Uni, if taking A level music?

Poorly Pianoboy did 127 at G7 is abosolutly a very brave well done. My ds1 had full tummy of painkiller went to the school Christmas production, tumbled through the easiest carol (He accompanied).Can't imagine what if this is G7?

127 for Grade 7 is fab!

DD is doing TG for recorder, and AB for flute and piano. We've started on the theory already too, as if she sticks with flute and piano she will need it at some point. At the moment she wants to be an author, so might not need it for university, but at 7 she has plenty of years to change her mind.

@circular I meant grade 5. But, DD1 has been advised that grade 8 theory is a Good Thing to have. Her school do grade 8 theory as a matter of course if you're doing A level though so when the time comes (its a way off yet) she will do it in school. Which makes a nice change.

My dd is taking her first singing exam gr2 next week, She has already done gr2 violin and will take gr3 after xmas. She is 8 and been having lessons for a year.
Why am I so nervous and why are so many people telling me that sight singing is harder than sight reading.
Her accompanied pieces are all good, as well as Aural, unaccompanied is quite good if she's on a good day, can be hit and miss . Sight singing could improve but teacher says its good and she should be on track for a distinction.
Just wanted to be one to add at the lower grades, as so many posts are for later grades.
Wishing all your dcs well, if taking this session.

Mordion.

Have just read your post and maybe your dd has been told that grade 8 theory is good because of the UCAS points it attracts. Sorry if you already know but for those that don't grades 6,7,8 practical or theory gain points, with abrsm definitely.

@morethan No it wasn't because of UCAS points. :Not least because by the time she is applying music exams may well not attract UCAS points.

On sight singing, I can't remember how old Dd1 was when she did grade 2 but DD2 was 7 and it was fine, even though she was so little. I don't think it's any more difficult than sight reading, really. Don't worry I'm sure your dd will be fine.

Mordion.

Thanks for the support, well meaning people can unnerve me sometimes. I know there is a difference as in with singing you don't actually put your fingers down to achieve a note, but one would assume if you knew your stuff you would be ok.
It was a thought about UCAS points, I know several private schools round here are encouraging taking them for this reason. It will be bad if in the future music exams don't achieve the points. I imagined my dd would be relying on them to gain entry to music college.

TG grades are worth identical UCAS points. As are LCMM and Rockschool.

DC have done a mix of TG and ABRSM depending on teachers, but their school only enters TG, they have their own session. But they can still do Grade 5 theory with ABRSM. They have just started a theory class after school this year. Free!!!!

Pianomama 127 is great, especially when he was ill. Well done to him.

FiveHoursSleep well done to your DDs. The main thing is they have passed!

I know this isn't really exam related but was hoping for some pointers.

Last year dd won our local Young musician of the year, entry- grade 3. Here they do it in grades for anybody under 19, so theres a wide age range at entry, intermediate and advanced.
This year she is struggling to find a classical, folk or Italian Aria that don't have too mature lyrics. Her contemporary piece is fine as she has a number of these she can sing around gr 4-6. Can anybody suggest something in the gr 4-6 range that would be good. She is soprano and has a good range from low G to high G (2 octaves). Apart from listen to every song on the syllabus I can't think of anything else. Her teacher is on mat leave so she is sort of self teaching atm. Any suggestions for something that will show up any talent she has would be good.

Amarilli mia bella by caccini?

dowland -fine knacks for ladies. Can she excuse my wrongs or even the flow my tears . All lovely. Any dowland actually but these are ones dd1 has sung that I recall easily.

Purcell songs-where the bee sucks is lovely (though we had a slightly ..oopps... Moment as dd sung it when she was quite young and her lisp was a but if am issue- s sounding a little f like at times iyswim! ).

Music for a while-think that's higher graded though

Dd2 he's just sung panis angelicus by franck fir her grade 5 but that's awfully well known.

Let me know if you need more

Peter warlock I take it would fall into contemporary? Otherwise his nativity song the first mercy would be just lovely (bethlem down is more grade 7,8 I guess)

@theas ERO is playing Bethlem Down in our cathedral concert next week