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 Theas18 so much for the suggestions. Although I should have said she needs them for well after Christmas. I have seen some of these in the syllabus and will youtube them. I know its not ideal but at least it gives an idea of the tempo, lyrics etc.
Thanks again

Pianomama- congratulations to your Ds. I hope his concert went well and he's not too disappointed with his result.

view - thanks, how did your DD do?
Just came back from London where DS played his "merit standard" exam piece in famous concert hall as a winner of piano competition selected across 4 JD.
I wish I could send him a video... Never mind, I bet examiner never got to play anywhere near the place my DS did today.Fantastic feeling.

Wow Pianomama. DD got 126, which was within one mark of what she calculated herself. She was disappointed because she didn't play her best, but she has gone from grade 4 to 7 in 5 terms so I think she is amazing.

Bravo!! Only 5 terms - such a huge jump! Well done !

View, that is amazing.

Well done to your dd, she has clearly put in the work.

Pianomama what a brilliant opportunity for your ds, I hope he enjoyed performing.

Oh well its dds gr2 singing exam tomorrow and she has lost all confidence. Performing in front of 1000+ people doesn't phase her and she doesn't really get nervous but she is convinced that sight singing will let her down.

Oh well at least after exam and concerts this week she can move onto fun stuff again.

Good luck to your DD morethen - we are looking forward to exciting new pieces too. I have never seen my DS so happy - it was an amazing opportunity for him and the best prize one could wish for. So nice to be able to see that all the hard work does pay and gives you pleasure like no one else can give you .
Need to get over it now and wipe that silly grin off my face .

Pianomama

You keep your grin for a while. My dds achievements are not on your scale but my grin will remain until the end of the week.
I bet you are so proud and rightly so. I don't think non musical families sometimes understand the work and commitment it takes to reach such pleasure. I am happy for you and I don't even know you.

Thanks for the good luck wishes, I think we will all be better after knowing how it went in comparison to violin gr2 a while ago. Surely it can't be that different as its the same level, and at least the aural should be the same.

Good luck with DD's singing exam today morethan. I'm sure the sight singing will be fine and it's only one part of the exam.

Pianomama. I think you you should keep that grin on 'til Christmas. Behind one very talented boy there is also a Mum who feeds, supports and takes him to lessons and events too.

at pianomama!

Ds1 did his g3 cello recently. Passed with distinction which we had hoped for since he's playing well above g3 but his teacher wanted him to be properly grounded in the whole of music and not just the performance pieces but ... he did get 28s for his 3 pieces . That's all. Just need to tell someone!

hanahsaunt - Well done to your DS. Great when that happens, as can really knock their confidence if put in for a grade too early and they just scrape a pass (or even worse, fail).

HA, wow, well done your boy.

Seriously it's OK to announce this on FB or in your Christmas round robin. Just so long as you don't do it 3 times a week!

Congratulations to the mini hanahsaunt and viewfroms THose are gret results.

Viewfrom I lobe the way your DD was able to predict the grade. Mine have had little idea.

Well done little Hanahsaunt!
I think it's really ok to announce your great achievement, share your very up moment and moan about your very low moment on this thread. Many parents on this thread know your pain and gain!

Hi everyone!!
My DD1 just found out she got 125 (a Merit) for her grade 1 piano, I think that we were expecting a Merit, so we were pleased with the result.

Now waiting for her Grade 1 Violin, I know she will be disappointed if she got anything less than a distinction for Violin because it is her passion but I told her that whatever she gets is not a reflection on her ability to play and foremost her enjoyment of it!!!

She got a Merit in her Violin grade 1 too......she was a bit deflated but I tried to explain it is a good achievement getting a merit and that she is only 7 so many years yet to try for a distinction!!! Glad it's all over now!!!!

Very well done to your DD. It is really hard working for two exams at once, even for children much older than her.

Theas18. DD is 15 and I think it must be all the self evaluation and target setting they have to do at her school that helps with that, plus she is very self-critical.

Well done orange berries DD and Hanahsaunt ds

Thanks everyone!!!

Orangeberries - Very well done to your DD. IIRC didn't she arrive late for one exam because of the traffic - great that did not seem to phase her.

Agree Viewofthehills, really tough when doing more than one in a term.
DD1 just finished her last this term and a huge sigh of relief. Not sure if we will have results this side of Xmas though.

Well done on the two merits! I can't remember, were they taken on the same day? A great achievement anyway!

We've just had an email from the flute teacher - DD2 got a merit for her grade 2 which considering she was in hospital only a week before and has only been learning for 3 terms is way beyond what I was expecting, actually.