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Original poster

Support group for parents of children taking music exams!

999 replies

Wafflenose · 14/11/2011 22:03

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!!

OP posts:
singinggirl · 27/11/2013 13:33

Good luck Dotty! I took Grade 5 jazz piano two weeks ago since I have a couple of students who are interested in Jazz, and was delighted to come out with 142! It was nerve wracking, but a really positive experience, and my students are impressed that I did it, which is nice.

Other exams, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for two grade 5 theory results, and DS1 sits grade 5 piano tomorrow (don't mention the scales) along with three students going 4, 1 and prep test. Then DS2 grade 1 clarinet next week - I have had exams every week bar one for someone in something since half term!

CURIOUSMIND · 27/11/2013 14:00

We have done it! Very pleased it sounds like everything they did their usual standard. Ds2 suddenly decided, determined to play the grade 5 Aural first question, instead of sing it, last week. And today, it did sound like he and the examiner played the same tune. looking forward to the result now!

Singinggirl, spectacular! You rock!

All the best to all the hard working children!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 27/11/2013 17:11

Good luck, Dotty! I did the Grade 1 thing a few years ago, in singing. I enjoyed it so much that I went back for a few more.

DD now says she had failed sight reading, scales and aural, which I think is very unlikely. Onwards and upwards.

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beatricequimby · 27/11/2013 21:53

I've been lurking on this thread waiting for ds' grade 2 piano and clarinet results. He is 9 and these were his first exams and he had piano first then clarinet immediately after. He came out of the piano looking very wobbly, saying he had totally messed up. But he went straight back in and did the clarinet so I was proud of him for keeping going.

He cried on the evening of the exam, saying he had worked so hard (which he had) and messed it up. So am rather dreading the results. He really loves music, plays all the time and is very conscientous about practising. I think he was just nervous on the day. Any advice for what I should say to him if he has failed the piano?

And Wafflenose, good luck for your dd's results.

DottyDot · 28/11/2013 09:47

did it! I effed up my A minor scale, which is ridiculous as you only have 2 scales in trumpet grade one and I knew them both inside out, in my sleep. But I had a complete mental block and literally didn't know which notes to play!

This is the problem with nerves - they get you in ways you can't predict - utter nightmare when doing grades... Hopefully I've passed though.

It's tough waiting for the results and if your child hasn't passed it has to be a well done for trying your best, giving it a really good go and then if they want to carry on trying to do grades, their teacher should be doing lots of 'mocks' with them to flush out where they might go wrong when they're nervous. I get my pupils to perform their pieces in front of their parents before hand and I also get my dp (who also plays the piano) who they don't know very well, to do a mock exam with them - asking them for a few scales and to hear their pieces. It's useful doing this a few weeks before so you've got time to work on the wobbly bits!

Theas18 · 28/11/2013 09:50

DH is nervous, he has pupils doing initial recorder tomorrow! Aww sweet.... but I'm glad I'm not the examiner- there are about 10 kids all doing the same LOL

singinggirl · 29/11/2013 09:22

DS1 came out of his exam very positive, it did sound as though the examiner gave him grade 4 rather then grade 5 aural though. Not that I'm complaining! My grade 1 and 4 people were very nervous, but kept it together so fingers crossed. And my prep test student had some lovely comments so fingers crossed now.

LilyBolero · 29/11/2013 10:02

Grade 4 and 5 aural are really similar - biggest difference is the musical features question, where in grade 4 you will definitely be asked about character, grade 5 will definitely be style and period (plus one other for each grade).

singinggirl · 01/12/2013 17:25

Oh yes, it was what he said about the last test that alerted me! But a slightly narrower range in the singing tests as well, which with DS1's still changing voice can only be an advantage.

Metebelis3 · 02/12/2013 19:39

So happy to report that DD1 got distinction for grade 8 recorder, and dd2 got a merit for her grade 4. Very happy mum this evening!

Metebelis3 · 02/12/2013 19:52

Now just waiting for DD2's grade 4 singing result (she did the exam today) (and she's waiting for her grade 3 ballet result too). Ad DD1 has piano grade 5 next week. It's been quite a term what with those exams plus both girls having major parts in a big musical at half term, DD2 being in the professional Panto, and also having taken (and passed) the 11+ for our regional superselective. We all need a rest now!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 02/12/2013 21:25

Wow, lots of exams, Metebelis. Distinction at Grade 8 is clearly brilliant, and well done to DD2 with the merit for Grade 4 - the same as my DD1 got for hers last term.

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Metebelis3 · 02/12/2013 21:54

I'm v proud of DD2 because she has had such a huge amount of stuff on this term - she hasn't had a weekend without at least 2 rehearsals since August. And she had a big part in Annie, she wasn't in the chorus. I'm also proud because she did pieces on the treble as well as the descant for this exam - you don't have to do that till grade 6 but it's a good discipline to start early. I'm glad I insisted on her putting off flute grade 4 till next term though. 3 grade 4s in one week would have killed her I think! Grin She's a bit gutted she didn't get a distinction though (only missed by 2 marks). But I told her not to worry, being able to play both recorders at that level is a real achievement. Many people don't bring in treble till they absolutely have to (in my day there were separate treble and descant exams and you could only do treble after grade 5, there were no higher grades for descant).

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 02/12/2013 22:05

DS2 did his Grade 5 piano this afternoon and thinks it went fairly well, although he said he had played his pieces better at home. It was ABRSM so a longer wait for results, his teacher thinks it will be after Christmas. I do like Trinity's quick turn round.

Anyway, on with the Christmas concerts now. He sang a lovely solo from the organ loft in the Cathedral yesterday at the advent service.

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 02/12/2013 22:13

Well done to your DDs Metebelis3

CURIOUSMIND · 02/12/2013 22:22

How wonderful Metelelis! Well done to your two girls! Not just the exams, being able to stay organized in these big jigsaw puzzles, music, acting and everything, is fantastic! Really well done girls!!!

We are still waiting, waiting and waiting for the result.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 03/12/2013 09:59

We are still waiting, too!

I bought DD a treble for Christmas last year - she had just turned 7 so couldn't quite reach the lowest note, but now can. It's not quite up with her descant yet - probably around Grade 3, but she will play both for her next exam (Grade 5) when the time comes. I love the treble - it's my favourite! She also has a sop which comes out occasionally, and would like a tenor, but she's too small!

Flute teacher rang this morning. No results yet. She said DD did make mistakes, but still played well, and that it's patently obvious she won't fail scales or sight reading!

OP posts:
pugsandseals · 03/12/2013 16:39

DD due in any minute to do Grade 4 Oboe! Really worried about her scales & wish her teacher would consider doing Trinity as she hates them with a passion - good luck DD!!!

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 04/12/2013 20:58

How did your DD get on Pugs

DS2 came home from his trombone lesson tonight and said his Grade 5 pieces were chosen for March. Didn't know this was on the horizon! DD took her exam slip and money for her March exam in this morning. And so it goes on. Would have been nice to have this sessions result first though!

ATailOfTwoKitties · 04/12/2013 21:11

Grumpy DD here as she's passed Grade 2 singing but didn't get the Merit she'd hoped for. I suspect that forgetting the words to her folksong might just have caused the problem there!

lljkk · 05/12/2013 19:30

DD has one, possibly 2 violin solos at school concert.

nosuchwordascant · 05/12/2013 21:48

Distinction in grade 1 Oboe for my 10yr old daughter so proud :-)) although she did come out of the exam in tears saying she had completely messed it up so I didnt know what to expect results wise !!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 05/12/2013 23:58

Well done to her, nosuch. My DD cried after hers as well, declared she had failed three sections, thought she had failed the exam or scraped through... and this time, she got the elusive distinction! Grade 2 Flute (she's just turned 8). I am not listening to her in future.

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CURIOUSMIND · 07/12/2013 22:28

I am so happy got my boys piano exam results tonight: Ds1 grade 8, Ds2 grade 5, both got over 140 again.So pleased for them, and so thankful to the teacher. I am going to get her a gorgeous Christmas present she totally deserve!

marmitecat · 07/12/2013 22:28

Ds came out of his g1 recorder quite wobbly and told me quietly he thought he might have failed. He got his results today. 137. :) I think I may not trust his judgement on exam performance in future.