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Extra-curricular activities

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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:
Soveryupset · 08/04/2014 10:44

Ds1 gained a distinction for his grade 1 piano which he was very happy with. Still waiting for dds grade 3 result...

Original poster
Wafflenose · 08/04/2014 10:54

Well done to everyone who's received their results lately!

OP posts:
JulieMichelleRobinson · 09/04/2014 14:45

Just about to submit three copper music medals, two on violin and one on keyboard. The youngest fiddler played the whole thing out of tune, which she doesn't usually do, but right finger on the string and good timing so at this level probably okay (she was consistently sharp, intonation didn't vary). A few slips but generally all three were okay I hope. Oh well, I've only submitted one for moderation before and that was okay, so we'll have to find out.

samandcj · 09/04/2014 15:52

Dd2 just received a distinction for her grade 8 trumpet. She is so happy.
So that's it! The final instrumental exam from this house .......I have listened to 32 sets of scales (2 x piano, violin and trumpet), argued with 2 dd over 14 years to "please do some practise" and tried to read examiners comments 32 times.
Dd2 is saying she wants to do trumpet diploma........ Presumably she will have to do more than 3x20mins practise each week for that?

JaneinReading · 09/04/2014 17:07

Well done to her. Mind passed his grade 8 trumpet, not a distinction but still an achievement. He is my child 5 and child 1 began doing associated board exams (grade 1 piano about 22 years ago) and we still have a few more to come but still like samand it will soon be the end of an era. I'm hoping he'll do grade 8 singing next and his brother still has grade 8 horn to do.

maggiethecat · 09/04/2014 23:43

well done to all your dc!
still await grade 5 violin. dd says she messed up an arpeggio and some aural. told her i was proud not matter result as she had such a busy schedule this term and she managed to hold together the academics and extra stuff - I could not do what she did!

Original poster
Wafflenose · 10/04/2014 08:55

DD1 is sitting next to me doing Grade 1 Theory papers of her own volition! We completed the workbook and a different set of papers well over a year ago, but Grade 2 involved a lot of scales she hadn't even learned at the time, and we let it slip. Anyway, I bought these papers for revision and they've been lying around for quite a while - and she has decided to do them. Rhythm and Italian terms are a bit rusty, but so far she has got a 90 and an 82 this week. I think she's finally grasped the fact that she needs to crack on with it. Recorder is with Trinity, so not an issue yet, but Flute is with ABRSM and she's starting Grade 4 scales and studies after Easter... so we have long way to go to make the theory catch up.

I've told her she might as well decide to enjoy it! Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
Wafflenose · 10/04/2014 09:37

Ooh, she got 95% for this one! One more left for another day, and a bit of Italian to do... then we'll move on.

OP posts:
OldBeanbagz · 10/04/2014 13:36

DD got a Merit for her Grade 2 piano Smile

But i'm beginning to worry about the Guitar result as her teacher said he would let us know last week and i can't get hold of him.

Is no news, good new or bad?

JulieMichelleRobinson · 10/04/2014 13:38

Bless! I'm trying to get the students to learn the theory from the start rather than have the post-grade-4 panic. So far it's working, with the prep test candidates working slowly through 'My first theory book' etc.

My piano grade 1 exam student was older but she just sat the exam in her second term so adding theory next term - she has done some before though not sat exams (first two workbooks and started third) and played cello to grade 4 so I'm going to throw her in at grade 3 level but probably no exams until grade 5. We're going to be studying from "Classics to Moderns" to give her some genuine but graded repertoire for the next term. My fiddler is just starting on "Junior Musical Postcards" for a change - easiest piece is ca. grade 1 but most are grade 2-3 level (even just based on the keys they use) so as we work through the book it will start to push her. Can you guess I hate tutor books?!?! They both need a bit of fresh air, though!

Looking forward to adult grade 1 violin next term too (again, a former cellist, so she's picked it up really quickly), as well as the littles.

JulieMichelleRobinson · 10/04/2014 13:39

OldBeanbagz - it probably just means teacher hasn't got result yet!

Theas18 · 10/04/2014 14:48

Congrats to all who've done so well since I last posted OldBeanz I'm sure just means the results aren't in yet.

OldBeanbagz · 10/04/2014 15:38

You're probably all right about the results not being in yet. Hopefully there'll be good news when we get back from holiday after Easter.

For all those music teacher out there - is it worth starting Gr5 Theory at the same time as Gr5 guitar or should we leave until DD has to do it?

OldBeanbagz · 10/04/2014 18:04

Phew, results are finally in - a Pass.

Only 2 marks off a merit and she's very relieved considering how bad it went Smile

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 10/04/2014 21:02

Congratulations to your DD OldBeanBagz, and all other DCs results.

DS2 is also looking at theory these holidays, working his way through Grade 3. He passed piano Grade 5 before Christmas, but teacher isn't rushing him. She enters for both Trinity and ABRSM, and wants to see what the new pieces are in the summer before deciding which to go for next. He does theory as part of his Voice for Life chorister training too so hopefully its all being reinforced.

In the meantime he possibly has Grade 5 trombone next term (teacher thinks he would be ready but the end of the summer term is so busy for Y6 she wants him to enjoy it), and his RSCM Bronze Medal in May.

Poor DS also has a pile of SATS homework to get do as well. And its not a proper holiday for Choristers, he is very busy next week.

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 10/04/2014 21:04

Wafflenose, please will you think about setting up a new thread soon, and linking to it?

JulieMichelleRobinson · 10/04/2014 23:40

Beanbagz -

I'd start working towards grade 5 theory before taking grade 5 practical, although grade 5 to grade 6 practical often takes two years anyway. Especially if the child (or adult!) hasn't done any formal theory and is starting from scratch. I had to self-teach grade 5 theory in a year when I was ten, it was pretty heavy going. If you're already at grade 4 theory, obviously it wouldn't be necessary, but if you're starting from scratch the extra time is useful!

JulieMichelleRobinson · 10/04/2014 23:42

Just-taken-grade-1 pianist has gone home today with grade 3 theory book (she's done some before and was grade 4 level on another instrument so knows compound time etc. already, no point in starting below that level). The younger children are all on pre-grade-1 theory but should be at grade 1 level by the time they take grade 2 on their instruments (that's my plan anyway, probably won't work). I don't actually have time to teach theory classes though, so it's always homework.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 11/04/2014 10:39

Hmm, this one getting a bit big, Raspberry?

Maybe when we get to 1000 post then!

OP posts:
HercShipwright · 11/04/2014 11:17

samand Yes, Diploma is a whole different ballgame! Grin It's fun though. DD1 is enjoying working towards the first level.

DD2 is doing grade 5 singing next term, plus grade 5 recorder (but Trinity) and Grade 4 flute (end of April). She's working on grade 3 theory workbooks at the moment, I'd really like her to power through but I can't see her being beyond grade 4 by the summer which is a shame as I'd ideally have liked her to have got grade 5 theory out of the way before she changes school.

LilyBolero · 11/04/2014 21:23

Hercshipwright, remember also the theory exam is usually just after 1/2 term, so could be only a few weeks away, and it is well worth doing lots of past papers to get the hang of exactly what is being asked, and the tricks they throw in to catch you out.

LilyBolero · 11/04/2014 21:25

Just looked for you, the exam date for next term is 14/6 so I would think you would be pushing it!!

JulieMichelleRobinson · 12/04/2014 00:06

Music medals have been moderated and thankfully no change from my comments (including awarding a pass for pieces played entirely out of tune!), which means that all three girls have gained their copper. There's no option to pass "with excellence" at this level. One of the fiddlers may be considered for prep test next term depending on how hard she works over the holidays, otherwise we'll be aiming for bronze.

Original poster
Wafflenose · 12/04/2014 11:45

Well done to you, and to them, JMR. I am still waiting to hear about mine.

I did the Music Medals training a year ago, and have since entered 56 candidates, I think. (I need a lie down!) Another 11 planned for next term. Around 25 each have done copper and bronze - many of these were the same child, twice - and a few have done silver, and DD1 did Gold on Treble because she was jealous of all her friends proudly wearing the badges on their school jumpers!

One of the ones I'm waiting for is DD2's Bronze (aged 5). She has just started her Initial pieces ready for the beginning of June.

OP posts:
singinggirl · 14/04/2014 14:15

My two students who turned up for/ completed their piano exams passed with 118/117 respectively. The 118 was mark for mark what I had predicted in my mock exam (Grade 1) so nice to know I'm judging accurately. The 117 Grade 4 unfortunately had a breakdown and restart on her last piece (her best) which knocked her down from the merit she should have had, but at least they're through! DS1 has just told me he's not bothered about trying for a distinction in his Grade 5 violin in the summer though, since apparently 'Three grade 5 merits in a school year sounds cool'. Another excuse not to practice!