yay for dd's piano exam..

[wintertimeisfun]

feel i can't mention it anywhere else as it sounds like i am bragging which i don't mean to, i am just proud but dd just got a distinction for her g5 piano (she is 10) and been playing since she was 7 :)

That's excellent. Are you thinking of auditioning for a specialist music school for her Y7?

Ace!

she's trying out for a couple of local private schools music scholarships but tbh she won't get one. each only has two to give away and we are up against some seriously hothoused kids. one we know ticks all the boxes for the more academic school (which we aren't trying for). we are more laid back with dd and have never pushed as i didn't want to risk her going off the instrument (it put me off when i was her age). it depends what the school is looking for ie she doesn't play in an orchestra and won't be playing a grade 8 piece when she does the auditions (this girl we know is the same grade as her but is learning a g8 piece to play whilst dd's teacher doesn't believe in doing that). dd will play either a couple of g5 pieces or possibly a g6 piece although she needs to learn one before jan. she also wants to sing and play an Adele piece which i doubt is of the norm but it comes from the heart (her) and not us/her teacher (plus she has a strong natural singing voice, worth a try :)

Oh yes - it's definitely worth a try. The 'g8' children won't necessarily be any better at the aural tests. Perhaps she could do singing as a second study? Or a wind instrument such as the oboe.

Good luck.

She sounds very naturally talented- a distinction in grade 5 after 3 years is excellent! Well done your DD! I would advise learning a grade 6 piece for the audition.

thanks ladies - she plays violin too (g4) and will do one piece on that. i would have thought that she will learn a g6 piece between september and jan when the auditions are. one of the schools she is trying out for hint at the fact that they aren't after hot housed kids pushed to do higher grades and are looking more for the 'natural' player. tbh she'll be happy wherever she ends up. i am quite grounded in that i think it highly unlikely she would be offered a scholarship due to high competition but one can only hope :)

Scholarship panels will also look for potential and musicality...her rate of progress is good so depending on other candidates, she may well have a good chance. If she loves her music and speaks about it enthusiastically and naturally she should do well. Does she take part in many musical ensembles such as choirs/orchestras/chamber groups? As she is not going to be presenting a particularly high level of piano playing, it would be good to show she has skills to contribute to the wider musical life of the school. Sadly pianists are less 'desirable' music scholars than those who play orchestral instruments to an equal standard...
All the best and hope she enjoys the experience of preparing and presenting.