despite the best efforts of a sympathetic and well-organised teacher, many students feel consumed with anxiety when approaching their music exams
Category: Exams
Why do you want to take a piano exam?
This a question I believe we as teachers should all be asking our pupils. It came up in conversation between myself and my friend and teaching colleague Rebecca, and we agreed that in future all students should be asked to consider this question. Why? Because it is all too easy for teachers to become complacent… Continue reading Why do you want to take a piano exam?
Grade exams don’t make musicians
She can certainly play the 2015-16 [Grade 8] syllabus pieces A-C brilliantly......Can she play anything else? I’ll get back to you on that. This is a quote from an article about graded music exams by journalist Rosie Millard, who, by her own admission, is "a pushy music parent" when it comes to her children's music… Continue reading Grade exams don’t make musicians
Celebrate every pass, merit and distinction
Now is the season of piano teachers up and down the country expectantly waiting for the sound of exam results dropping through the letterbox or into their email inbox. The summer season for graded music exams is the busiest and results are coming in thick and fast. It is cheering to see from colleagues' posts… Continue reading Celebrate every pass, merit and distinction
Trinity College of London new piano syllabus – an overview
In July 2014 the new Trinity College of London (TCL) piano grade exam syllabus was released. I have enjoyed teaching the TCL syllabus and my students have enjoyed learning the pieces: some highlights of the previous syllabus include Fanfare for the Common Cold (Grade 2), Allegro Non Troppo (Grade 2), Song of Twilight (Grade 3)… Continue reading Trinity College of London new piano syllabus – an overview
Be prepared! Getting ready for your piano exam
Here is some advice to help you prepare for your piano exam, at whatever level. You should aim to be ready for your exam at least two weeks ahead of the exam date. By this time, your pieces will be thoroughly learnt and finessed, and your technical work (scales and arpeggios, technical exercises etc) should… Continue reading Be prepared! Getting ready for your piano exam
Keeping exam repertoire fresh
With exams looming this term, students may be feeling as if they have been living with their exam pieces for aeons. I remember this feeling well, the same pieces of music facing me at my lessons, week after week..... Nothing beats being well prepared for an exam: knowing your repertoire inside out, being entirely secure… Continue reading Keeping exam repertoire fresh
Aural Masterclass Part 2 – Cadences
Cadences are the punctuation marks in music (see my earlier post on Musical Punctuation Marks). Some cadences are very final (.) while others pause for only a moment (,). Some introduce the performer/listener to a new idea or section in the music (:), others leave the listener wanting more (....). Cadences can asks questions (?),… Continue reading Aural Masterclass Part 2 – Cadences
Aural Masterclass Part 1 – Intervals
The first in an occasional series of posts to help students prepare for aural tests. Understanding intervals is an important aspect of playing and studying music, and this is why music exams test candidates on their knowledge of intervals. An interval is the distance between one note and another, and is always described as a… Continue reading Aural Masterclass Part 1 – Intervals
Music exams can be limitations instead of goals
As the Simon Bolivar Orchestra and Gustavo Dudamel arrive in the UK at the start of the Cultural Oympiad, Canadian blogger and music writer John Terauds ponders the usefulness of graded music exams and how to keep the spark of passion to learn music alive. More here Music exams can be limitations instead of goals.… Continue reading Music exams can be limitations instead of goals
A Piano Teacher Writes... 