Guidelines for the use of CD players
CD players are a central part of many candidates’ experience in ABRSM jazz exams. They are enormously helpful in providing a stylish accompaniment if an accompanist is not available.
However, CD players can also be a source of considerable anxiety and frustration on the day of your exam. In order that you can perform to the very best of your ability, make the most of every minute with the examiner and reduce exam stress, here are a few pointers on preparing and using CD players for your jazz exam. If some seem obvious, bear in mind that all have their origins in the recent experience of examiners in real exams.
Guidelines
- You are responsible for bringing your own accompaniment to the exam i.e. CD player and CD, or accompanist
- Ensure the CD player you use is reliable and can find tracks on your CD quickly
- Keep the technology as simple as possible so that carrying it in and out of the exam room is quick and convenient - one 13 amp socket will be available in UK centres; one local voltage socket will be available in International centres (you may need to bring an extension lead if you are concerned about the location of the player and power outlet)
- Ensure the mains lead is long enough to allow comfortable access to the CD player during the exam
- Remember to bring the correct CD
- Ensure the CD is clean and unscratched so that tracking errors are avoided
- Make a note of your track numbers before you go into the room as you may forget them in the exam itself - they are also to be found on the top left-hand corner of the first page of each tune
- Ensure you play the track with the ‘minus one’ version and not the one with the full performance
- Adjust the volume before you go into the exam room, so the music will be loud enough but not too loud - make a final, quick adjustment in the exam room if necessary
- Position the CD player so that you can get to the music stand quickly once your track has begun to play
- The tuning note is on track 16
- Remember to press the stop button at the end of each tune