Scales Exam Disaster Options

[mozzer]

Hi, just did my grade 5 sax exam and completely messed up all the scales I was asked. This was purely down to pressure/nerves (which had been builing up) as I pretty much knew them all.

Probably only got 3 right out of all of them and couldn't even play my chromatic (which i normally fly through) and a number of other major/minor scales as my head was shot...which is also what i told the exminer. My fingers honestly froze to the keys.

As I was now in a state of shock i got through my aural tests in a daze with little concentration, so my only hope is to gain decent marks from my sight reading and pieces which went ok.

I've been playing for a year in my bedroom only, have no musical background, have a lesson once a week and passed grade 3 in June with a merit.

This is not meant to be a boast. My purpose in posting (my first) is to pass on my thoughts and I now feel that doing only a grade a year probably makes a lot of sense.

I feel my non stop practicing over the last six months (in order to pass the grades) was to much and eventually contributed to what I can only describe as a black out during my scale test.

I now share a significant ammount of empathy with anybody doing grades and will think long and hard before doing any more. My Mrs has also told me that she will leave me if I do take any more...there's a thought.

[sbhoa]

Too bad you felt that you didn't do yourself justice in the exam.
You may find that it didn't come across quite as badly as you imagine. Examiners can tell the difference between bad preparation and bad nerves.

You may be right about intensive practice to grade 5 in a year being a contributory factor. Some things need more time to consolidate. Take this experience as a guide to what needs more steady work. And remember that music is not about who can get through exams the fastest, it's about enjoying playing. If you don't play with others is there a local band of some sort you could play with?

[saxophile]

Sympathy for what must have been a pretty horrible experience; however, remember the pieces are the lion's share of the marks, and even if you mangled the scales you will still have got some marks for them - you can only get 0 if you don't play at all! (I'd wait for the results before assuming the worst, anyway.)

It sounds to me like you've put yourself under too much pressure, and it has had the inevitable result. In your shoes, I'd work on consolidating technique, improving tone quality and building repertoire for a bit (and like sbhoa says, maybe finding an ensemble to play with). There aren't any prizes for getting to Grade 8 within two years of starting a new instrument (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) .

In terms of exam technique, I can't really speak from experience, since I've only done a couple of grades on sax since I took it up, but my teacher has always advocated keeping the sax down from your mouth in between scales. His take on it is that the time taken to lift your sax to position and form your embouchure gives you that bit of extra reaction time between hearing the scale requested and starting to play, which helps you get your brain in gear to play the scale. (Also - how fast were you trying to take the scales? Even at Gr5, the recommended speeds aren't super-fast. Better to take them a bit more slowly but play them cleanly and accurately than to go for lightning speed and mess up...)

[fsharpminor]

I once scored 3 marks only for Grade 2 scales when I was about 7 yrs old ! Still passed though, and forgot it quite quickly.

[mozzer]

Thanks for the replies which make a lot of sense. My purpose in taking the grades (which my tutor suggested as I'd never heard of them) was an attempt to break into musical areas that were new to me in order to for once and for all realise an ambition of learning how to play an instrument...something that i've always longed to do and admired greatly in others.

I bought the sax 27 years ago aged nineteen and barring two one month periods in that time where i took a few lessons ( aged 19 and then 30) it 's pretty much been in the attic.

This time last year I was going to sell it and it was whilst giving it a good clean that i decided to give it one last bash and have been blasting away in the back bedroom since.

I'll be honest and say that regardless of the exam result I intend to keep playing and hope that I've broken the back of it and that it is now more than a passing phase, but i'm not sure where I go from hear.

As I said I have no musical background, don't know any musicians (other than my tutor who is great) and neither myself or my tutor know of any local bands, ensembles (if that's the correct word) that would cater for my ability level, age, etc etc. I live in the South Wales Valleys and whilst there are plenty of choirs there are not so many gatherings for beginner saxophone players.

I'm really not sure whether I can continue to progress by just playing at home or do I have to join some sort of band...if any exist. Or, is it still to early in my development to consider playing with some kind of group....as you can tell I'm a bit cofused but would appreciate your views.

[katemorrisviolin]

Huge sympathy, totally understand and have suffered similar many times. I believe being able to perform in unfamiliar surroundings to another person is a specific skill that needs practicing just as much as knowing your pieces and scales inside out. I'm sure you'll get a decent pass if everything else was ok.
I have the same problem feeling isolated with my violin playing. I'm not good enough to inflict my playing on an amateur orchestra. Maybe a bit of networking with local teachers to put you in touch with other players, and a note in your local music shop, appealing for duet buddies, may yield some contacts. I'm psyching myself up to do just that at the moment...

[Blackbird77]

Can totally sympathise with the scales thing but.....you may not have done as badly as you think. I did G5 flute in the summer, pieces were ok, then fell apart with the scales, loads of false starts and I even mucked up the "easy" one - but I still got a good pass.

You mention you are in South Wales - I know there is a woodwind band which I think accepts beginners in that area. Also, have you considered attending a forum event? They're great for meeting other learners and getting performing experience - I think there is an event being planned for Cardiff next year so that might be something to aim towards?

[mozzer]

Can totally sympathise with the scales thing but.....you may not have done as badly as you think. I did G5 flute in the summer, pieces were ok, then fell apart with the scales, loads of false starts and I even mucked up the "easy" one - but I still got a good pass.

You mention you are in South Wales - I know there is a woodwind band which I think accepts beginners in that area. Also, have you considered attending a forum event? They're great for meeting other learners and getting performing experience - I think there is an event being planned for Cardiff next year so that might be something to aim towards?

Hi, thanks for the info...I live in the valleys which are about 20 miles from Cardiff/Newport and 30 miles from Swansea but would be interested in the name/contact details of the woodwind band you mentioned.

Had a bad experiece at the start of my musical journey last Nov when I attended an adult jazz class in Newport but just stood there while everyone played with the sax in my mouth but not blowing as it was to difficult for me...not their fault but it put me off a bit and since then I've just played at home.

Could you possibly direct me to an area of this forum/site where i could read more about the event you mentioned as it sounds interesting, but again I'm mindful of getting out of my depth. Thanks

[sbhoa]

Could you possibly direct me to an area of this forum/site where i could read more about the event you mentioned as it sounds interesting, but again I'm mindful of getting out of my depth. Thanks

There's nothing definite up for Cardiff yet but if you keep an eye on the Events board you will see what's coming up.
As for being out of your depth generally forum events and Adult Learner events are not likely to be a problem. They mostly provide the opportunity to meet other learners and to play at your own level to a friendly, supportive audience. Some events have a big ensemble you can join in but music will be chosen to accommodate the levels and experience of those taking part.
Playdays are similarly planned so that people are able to play and enjoy the music whatever level they are.

Thanks for the replies which make a lot of sense. My purpose in taking the grades (which my tutor suggested as I'd never heard of them) was an attempt to break into musical areas that were new to me in order to for once and for all realise an ambition of learning how to play an instrument...something that i've always longed to do and admired greatly in others.


I'm really not sure whether I can continue to progress by just playing at home or do I have to join some sort of band...if any exist. Or, is it still to early in my development to consider playing with some kind of group....as you can tell I'm a bit cofused but would appreciate your views.

It's absolutely not necessary to take exams as part of learning to play an instrument. Exams are a way of marking progress for those who wish to do them. You can become an advanced player without taking any exams at all.

You can continue to progress just taking your lessons and practising at home as advised by your teacher.
Availability of groups to play with varies around the country. I'm lucky in having been able to play with a community orchestra from very early on in my clarinet playing.

[balu114]

I understand your situation and it is very similar to mine.

I overblew my Clarinet because of the nerves in the exam and squeeked (a hideous noise) randomly and I thought I might not even pass but I did! So hopefully, you will pass your exam too.

I am also from a non-musical background and before I started learning music, couldn't read a note or distinguish one instrument from other. And the only person I play with is my teacher (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I have been thinking about putting an ad in my local music shop's (the kind that sells instruments) bulletin board or on gumtree to form an amateur ensemble but could never bring myself to do it (lack of confidence). You could do something like that!

Perhaps, you could ask your teacher to introduce any of his/her adult student?

All the best for your grade results and musical journey!

[Celloman26]

Hi, just did my grade 5 sax exam and completely messed up all the scales I was asked. This was purely down to pressure/nerves (which had been builing up) as I pretty much knew them all.

Probably only got 3 right out of all of them and couldn't even play my chromatic (which i normally fly through) and a number of other major/minor scales as my head was shot...which is also what i told the exminer. My fingers honestly froze to the keys.

As I was now in a state of shock i got through my aural tests in a daze with little concentration, so my only hope is to gain decent marks from my sight reading and pieces which went ok.

I've been playing for a year in my bedroom only, have no musical background, have a lesson once a week and passed grade 3 in June with a merit.

This is not meant to be a boast. My purpose in posting (my first) is to pass on my thoughts and I now feel that doing only a grade a year probably makes a lot of sense.

I feel my non stop practicing over the last six months (in order to pass the grades) was to much and eventually contributed to what I can only describe as a black out during my scale test.

I now share a significant ammount of empathy with anybody doing grades and will think long and hard before doing any more. My Mrs has also told me that she will leave me if I do take any more...there's a thought.

You have my sympathy, Mozzer.
Did my grade 5 cello yesterday, pieces were OK. First scale was a car crash, really bad intonation and totally out of tune - I just painted on a big smile and carried on! Goodness only knows what the examiner thought. Rest of scales were slightly better, I think. Lord only knows how I did. When I was younger I always did badly in scales, particularly in Clarinet Grade 8 when I didn't even bother to learn them! Still scraped a merit in the end, so I suspect not all is lost for you. I would urge you to find a local band to join, as I'm certain it would do you a lot of good. I live in London, so not able to help in your serach, but wish you all the best and please don't give up!

[barry-clari]

I once scored 3 marks only for Grade 2 scales when I was about 7 yrs old ! Still passed though, and forgot it quite quickly.

These days, unless you play nothing, the minimum score you can get for scales is 7. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[TSax]

It's absolutely not necessary to take exams as part of learning to play an instrument. Exams are a way of marking progress for those who wish to do them. You can become an advanced player without taking any exams at all.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

I've never taken a sax exam, since starting to play about 17 years ago (at the age of 26). It's been an on and off journey for me too - the sax lived under the bed for a good couple of years when I first moved to London. I play to a pretty decent standard for an amateur these days though.

[mozzer]

I once scored 3 marks only for Grade 2 scales when I was about 7 yrs old ! Still passed though, and forgot it quite quickly.

These days, unless you play nothing, the minimum score you can get for scales is 7. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Well thanks for that barry-clari...thats put a smile on my face. I did attempt most of them with the exception of my cast iron banker "chromatic starting on Eb" which I got spot on every time I played it in practice but froze on the day.

Therefore if you get a min of 7 marks for just trying, and given that I think I got at least 3 other scales spot on (one major, a diminished and a dominant), I may get 10 marks...which might scrape me a pass overall !

Hang on a bit, I'm starting to sound optimistic so it was worth posting afterall...many thanks to all. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[katica]

Welcome to the Forums, mozzer!

Good for you for taking up the sax again. I do hope your exam result is better than you expect...

Too bad about playing opportunities in the Valleys. I don't live in the UK but I have sort of been looking at the Welsh valleys as an area to return to, if I ever do (despite not actually being Welsh and nearest family connection being Monmouthshire). Not that there are many oboe teachers there, either, though there is a very good oboist who lives the other side of the Brecon Beacons. If I ever move back then at least we'd be two...