Grade Pieces, how long should it take to get a grade piece right Options

[monkey flute]

hi i am aiming to do grade 5 in april i havent taken a exam before and wondered if i have bitten off more than i can chew my teacher thinks i will be fine and suggested this level

just wondered how long people normally take on each grade piece to get it to the exam standard they are happy with

also when learning a piece should i play by myself or use the cd that comes with the book i have played along with the cd (nearly!!!) but feel the cd makes up for my mistakes and that i am rushing to keep up with the cd i dont have to decide to early jan on which grade i chose to do either 4 or 5

also how many marks ae a pass for a grade 5

thanks in advance
monkey flute (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

[_rai_]

everyone's "standard of performance" is different! it's hard to generalize the "perfection" period, as it widely differs. Some people find the pieces easier as they might like the pieces, stronger in technique mainly required for the piece, etc.

Therefore, it might range from like 2 weeks to 6 months or so!

well, if you're rushing to keep up with the CD accompaniment, and your mistakes are glaringly apparent (or even if they're just still there), don't use it. The more you use it, the more your mistakes will be aggravated.

And the pass / merit / distinction marks are the same for all grades for all instruments. 100 for pass, 120 for merit, and 130 for distinction.

Good luck! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy.gif)

[Deborah]

when learning a piece should I play by myself or use the cd that comes with the book? I have played along with the cd (nearly!!!) but feel the cd makes up for my mistakes and that I am rushing to keep up with the cd. I don't have to decide to early Jan on which grade I chose to do (either 4 or 5)

The CD is a whole thread or six in itself, monkey_flute. Don't forget that the interpretation on the CD is just one person's view on how the work should be played, and this view will include the tempo. To illustrate the point, the fourth movement of the first Brahms clarinet sonata clocks in at 4m 48s on the 2000-2003 Grade VII CD, but 5m 40s on the 2004-2007 CD. Similarly, the Scherzo from the Hurlstone Four Characteristic Pieces takes 3m 47s on the earlier CD and 4m 13s on the more recent one.

You may feel that the work should be played a little slower than the CD, which is fine (but up to a point - no point playing at crotchet = 30 when the work is entitled Allegro Molto!).

Don't forget that as you improve, you will be able to play the work quicker.

As for the CDs themselves, they're no substitute for a real live accompanist, but can be a really useful learning tool. I find them great for getting used to the harmonies underneath what I'm playing, identifying when the piano part is more important than mine and what to listen out for during my silent bars, but the fact that I can't alter from the given tempo is frustrating.

I haven't heard you play, so can't advise on which exam to take - one to discuss with your flute teacher! Whatever you decide, good luck , and don't forget that the Adult Learners' concert can be a great venue for performing pieces before an exam.

[superflute]

So long as you practise all your scales well, and you've had plenty of practise at sight-reading and aural, you should be fine. Again, as other people have said, the time it takes to learn pieces does vary, but as much as it is important to learn them, you also have to be careful not to overplay them as they won't come across as well.

[thomxxx]

it's all true.. there are quite alot of scales to learn if you haven't done any grades before, but you will be absoutely fine! grade 5 was my first flute exam, and it turned out well =].