Exam Warm-up, (as in "try out piano") Options

[skylark]

Will the examiner ask me if I want to try out the piano first or will I need to ask?

I think I'd get about a minute from what I can gather. Does it matter what you do, ie could I do some broken chords - I can do them quite easily after the first one but I sometimes stumble on the first one. I know practising should help, but after the first one, I don't have any further trouble so I can't replicate the problem by practising. So it would help to get the first one out of the way in the minute's warm up if that would be allowed?

Alternatively, any advice on how I can overcome stumbling on the first one would be appreciated!

[DocOx]

I would hope that one can try the piano, if anything at least for a few seconds.

I have a digital piano and it has nothing to do with a (mini-)grand piano (like the one of my teacher). The first time I played my teacher's piano, I couldn't get a sound out of it! I was pressing the keys in the same way I do on my digital piano and that was just not enough. So, if anything, this is for me the kind of thing I will want to check before my exam.

Skylark, you are going to take your grade 1 piano? If so, we are in the same boat. About broken chords, why are you stumbling? Is that because you can't remember the broken chord itself or 'just' your fingers messing up? If the former, what I usually do (and the same with the scales, especially the minor ones, since I have decided to practice both the melodic and harmonic ones) is to mentally/visually play the broken chord before actually playing it. This ensures, for me at least, that not only do I get things right, but also acts as some kind of safety net for me (I feel more confident knowing exactly what I am supposed to play).

[Mini_mo]

Will the examiner ask me if I want to try out the piano first or will I need to ask?

I think I'd get about a minute from what I can gather. Does it matter what you do, ie could I do some broken chords - I can do them quite easily after the first one but I sometimes stumble on the first one. I know practising should help, but after the first one, I don't have any further trouble so I can't replicate the problem by practising. So it would help to get the first one out of the way in the minute's warm up if that would be allowed?

Alternatively, any advice on how I can overcome stumbling on the first one would be appreciated!

Hi Skylark, I was allowed warm up time of 1 scale, hardly a minute! The idea was that I did perhaps the weakest scale then I would be asked to do that! Saying that the warm up scale was fine and the rest were not!

So yes I think your approach is a good tactic. I would say that I found I had keyboard blindness (even with the beta blockers (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif) ) so it might be a good idea to test your scale/broken chords in a pressured environment! Although I am sure you wont have the same problem as I did. You appeared really confident when you played at the Cottage. Go for it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

By the way I thought my examiner was very nice and as I said it was my first exam she tended to guide me through the process, by saying, you can warm up at this point etc etc.

[morceau]

Well, everyone with portable instruments has usually been warming up like mad in the waiting room, so I would ask if you can warm up - they are hardly going to say no! and then sound a couple of chords to get the measure of the weight of the keys and do your broken chord to warm up.

I would never just sit down at an unfamiliar piano and play it straight off - you need some warning about the character of the keyboard. For this reason I would always recommend doing scales before the pieces in a piano exam.

Also, I understood that if you mess up a scale badly, then the examiner may ask you to play a few more, just to see if it was a one off or not. So, if one broken chord goes wrong, you may find that you get another chance. I could be mistaken - perhaps someone will confirm this or not.

To overcome the error in the first broken chord have you tried visualizing the pattern before you begin. Do a mental broken chord, and try to hear it in your mind. See what happens.

Good luck in your exam, Skylark.

[skylark]

Skylark, you are going to take your grade 1 piano? If so, we are in the same boat. About broken chords, why are you stumbling? Is that because you can't remember the broken chord itself or 'just' your fingers messing up?

Yes, it's Grade 1 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I've pondered on why I have the problem, which is mainly just with the left hand. I think it's because I can't see very well where my fingers are landing with the left hand. So after I've done one, even though I still can't see my fingers very well, I suppose muscle memory takes over and I'm alright after that. Hmm, that's not good is it, put like that... so yes it's a good idea to do the mental visualisation, and that's something I can do without the keyboard whenever I've got a spare moment.

Thanks for the replies, and good luck to you in your exam, DocOx (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[eldatom]

Hi Skylark
When I had my exam I was given the opportunity to have a try of the piano, it just consisted of one scale. I know that in some places there is a piano in the exam waiting area, although not the same piano but at least you get the chance to warm up. Unfortunately, where I had mine there was not this facility available, which I think would have been great.

Sometimes you can ask the venue if you can go and try out the piano beforehand, again where I had mine this was not possible as they hire in the pianos for a week at a time from the local piano shop.

I am sure that you will be fine though, good luck, have you put in for it?

ET

[DocOx]

Yes, it's Grade 1 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Just out of curiosity, which pieces are you doing? (A1, B3 and C2 for me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif))

I've pondered on why I have the problem, which is mainly just with the left hand. I think it's because I can't see very well where my fingers are landing with the left hand. So after I've done one, even though I still can't see my fingers very well, I suppose muscle memory takes over and I'm alright after that. Hmm, that's not good is it, put like that... so yes it's a good idea to do the mental visualisation, and that's something I can do without the keyboard whenever I've got a spare moment.

I guess we all have a hand that is weaker than the other. My left hand is certainly the one that is causing me most problems out of the two.

Something else that I noticed is that once my teacher asked me to do a scale with my left hand and I was completely confused. The reason was very simple: I always practiced my scales with the right hand first and then switching to the left, after each individual scale or broken chord. My left hand was therefore never used to start 'first'. I have therefore changed my practice and now, on odd days, I start my scales/broken chords with my right hand while with my left hand on even days, and now I don't have any problem with my left hand.

At the end of the day, I just keep coming up with little tricks like this which help me with my daily practice. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks for the replies, and good luck to you in your exam, DocOx (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks and to you too!

[scotliz]

I would explore if there is an opportunity to play the piano beforehand if possible. For the first time I was able to do this for my last exam. My duet partner (who was also doing an exam) and I went to the exam venue five times. We were able to play all our pieces and put in some duet practice too. It really made such a difference. The staff at the venue quite enjoyed our playing!

[Flossie]

Will the examiner ask me if I want to try out the piano first or will I need to ask?

I think I'd get about a minute from what I can gather. Does it matter what you do, ie could I do some broken chords - I can do them quite easily after the first one but I sometimes stumble on the first one. I know practising should help, but after the first one, I don't have any further trouble so I can't replicate the problem by practising. So it would help to get the first one out of the way in the minute's warm up if that would be allowed?

Alternatively, any advice on how I can overcome stumbling on the first one would be appreciated!

Skylark - won't you be doing your exam at the venue we use for the Leeds events? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) If so then you should be able to try the piano in the exam room out then and get a good feel for (we've got most of the day!), and they've got enough rooms that they must surely be able to provide a warm-up one. If this is the case, then you can use the bit at the start of the exam to help focus yourself e.g. for that pesky broken chord. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Would you like to do a run-through at Leeds? I'm happy to be audience or pretend to be an examiner if you think that either would be helpful. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Czerny]

Will the examiner ask me if I want to try out the piano first or will I need to ask?

I think I'd get about a minute from what I can gather...

If you're doing Grade 1 (which I think you are) your entire exam will only be about ten minutes long (and they time them to the nearest minute) so I don't think the examiner would expect you to be tinkering around for that quite long... Having said that, I'm sure you won't need to. A broken chord and the opening of your first piece - for example - should be fine. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Are you taking it this session?

[mel2]

Hi there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

It's sometimes a good idea to get the scales over with first in an exam if you are offered the choice; they don't need masses of expression and it gives you a chance to get the feel of the instrument before you launch into your prepared pieces.

Good luck in the exam.

[skylark]

Hi all

Yes, my exam is this coming session, at the college and I'll be able to try out the piano in advance. In fact I did that the other day whilst I was waiting for someone. It's difficult getting the right level of dynamics on a strange instrument, isn't it, particularly when a piece is only 40 seconds long and you can't build up familiarity (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) I'll have another session or two on it before the exam once I've got a date.

Just out of curiosity, which pieces are you doing? (A1, B3 and C2 for me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif))

I'm not sure yet - I've learnt quite a number of them, from some of the alternative books as well. I think I might wait until I've got a date before deciding which ones to do in the exam.

Would you like to do a run-through at Leeds? I'm happy to be audience or pretend to be an examiner if you think that either would be helpful. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'll probably do some of the pieces in the concert. It would be great if some time during the morning, you could pretend to be an examiner - let's liaise on the day (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)


Thanks for the good wishes (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)