Students' Exams, Anyone attend? Options

[Appassionata]

I make every effort to be there. I often accompany my pupils and therefore have no choice! I once drove 150 miles to be with a pupil for her exam!

[jm-hamilton]

Not usually, but the last couple of times I have gone, but only because I was free with nothing else particularly to do. The centre's only 5 minutes from me so it wasn't far to go.

[andante_in_c]

Interesting reading the responses. Piano teachers seem less likely to go, because there is no need, whereas instrumental and singing teachers who also accompany are used to going because of that.

I make every effort to attend nowadays. I used not to, but I've found in general that it helps the pupils to have a friendly face there. I have also been there to supply music and a flute when necessary, and a tuner to help them get set up reasonably well before they go in. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

My first flute teacher used to accompany me, and I felt much happier about exams because she was there too.

[x-music-fairy-x]

Hey,

I know i'm not a teacher but I would like to just say one thing.
I personally like my teachers being there it just makes me feel more relaxed about the exam. I've always been glad to see them there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Also 'most' of the teachers I have had, have been there for my exam and have never accompanied me, they have just been there for support. None of them have ever charged for being there.

Anyway just my opinion


Lisa x

[madbassoonist]

I'm not a teacher either, but my piano teacher has never come to any of my exams (5 of them). With my clarinet exam a school music teacher did the accompanying (and didn't charge for it), since it was a school visit, and my clari teacher couldn't make it.

I think it's better without your actual teacher being there, except maybe for very young children or those taking their first exam, because then they won't be able to say afterwards "well piece A went well but piece B went wrong here and here", which could make the pupil more worried about their results. I know it would for me. I don't even like it when the parent who's picking me up asks "so how did it go? how well do you think you've done?" all the way home in the car!

Nick (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Clare1986]

I've only ever attended when I've been accompanying as I'm usually busy with other teaching at work. However, with all my higher grade college students who are leaving this year, I'm planning on attending their exams for moral support if I'm not teaching. The preparation for their exams has felt more like a joint effort at times so I'd like to be able to support them!

[sbhoa]

My piano teacher was with me for my grade 1 clarinet exam as my accompanist.
That was sort of weird!

For my grade 5 clarinet I'll have my clarinet teacher as accompanist.
For the few piano exams I've done my teachers have never been there and I think it's pretty uncommon with piano.
I've not attended any of the exams my piano students have done.

[sunshimmer]

I don't normally attend pupils exams as I think it would make the pupil more nervous, and I don't usually have the time to go. I think preparation is important, and always make sure the pupil knows what to expect for the day of the exam. As someone has already mentioned, I think the pupil should be supported by parents/family/friends on the day of the exam rather than a teacher. However, I accept that there are sometimes circumstances in which it would be good for the teacher to attend - it depends on the situation.

[bobziekins]

I've only done one exam, grade 3 flute, and my teacher came because she was accompanying me. It was great having her there though, for moral support, to convince me that it would all be ok. And also, having a familiar face in the room with the scary examiner.

Mum was talking to my piano teacher who was giving us the details of the exam, and mum said "Right, so we'll meet you there then". My teacher said "What? Oh no, I won't be coming." I said "WHAT?!" Because I didn't even think about needing a piano accompaniment. She said "Well, it's got nothing to do with me really" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

But this year we're taking my flute teacher to the exam centre, and giving her a lift (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Because she's blind and can't drive, and there's no public transport on a Sunday ( (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) she specifically said any day BUT Sunday)

[Alder]

I attend exams if I can - it's not always possible. It's probably because my own teacher did, and it was the one thing about her that I liked... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

It obviously depends on parents/pupils etc, but I try to be there to make soothing noises and remind them that it's not the end of the world if anything goes wrong, and for those who like that sort of thing - chew the exam over a bit when it's over.

Also, my pupils were the last ones in before lunch last week, so I was able to stick my head out the waiting room and hear my last pupil's pieces quite clearly, and it was a good feeling myself to be able to listen to him making a pretty good job of them and think, "I taught him how to do that!" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Beclarinet]

I have four students doing exams next week... two first timers (grade 1) and two who have done other exams.

I had a phone call from the parents of one of the g1s last week saying that unless I was there to accompany him they would pull him out! (Apparently he couldn't go into the exam room with complete strangers - which I think is a little odd - he is 8 after all...)

I had originally told all of them I wouldn't be able to accompany them and made arrangements for someone else to do it, but after that phone call, which somewhat threw me, I rearranged my schedule to fit them in. It means missing a few rehearsals, but I felt so guilty that the child wouldn't be able to do his exam that I couldn't see another way around it.

Did I do the right thing?!

[Louise H]

I had originally told all of them I wouldn't be able to accompany them and made arrangements for someone else to do it, but after that phone call, which somewhat threw me, I rearranged my schedule to fit them in. It means missing a few rehearsals, but I felt so guilty that the child wouldn't be able to do his exam that I couldn't see another way around it.

Did I do the right thing?!

I think only you can say whether you have done the right thing as you know the child/pupil but I would probably have considered arranging things if possible. I have a pupil doing Grade 1 in a couple of weeks and the plan was originally that I would go with her if I could arrange it. I had asked her if she would like me to be there as a) it is her first exam and b) my piano teacher was usually there when I took exams which I appreciated a lot. Unfortunately the date came through for a Friday (school peri day) and bang in the middle of the day, so I could not rearrange or miss a whole day's teaching because I wouldn't be able to give the full number of lessons for the term. I did contact the board concerned to see if there was an alternative but in the end we decided to stick with the given time as it gives her an extra lesson the day before the exam.

I remember my piano teacher usually asked for exams to be in the school half term week so she was free to be there or she arranged things so she could be there. I think it also made it easier for her to plan/know that all exam pupils would have their exams in that same week. I've noticed that exam periods don't seem to be in half term weeks any more - at least they haven't been when I've looked at dates for specific pupils and I haven't entered more than one at a time so far.


Louise

[Beclarinet]

I would normally accompany all my pupils and had my fingers crossed that it wouldn't clash with my end of degree opera rehearsals, which would have been a nightmare to get out of. In the end it turns out I was meant to be in another 'easier to get out of' rehearsal.

I guess I just felt that the parents were being a a little difficult!
I did consider standing my ground, as in some ways I feel that its not up to me to babysit pupils in exams. The child is 8 and will have to do an exam on his own at somepoint! (What would they have done if I didn't play the piano?!)

[sbhoa]

I had a phone call from the parents of one of the g1s last week saying that unless I was there to accompany him they would pull him out! (Apparently he couldn't go into the exam room with complete strangers - which I think is a little odd - he is 8 after all...)

Would it be a complete stranger though?
Isn't it usually a good idea to have at least one (and preferably more than one) rehearsal with the accompanist?

[Susie]

As a pupil I had 2 teachers with completely different approaches. One was always there for us and one let us go on our own. I absolutely hated having the teacher there. If I wanted to be quiet or turn pale or twitch I wanted to do it by myself.

And until recently I've usually not attended exams of my pupils. Sometimes it's simply not possible because I've been teaching. However, I had a teenager do an exam recently with a couple of little ones as well. I planned to go along (not strictly necessary being a piano teacher) because one of the little ones is extremely scatty and I feared she might even forget her music! Anyway, I'm quite friendly with the teenager's mum, and when the girl was in doing the exam the mum said that they'd had a talk in the car on the way and when the girl realised that I was going to be there, she visibly relaxed. I really didn't do anything apart from smile, remind her to take some deep breaths and enjoy it, but she came out with a merit which was a huge improvement on her previous exam when she had been really nervous.

So to quote a different thread, it's all down to the individual. But I think I shall enquire in future just in case pupils don't really want my good intentions.