Just did my DipABRSM exam...what are my chances of passing? Options

[Bernard Szeto]

Hi all,

I just did my DipABRSM examination re-take in the recital section. I failed by two last time despite a complete stoppage in my Brahms Ballade (Op. 118 No. 3).

This time, I don't think I did much better. I had multiple small slips in the Bach Prelude (BWV 874) where I did not stop, but a fairly solid Fugue. There were some minor slips in my first and third movements of Mozart K. 570 (partly due to page turns), but had a cleanly played Adagio 2nd movement.

I managed to keep my Chopin (Op. 62 No. 2) fairly together, but had a few delayed/early entries in my left hand. Again, I did not stop, and managed to shape everything.

My Brahms Ballade was much better this time. I kept the book open on the first two pages to prevent the stop (had a brief slip but did not go back). I memorized the rest and did not refer to the book. Dynamics were there, but there were some left hand inaccuracies (this piece is notorious for missed landings!)

What are my chances of getting the PASS? I really don't want to have to redo this again!!!! The travel (I live in Toronto - had to go to LA, and then Vancouver this time) is costly and time-consuming!

[anacrusis]

Slips don't necessarily cost you the diploma - certainly I can't play error-free, and appear to have a dip or two: you give some sense of the less technical side, but....what was your sense of how each piece hung together in itself? Was the musical meaning there, and a sense of flow and continuity beyond the errors? If you think you communicated that, then you may well find that the result is fine, though only time will tell. Commiserations for the long wait, that's the real bugbear for all candidates who are worrying about the outcome (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thereThere.gif).

Never compare a live performance to a recording, by the way: compare like with like. I've been to many concerts in which highly accomplished performers, way above my level, have made errors: I notice the ones in pieces I know well far more readily than others, and even then, often only a bar or two after the mistake has been made, when I think, um, hangonamo....that wasn't right.

[Bernard Szeto]

Slips don't necessarily cost you the diploma - certainly I can't play error-free, and appear to have a dip or two: you give some sense of the less technical side, but....what was your sense of how each piece hung together in itself? Was the musical meaning there, and a sense of flow and continuity beyond the errors? If you think you communicated that, then you may well find that the result is fine, though only time will tell. Commiserations for the long wait, that's the real bugbear for all candidates who are worrying about the outcome (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thereThere.gif).

Never compare a live performance to a recording, by the way: compare like with like. I've been to many concerts in which highly accomplished performers, way above my level, have made errors: I notice the ones in pieces I know well far more readily than others, and even then, often only a bar or two after the mistake has been made, when I think, um, hangonamo....that wasn't right.

Hi Anacrusis,

I have to admit that the Prelude was a little bit dry in terms of the musical ebb and flow, but the Fugue was fully shaped and singing. In the Mozart, I was quick to get right back up to play and keep the continuity on the 1st and 3rd part. I really put a lot of shaping into the second movement, as well as making the rubatos less routine on the Chopin (my major failing last time). The Ballade, I kept together, but had a deer-in-headlights moment that I managed to pull out of.

[vee]

Hi Bernard

From what you've described, it sounds like you've done much better than last time, where you mentioned that you came had to come to a complete stop in Brahms, but could somehow piece it all together this time- thats good news

Its heartening to know from anacrusis that a couple of slips will not cost the Dip. I'm currently preparing for my ATCL and with the exam just about 4 weeks away, I'm getting increasingly nervous. I've also asked for advice on my programme and tips on taking the exam in a differerent thread and have been especially concerned on the number of "allowable" slips or errors that you can get away with at this level.

My flubs keep popping up at different places every time I play, so apart from some sections where I know I need more practice, these involuntary ones are hard to pin down. I truly hope these keep to the minimum on exam day because I can't correct them !

One of the issues I'm having is transitioning from an upright to a grand. My own piano is upright- but the exam piano is a concert grand. I've been trying to practice at the centre's exam piano for the last couple of weeks, to get a feel of the piano and its really helped. The first day was a disaster, though.Starting from the posiiton of the music rest, which seemed to loom way above my head as compared to right in front of my nose on my good old upright, nothing seemed to go right. I couldn't read from score and play at the same time- I was hitting wrong notes because I wasn't used to the distance of the music score from the keyboard. I finally went away with a crick in my neck and a raging headache from a stressed out , disastrous session. I've since then partially solved the problem by memorising the scores for 3 of my pieces and have seen some improvement ( The crick in my neck has gone away (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) )

Good luck to you on your Dip - I'm sure you'll make it this time.