Would you enter an exam if you thought........ Options

[Vicky Violin]

I would forget about your teacher (for the time being). Whether you pass or fail it will have no impact on her reputation. I'm afraid one little grade 5 exam (even yours!!) is just not that important. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Seriously, just go in there and enjoy yourself!!!

[balu114]

Is there any way one could find out the success rate of a teacher? Do you think ABRSM publishes lists for such things? I doubt it.

How would anyone know that your teacher has a "failed" student unless you or her share it with others? I don't understand how her reputation would be affected.

I guess your teacher is just trying to say that you are not ready for Grade 5 in a round about way?

My Driving Instructor used the same trick for not letting me take a driving test (I had been driving with him for 2 years!). He kept saying his pass percentage would go down. I then forced him to let me do a test and I failed. But I was not sorry as I knew what to expect for the next time. In my third attempt, I passed....

If nerves is the only hurdle, then I would suggest you should take the test with "have-a-go" mentality. Most likely you will PASS.

[Kmi]

I also suffer badly from nerves. I sat grade 5 last summer, and failed. The failure wasn't really because of nerves, but it was with hindsight the best thing that could have happened to me, as I realised that the world hadn't come to an end just because I'd failed an exam. I resat the exam 10 weeks later and passed.

The other thing which has helped me has been taking up the violin purely for fun. I have no intention of sitting exams , but have joined a fiddle group. Playing with other people has really helped to reduce my performance anxiety.

So my advice is sit the exam, and enjoy the experience!

[Blackbird77]

Both my teachers know I am badly affected by nerves and lack of confidence and I failed my last exam because of my nerves. I am the only student my teacher has who has failed an exam. There is nothing my teacher could have done that would have stopped me being so nervous. My head was in the wrong place at the wrong time and I failed.

So now I'm about to go through the whole exam thing again albeit with some "useful" comments from "friends". Why am I'm putting myself through this again? Because I have to prove to myself that I can beat my demons and get back on the horse, regardless of what happens with the results I am determined to go in and enjoy the experience.

I've found that playing in forum events has been fantastic - it's like being surrounded in a bubble of encouragement and support. Also both my teachers have put me in situations where I'm under pressure so I slowly get used to being out of my comfort zone.

Is there a family member or a good friend you can play in front of and act as a "mock" examiner so you get used to the idea of playing in front of someone. Also, don't focus on the "what ifs" and things that will go wrong. Focus on playing brilliantly, expressing your love of music and all the things that could go right but if a blip occurs, ignore it and carry on. Wear something that makes you feel great, prepare well, take good care of yourself and then go into the exam and smash it.

Good luck and have a fantastic exam.

[TERRIM]

Thank you so much for all your replies.

I do not know if any records are kept for different teachers and exam entries. When I challenged her and said she was slowing down and retiring soon anyway, she still did not want to have a failed pupil. But i think she understands my viewpoint in that the only way I can get over this is by doing the exam.

All the advice and stories are great to hear - even if I fail the exam, I will still retake it (I have one last chance on the pieces I have as new ones are out now).

My teacher has told me t go back to hands separate practise. She says she tells all her pupils this, regardless of how well they play. She said it really does help. I tried it today and my hands separate is not as good as my hands together. Makes my hands together seem like almost perfection!!

Has anyone else experienced this? I am inclined to be happy about this but should I be? I have no idea what this means in terms of how well my practise has been. My teacher is in hospital at the moment.

I am going to play on a church tomorrow in my lunch hour, in the hope there may be some people milling around......!

[sbhoa]

Some pieces really do need hands separate practice and some don't.
One reasoning is that if you can't play one hand alone then there will be some weakness when you put them together. It does tend to highlight what you don't know too well. If you've not done it or not for some time then finding it difficult is not unexpected.

[bassoonista]

Adults do suffer from nerves more than children, and the examiners know that. Each time I've done an exam, they've been at pains to put me at ease. Having said that, I use Rescue Remedy, which is easily available from Boots. I don't know if it works or if the effect is psychosomatic, but it helps.
If you play your pieces first, then you get to walk into the room with your accompanist, who hopefully is someone you trust, and can lean on to get you into the flow. I find the exam is over in the wink of an eye. Don't worry too much about the result...it's only a snapshot of those few minutes. You can come out with a great result, and if not, so what?

[Scooby Doo]

I think it is a fairly common experience that as you approach an exam, pieces that were previously well learned start to fall apart and develop new problems. One way through this is simply to take a break from them, but if you want to try and repair the damage, going back to slow, hands separately practice is a good way to take the pressure off and consolidate again before putting it all back together.

I’m really puzzled by all this talk of teachers' reputations - surely nobody is going to broadcast the fact that they failed an exam, and if they do, I would bet that they blame themselves for going to pieces with nerves or not doing enough work. I’ve never yet heard anybody fail an exam and blame the teacher, but maybe I lead a sheltered life. If you put enough people in for exams, eventually someone will fail, that’s life. A reputation is built on consistent successes not the occasional disaster. And any teacher who is overly concerned with their own reputation probably doesn’t have their students' best interests at heart.

I’ve taken beta-blockers for nerves (palpitations) a few times - they worked brilliantly and broke me out of the cycle of getting nervous - feeling ghastly - worrying that it would happen again and therefore bringing on more anxiety and palpitations. I’ve pretty much forgotten about it all now and it isn’t an issue any more. I believe in better living through chemistry!

[delicato]

Adults do suffer from nerves more than children, and the examiners know that.

I am not so sure about this - when i have gone for my exams --- i have seen children come out and start crying - where they were so nervous. Also seen them very distressed /nervous prior to going in to exam. Just an observation. I think children do suffer from nerves as well.

I think a drug-free approach is better -- as you do not learn to cope with the problem, just cover it up. Perhaps even get nasty side effects from drugs --- there are a lot of them. I would be more tempted to go down non-drug route. Especially do not take valium and alike!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
Perhaps - hypnotherapy etc.
P.S. milk/bananas etc don't do anything for me! ----just my luck!
Banana would be far cheaper option !!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[ChristopherO]

If you have a desire to pass then go for it - the worst outcome is not to pass and then you have the experience for a second, or even third entry.

At G4 my teacher reasonably asked me to postpone because I was right in the middle of a very stressful home move and seeming poorly ready - I had paid for it so I went - and passed. Had I not passed not only was nothing lost but I would have had this experience to support the next exam date.

My current teacher says she only enters pupils when they are ready - we discussed this and have agreed that I will take G5 in December - no matter what.

For many people the stress and nerves are fear of failing.
For what it is worth my approach is that a pass is less important than the experience - sure I was not happy not to pass my theory when both my teacher and I were confident that I would walk it - but, OK, I can do it again!

I don't know whether this will help you but I hope it does.

[Mad Tom]

To get over nervousness you must perform ... and frequently enough that each instance is not debilitating. It is necessary if only to check the effectiveness of whatever else you are doing to conquer your fears.

Exams are one way to do this, but it as an expensive route, and they are not frequent enough.

Better is for the teacher to arrange musical gatherings where students play to each other, and to friends and family. Many teachers arrange these. Does yours not?

It is important to have the feeling of having performed well, to create the condfidence to attempt more difficult challenges.

The best way to use them is to start with something that you find very, very easy. That way however nervous you feel you are likely to succeed in playing well. With the confidence this creates you can gradually play more difficult pieces, longer programmes, and maybe play from memory too.

[sbhoa]

If you play your pieces first, then you get to walk into the room with your accompanist, who hopefully is someone you trust, and can lean on to get you into the flow.

That doesn't work for pianists who have no accompanist to support them and usually have to go all alone to the exam centre.
Does anybody else want to cling on to their accompanist and scream 'Please don't leave me!!'?

[jod]

If you play your pieces first, then you get to walk into the room with your accompanist, who hopefully is someone you trust, and can lean on to get you into the flow.

That doesn't work for pianists who have no accompanist to support them and usually have to go all alone to the exam centre.
Does anybody else want to cling on to their accompanist and scream 'Please don't leave me!!'?

No... however as accompanist or as teacher I've felt like the security blanket!

[TERRIM]

Some interesting responses.

I know drugs are not the answer and I know performing in front of others is. But, for the short term,inhale an appointment with my gp tomorrow.

To combat nerves, I played in a church local to where I work, in my lunch break today. There were two wardens listening and a few people popping in. I did go wrong in places but I think 2 pieces were a pass. Not good enough with an exam on Monday, is it?! Still, I surprised myself with how much better I played than to another "unknown" person last week. That was truly awful.

As to the question abut teachers and concerts, my teacher from 10 years ago did this. I was playing my grade 2 then. It took a lot of persuasion, bordering on bullying, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) to get me to participate. I zoned out when I started and then, having reached page 2 and therefore turning my head slightly, it was enough for me to see this audience out od the corner of my eye and I started to crumple. I got through it but looking back, I don't believe I even did that! my current teacher does not do mini concerts.

It is quite true that pieces start to fall apart nearer the exam. I certainly find this - in places where there have never been any problems. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) as for retaking, no issues with that only there is just one more opportunity left as these pieces will then be out of date.

I have to play more in front of people. I was sent a pm to participate in a concert, albeit after my exam, but unfortunately, it is too far away as I am based in Somerset. I also tried yo get on a Jackdaws course in somerset with other pianists but it is fully booked.

Four days and counting........

[suei]

I haven't read all the replies, but you seem to be convinced you will fail due to nerves, (an adrenalin dump). Ideally you need to turn the feelings you have from a negative to a positive, to get you through the exam.

I would suggest you have a mock exam, perhaps someone who your teacher will know. I would also play as often as possible in front of family, friends and friends of friends. Including people who have a higher grade than yourself, because you instantly assume they are judging you. It would also be helpful if you have access to other pianos too as they all have a different feel and tone.

You need to be fully prepared for your exam, know the syllabus inside out, any uncertainties will throw you off.

Don't worry about your teacher's successful reputation, your teacher should know whether you are ready or not and fully prepare you. It sounds as though you have a good teacher.