Need Councilling And Help, Can't cope, Depressed and stressed :( Options

[tzl_tzl]

Forgive me, I made a mistake for the title, it should be councelling
My story:
Last Wednesday, I did my trial exam(paper A 2005)for Grade 8 theory. When I was done with it, I was rather satisfied, I thought I would pass.
I was wrong. Yesterday night, when I had my theory class, I failed by 5 marks. When I checked through my paper, I was dissappointed. I had been so careless. My strong points had been question 4 and 5, but it seems I overlooked a few things such as 'the range of the violin' and by mistaking a V9 chord as a diminished 7th. I scolded myself for not checking. But, the biggest blunder yet has been my question 3. I did a modern composition but I was given 0 marks as I had a rhythm mistake cause I missed a dot after a minim. The only nice thing was a 14/15 for question 1. When I saw that I missed a dot in question 3 eventhough I checked nearly cost me to cry. It took a fair amount of courage not to break up during the class since it's a group study and I don't want to feel embaressed. I was gloomy throughout the class especially seing one of my friends getting a merit in the trial exam.

As I got home and told the news to my parents, I got nagged at for being over-confident and that I didn't study. They would not accept the fact that I missed a dot in question 3. So, I went to my room, locked the door, off the lights and went to bed. Eventhough I am a boy turning 16 this year, I cried for a really long time, using the pillow to hide my sobs.

Eventually I got better and managed to cover-up when I got up the next day I acted happy[ I am a really good actor (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ]

Starting the 6th of March, I am going to have school exams. On the 11th, I have a science quiz going and on the 13th, I am going for the actual Grade 8 theory. My schedule is really tight. I am not sure I can cope, being 1st in class last year for 3 out of 4 times, I have the impression that I should maintain it for this year but with so many things going on, I am worried.

I really need you guys to help me, I am having another trial exam next wednesday and I don't want to mess it up again. It's going to be 2005 Paper C. I am not asking you lot to spoil the paper for me[don't tell anything bout the paper] but I am asking all of you, students and teachers:
1. Are you are allowed to use perfomance direction such as +[hand stopped for horn], pizzicato, double stops for your composition?
2. I am a piano player, so I would like to know the effects of down bow, up bow, col legno, sul ponticello, +[hand stopped] on the music and when it is commonly found?
3. Is it true that if you make a rhythm mistake in anything[like my composition], you will be a 0 straight for that particular section?[I think my teacher is training me to be careful, and she is doing a good job at that]
4. What was your highest for your composition and is it possible to get a 20/20 for it?If so, what are the features for a good composition?

I am determined to do well in the next trial exam and show everyone that I am not dumb, I am also trying to stuff, everything from history to biology and maths into my head, but my main priority is music theory since it's my last year and I won't have time to resit next year.

Thanks everyone. All your help shall be appreciated.

[katyjay]

Hi Tzl-tzl

I'm sorry you had such a disappointment. When you know you've really worked hard, it hurts that you get a bad mark for a practice exam, especially when the people around you don't understand what went wrong or why.

Being 16 is a tough time. You have a lot of challenges in one year, and all you can do is try your best. If you've done that, then you have nothing to be ashamed of, even if the results aren't perfect. Put this test behind you and move forwards - it's done now and you can't change it, so learn from the mistakes and move on.

I am surprised that one mistake at the start of a composition got you zero marks. I suspect your teacher was being very strict with you, and I'm sure that now you know about the way you were marked, you won't make that mistake again.

I'm not as far ahead at the theory as you are, so I can't give you advice on your questions. I'm sure someone will come along later and help you with those.

I hope it will help if I tell you the story of when the same thing happened to me, only it was with the practice test for my final tax exam to become an accountant.
I knew I had learned all the tax, but I only scored 36% in the practice exam - largely because, like you, I made a small mistake at the start of a very long question and got 0 marks despite getting the technique for rest of the question right, just I came out with the wrong total in the answer.
The head of training at my firm was a tax accountant, so he was very annoyed that I had failed this test, and tried to make me postpone doing my real exam. I refused to postpone and he threatened me with disciplinary action.
2 months later I took the exam. A week before the results came out he said to me in front of the rest of the firm "you haven't worked hard enough, you will fail your exams and it will serve you right." I nearly cried in front of all my colleagues.
But a week later I had the last laugh - I was the only one of my colleagues to pass all the exams at the first attempt, and I won a regional prize for tax. The thing was, I had learned the stuff, and I refused to let one bad test upset me. If anything, it made me concentrate a lot better in the real exam.

So the moral of my tale is, don't let one bad test beat you. If you know you've learned the stuff, and you know to be more careful checking next time, you have every chance of doing well.


Good luck Tzl-tzl.


Cheers

Katyjay

[sbhoa]

Wow! Sounds like your teacher is a really tough marker.
Just missing a dot from a note (I'm guessing that this made 1 bar not add up?) is not going to mean no marks as far as I am aware especially if it is generally ok. My teacher would take off one or two marks at most for mistakes like that.
You can use performance directions but only use them if you are sure about them. I have no experience in string playing and never put in bowing marks because of this. For the length of the compositon you would not expect there to be a large amoumt of performance directions though possibly a few more if you choose to work the more modern opening. In this case only use things if you are sure you know what their effect is.
I think I got 17/20 in the exam.
Hope the rest of the lessons go better and remember that you can only do your best and noone can ask more than that of you.

[elmo]

You don't need to be the best in the class, noone will think any worse of you if you aren't. Practices don't matter. And somewhere in your head, your brain will have thought that, even if you didn't conscioulsy think it. Because you didn't think it counted, you didn't check it as throughly as you could;ve done or not noticed simple errors. But in ther eal exam, because you KNOW it counts, and you have to do it, you will probably notice all the simple mistakes you don't notice in practices.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[all ears]

1) Being best in the class - that's a lot of pressure. I was terribly lazy in high school (and nothing's changed since then either... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) ), but I remember a good friend of mine breaking down and crying when she won the prize for top student in her year, because she knew that everybody would just expect her to keep on being top of everything, with never a slip. She had her ups and downs, and now has an enjoyable career which she shines at. Nobody round her knows whether she was top in her high school classes or not; and those of us who know and remember enjoy her friendship for totally different reasons. So don't worry - well done for your high level of achievement, and one slip doesn't write off all your work and achivements to date, nor does it compromise your chances for the future.

2) Weird results in "strong subjects". I just watched my son Airman get 74/75 in a demanding exam in a subject he's very good at...and in the same week, he got an abysmal mark in an easy school test in the same subject!!! They're only tests...as katyjay says, what matters is what you really know, and the work you've done. That will bear fruit, whatever problems you face along the way.

[nicki_flute]

Hi.
First of all, I sympathise a lot. Since getting 9 A*s and 1 A in my GCSEs last year, people expect a lot of me. In fact, even before that people did. E.g I got an A in this module for Maths and someone asked me what went wrong! Don't try and live peoples' expectations, as long as you have done the best you can, no-one can ask any more (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I think that your teacher was very harsh to give you 0 for one of your questions. Have you done any papers since or before? If so, did you pass those?

I am sorry your parents don't seem to sympathise, sometimes my parents say I should be working harder when I have been working all day, and it does get to me.

It is alright to cry (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I am also a master at pretending all is well. I basically had a mini breakdown a a year ago, when I was 15, and no-one knew because I hid it so well. I managed to pretend I was fine for about 2 months before I snapped.

If you've been at the top of your class 3/4 times, no one will think you are stupid if you fail.

If you have MSN or want to chat, then please don't hesitate to contact me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

*hugs*

[maggiemay]

Do hope you're feeling a bit better about it now, tzl_tzl.

As a teacher I do often find that the marks that are dropped could be saved by careful checking.
It's not unusual for the "meat" of the answer to be broadly correct, only to be pulled down by mistakes that might seem peripheral. You spend ages working out the main point of the question - and it's easy to miss a few other things.

At least you have chance to learn from your practice exam - good thing your teacher gave you that opportunity. Don't feel bad about it - you have a little time to focus on what you need to get a higher mark.

The Dolmetsch web-site has some great information about ranges of orchestral instruments and that sort of thing. You don't need to memorise details of all of them but you could brush up a few of the more usual ones maybe. have a look at - www.dolmetsch.com/theoryintro.htm

Good luck

btw - the mistake at the start of question thing - Katyjay's nice story reminded me of when it happened to me - sort of.

I was doing a test in music at school. We had to write about a Beethoven symphony, and I had memorised all about the Pastorale and could describe the movements, so I wrote about that, confident that I'd written a good answer. Except I put no5 in F major instead of no 6. I knew if my head of music was in a strict mood she would cross out the "no 5" and count the whole question wrong - even though that would seem a bit unfair - she could say "no, you haven't written about no 5".

Anyway I worried about this for a couple of days, knowing I might have lost the whole of the marks and thinking how unfair it would be for one little slip. When the paper came back - she hadn't noticed I'd put 5 instead of 6 and she marked the whole thing correct!! So I was lucky.

[yamaha]

Forgive me, I made a mistake for the title, it should be councelling
My story:
Last Wednesday, I did my trial exam(paper A 2005)for Grade 8 theory. When I was done with it, I was rather satisfied, I thought I would pass.
I was wrong. Yesterday night, when I had my theory class, I failed by 5 marks. When I checked through my paper, I was dissappointed. I had been so careless. My strong points had been question 4 and 5, but it seems I overlooked a few things such as 'the range of the violin' and by mistaking a V9 chord as a diminished 7th. I scolded myself for not checking. But, the biggest blunder yet has been my question 3. I did a modern composition but I was given 0 marks as I had a rhythm mistake cause I missed a dot after a minim. The only nice thing was a 14/15 for question 1. When I saw that I missed a dot in question 3 eventhough I checked nearly cost me to cry. It took a fair amount of courage not to break up during the class since it's a group study and I don't want to feel embaressed. I was gloomy throughout the class especially seing one of my friends getting a merit in the trial exam.

As I got home and told the news to my parents, I got nagged at for being over-confident and that I didn't study. They would not accept the fact that I missed a dot in question 3. So, I went to my room, locked the door, off the lights and went to bed. Eventhough I am a boy turning 16 this year, I cried for a really long time, using the pillow to hide my sobs.

Eventually I got better and managed to cover-up when I got up the next day I acted happy[ I am a really good actor (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ]

Starting the 6th of March, I am going to have school exams. On the 11th, I have a science quiz going and on the 13th, I am going for the actual Grade 8 theory. My schedule is really tight. I am not sure I can cope, being 1st in class last year for 3 out of 4 times, I have the impression that I should maintain it for this year but with so many things going on, I am worried.

I really need you guys to help me, I am having another trial exam next wednesday and I don't want to mess it up again. It's going to be 2005 Paper C. I am not asking you lot to spoil the paper for me[don't tell anything bout the paper] but I am asking all of you, students and teachers:
1. Are you are allowed to use perfomance direction such as +[hand stopped for horn], pizzicato, double stops for your composition?
2. I am a piano player, so I would like to know the effects of down bow, up bow, col legno, sul ponticello, +[hand stopped] on the music and when it is commonly found?
3. Is it true that if you make a rhythm mistake in anything[like my composition], you will be a 0 straight for that particular section?[I think my teacher is training me to be careful, and she is doing a good job at that]
4. What was your highest for your composition and is it possible to get a 20/20 for it?If so, what are the features for a good composition?

I am determined to do well in the next trial exam and show everyone that I am not dumb, I am also trying to stuff, everything from history to biology and maths into my head, but my main priority is music theory since it's my last year and I won't have time to resit next year.

Thanks everyone. All your help shall be appreciated.

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

To answer your questions.......................

1) Yes, absolutely use performance directions but only if you are SURE you know what they mean and that they are appropriate.

2) not sure how to describe this really, maybe someone more knowledgeable with strings can help.

3) Your teacher is being strict that's all to train you to be extra careful. You certainly wont lose all the available marks for a simple mistake such as this. I would think 2 or 3 marks at most. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

4) I am sure it is possible to get 20/20 for the composition question but dont know anyone who has. I know a someone who got full marks for Grade 5 theory composition though.

Good Luck

PS. I am taking my Grade 8 theory on March 1st (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[mrbouffant]

I have nothing concrete to add other than to wish you and all theory bunnies the best of luck on the 1st of March... I remain in envious awe of those sitting Grade 8 theory and from the experienced you've outlined, tzl_tzl, I think your teacher was being extra strict on purpose. The _real_ exam is never as strict as your teacher might have you believe. If you think about it, what kind of teacher would they be if they let you think it was straightforward? GOOD LUCK ALL !

[tzl_tzl]

I feel so much better now thanks to you guys.
Yeah....I think my teacher is being X-tra strict so I will keep on checking and checking and checking my exam paper after I finish it.

Katyjay-your story really gave me high hopes again (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Yamaha- Glad to know you are doing Grade 8 too, we could discuss about it once we finished our exams. What paper are you most probably getting? I think I am getting the A paper, but once I had the T paper.

You guys have been really caring and helpful. Thanks for cheering me up and being the best online community I have ever known

[sbhoa]

The spring sessoin is the A paper, summer is B and autumn is C.

[SirPrancealot]

the upshot is you should do a lot better in the real exam. that sounds hard marking [question 3] the only way you wd get 0 is doing nothing, specially for the modern tune.

[noodle]

the upshot is you should do a lot better in the real exam. that sounds hard marking [question 3] the only way you wd get 0 is doing nothing, specially for the modern tune.

It does sounds really hard marking and I doubt that leaving out a dot would cost all the marks for that question in the real exam. Good luck for Wednesday! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[Puff cat]

1. Are you are allowed to use perfomance direction such as +[hand stopped for horn], pizzicato, double stops for your composition?
2. I am a piano player, so I would like to know the effects of down bow, up bow, col legno, sul ponticello, +[hand stopped] on the music and when it is commonly found?
3. Is it true that if you make a rhythm mistake in anything[like my composition], you will be a 0 straight for that particular section?[I think my teacher is training me to be careful, and she is doing a good job at that]
4. What was your highest for your composition and is it possible to get a 20/20 for it?If so, what are the features for a good composition?

Hi Tzl tzl

Yamaha has already answered all your questions, although being a string player I can probably help a bit with no.2

Down bow and up bow - in general an up beat (or anacrusis) will be on an up bow, and the first beat of a bar will be on a down bow. If a note is accented a down bow should usually be used.

Col legno - playing with the stick of the bow. This isn't all that common and probably not necessary for Grade 8 compositions, although it might come into q4 or 5. It produces a quiet sound, difficult to describe, probably kind of like what it would sound like if you hit the strings of a piano gently with a pencil. Hopefully someone else can describe it better.

Sul ponticello - playing near the bridge. This produces a kind of silvery, supposedly eerie sound

Hand stopped - I don't know. Does it refer to horns?

Hope this helps in some way.

[Firebird]

Hand-stopped Horn gives an effect similar to (but not the same as!) muted Horn - a tinny, brassy effect that is usually a lot quieter than the sound produced with an open Horn. I had a solo involving it last night in the 2nd movement of Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnol - the Horn had a short phrase and then effectively an echo of it.

Hand-stopping adjusts the pitch of a note by half a step upward (i.e. it is half a step sharper, though not sealing the bell completely will make it go flat instead) but since the Horn player knows to compensate with fingerings and/or a little lip there is no need to transpose it on music.

The Rimsky-Korsakov is quite a good example of stopping, but I have also done it in the Overture to Candide (around the repeat sign - bar 48ish? The trumpet and trombone [with cymbals, I think] have a big bit and then the Horns have staccato crotchets). There are lots of other examples too - I'll post with more if I think of them.

Hope that helps and good luck!

Firebird