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> My Dream Exam, All sightreading
An exam with only sightreading
Is this your dream or your nightmare?
Dream [ 41 ] ** [54.67%]
Nightmare [ 34 ] ** [45.33%]
Total Votes: 75
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Organistin
post Apr 13 2011, 10:36 AM
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I was sitting around this morning musing on exams (as you do) and I thought I would LOVE an exam which was all sightreading.
I thought it would be great if ABRSM offered such an exam - you could have grades 1 - 8 in the various instruments as now but instead of bothering to learn pieces and scales, you would simply show up and be presented with 3 or 4 pieces of sightreading in different styles. You would be allowed a little time to prepare - perhaps one piece could be a quick study with 5 minutes preparation time and the other 2 would be the usual 30 seconds. Then off you go and perform your 3 pieces for the examiner.

I don't know what the point of this would be but I just think it would be fun. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Is there anyone else out there who is like me and would love this or do you all think it would be your worst nightmare?
I've put a poll above - if we get enough votes for "Dream" then maybe AB might offer such an exam (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

Any suggestions for the format of the exam would help AB with the planning (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

PS: Sorry - seem to have double posted the topic somehow
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porilo
post Apr 13 2011, 10:44 AM
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My "dream exam" would be one with absolutely no sight reading at all. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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Hotair
post Apr 13 2011, 10:58 AM
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Sight-reading would be my dream exam. Love it.
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maggiemay
post Apr 13 2011, 11:25 AM
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(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) one with some really prompt results might be nice ! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)
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Superpianoman
post Apr 13 2011, 12:34 PM
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QUOTE(Organistin @ Apr 13 2011, 11:36 AM) *

I was sitting around this morning musing on exams (as you do) and I thought I would LOVE an exam which was all sightreading.
I thought it would be great if ABRSM offered such an exam - you could have grades 1 - 8 in the various instruments as now but instead of bothering to learn pieces and scales, you would simply show up and be presented with 3 or 4 pieces of sightreading in different styles. You would be allowed a little time to prepare - perhaps one piece could be a quick study with 5 minutes preparation time and the other 2 would be the usual 30 seconds. Then off you go and perform your 3 pieces for the examiner.

I don't know what the point of this would be but I just think it would be fun. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Is there anyone else out there who is like me and would love this or do you all think it would be your worst nightmare?
I've put a poll above - if we get enough votes for "Dream" then maybe AB might offer such an exam (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

Any suggestions for the format of the exam would help AB with the planning (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

PS: Sorry - seem to have double posted the topic somehow

..... Back in the late 70's when I used to compete at Blackpool Music Festival (held in the Winter Gardens then) - I remember there were piano sight -reading classes! - must have been really daunting for a competitor to have to study a score - for no more than say 1 min, then have to perform it 'live' in front of an adjudicator & audience!!!!..... don't know if they still do them? - but I remember watching them, and being examined by Alexander Kelly.... WOW!
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linda.ff
post Apr 13 2011, 12:42 PM
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QUOTE(Organistin @ Apr 13 2011, 11:36 AM) *

I was sitting around this morning musing on exams (as you do) and I thought I would LOVE an exam which was all sightreading.
I thought it would be great if ABRSM offered such an exam - you could have grades 1 - 8 in the various instruments as now but instead of bothering to learn pieces and scales, you would simply show up and be presented with 3 or 4 pieces of sightreading in different styles. You would be allowed a little time to prepare - perhaps one piece could be a quick study with 5 minutes preparation time and the other 2 would be the usual 30 seconds. Then off you go and perform your 3 pieces for the examiner.

I don't know what the point of this would be but I just think it would be fun. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Is there anyone else out there who is like me and would love this or do you all think it would be your worst nightmare?
I've put a poll above - if we get enough votes for "Dream" then maybe AB might offer such an exam (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

Any suggestions for the format of the exam would help AB with the planning (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

PS: Sorry - seem to have double posted the topic somehow

I had a child doing grade 1 who wasn't really practising at all, and about 3 weeks beforehands it turned out that she was under the impression that she would just be handed the exam book on the day and expected to sight-read any piece in it! (She did get a merit, but I didn't think my explanation of what goes on had been THAT weird!)
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Brynfan
post Apr 13 2011, 12:49 PM
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QUOTE(linda.ff @ Apr 13 2011, 01:42 PM) *

QUOTE(Organistin @ Apr 13 2011, 11:36 AM) *

I was sitting around this morning musing on exams (as you do) and I thought I would LOVE an exam which was all sightreading.
I thought it would be great if ABRSM offered such an exam - you could have grades 1 - 8 in the various instruments as now but instead of bothering to learn pieces and scales, you would simply show up and be presented with 3 or 4 pieces of sightreading in different styles. You would be allowed a little time to prepare - perhaps one piece could be a quick study with 5 minutes preparation time and the other 2 would be the usual 30 seconds. Then off you go and perform your 3 pieces for the examiner.

I don't know what the point of this would be but I just think it would be fun. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Is there anyone else out there who is like me and would love this or do you all think it would be your worst nightmare?
I've put a poll above - if we get enough votes for "Dream" then maybe AB might offer such an exam (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

Any suggestions for the format of the exam would help AB with the planning (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

PS: Sorry - seem to have double posted the topic somehow

I had a child doing grade 1 who wasn't really practising at all, and about 3 weeks beforehands it turned out that she was under the impression that she would just be handed the exam book on the day and expected to sight-read any piece in it! (She did get a merit, but I didn't think my explanation of what goes on had been THAT weird!)


Linda, I think we may have the same pupil! See my thread in teacher's forum on pupil not ready for exam (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)
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lottie
post Apr 13 2011, 12:52 PM
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What a lovely musing!


I LOVE sightreading (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) My memory is extremely poor so the scales are always a nightmare for me. I always have to use music because I can't memorise pieces and I find the aural goes too fast.

The one thing I AM good at is sightreading (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)
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Organistin
post Apr 13 2011, 01:38 PM
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At the higher grades for orchestral instruments you could have extracts from orchestral works in addition to solo pieces. Great practice for anyone who wants to join an orchestra of any description.
Pianists could have a piano accompaniment thrown at them - eg. to a song, a hymn or an accompaniment for another instrument.
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HelenVJ
post Apr 13 2011, 01:45 PM
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QUOTE(porilo @ Apr 13 2011, 11:44 AM) *

My "dream exam" would be one with absolutely no sight reading at all. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)


That's why TG came along! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) No singing required either - or Grade 5 Theory for Grades 6-8
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Alicia Ocean
post Apr 13 2011, 02:04 PM
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QUOTE(maggiemay @ Apr 13 2011, 12:25 PM) *

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) one with some really prompt results might be nice ! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)


That would be TG - get the results as soon as the examiner has left the building.
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lottie
post Apr 13 2011, 02:19 PM
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TG sounds interesting (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

Wot, NO singing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (my idea of heaven (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )
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Maizie
post Apr 13 2011, 04:39 PM
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QUOTE(lottie @ Apr 13 2011, 03:19 PM) *
Wot, NO singing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (my idea of heaven (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )
Unless you elect to do aural as one of your supporting tests at Initial grade - then you have to sing one note. But aural at G1 and above, no singing - though the tests you get to do are different to the AB ones, e.g. identifying an interval.

Aural is optional throughout TG grades as well - G1-5: pick two of sight reading, musical knowledge, aural and improv. G6-8: sight reading mandatory, pick one of aural or improv for the other.

Plus, you can do a study or orchestral excerpts instead of scales for some instruments. I do scales, in part because my teacher finds them more useful, and in part because he thinks the studies for recorder aren't that good (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) I know for other instruments he is fine with people doing the study instead of scales (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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delorfinde
post Apr 13 2011, 09:00 PM
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Yup TG - fewer scales, prompt results, no theory ...

*sigh*

We all know ABRSM is more thorough, but they could take a leaf out of TGs book. I used to do TG on flute and it was a shock transferring over to ABRSM for Grade 4 and suddenly being expected to know scales, I can tell you!
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sbhoa
post Apr 13 2011, 09:05 PM
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QUOTE(delorfinde @ Apr 13 2011, 10:00 PM) *

Yup TG - fewer scales, prompt results, no theory ...

*sigh*

We all know ABRSM is more thorough, but they could take a leaf out of TGs book. I used to do TG on flute and it was a shock transferring over to ABRSM for Grade 4 and suddenly being expected to know scales, I can tell you!

Even though the option not to play scales in the exam is there the agreement with my teacher for grade 6 clarinet was that scales should be exam ready whether I chose to do them in the exam or notI don't have a problem with this as I realise that fluency in scales is one of the things that is going to improve my playing generally.
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