Exam Pieces Cd Options

[tabitha]

hi i was wondering if you guys listen to the exam pieces cd to play.

[saxlover]

For which instrument? I have some for piano and flute

[Lisa87]

Yes & I find them really useful as it gives you an idea of how the pieces should be played. However I think it's always best to try & have a go yourself first, as in the exam the examiners are looking to see your interpretation of the pieces rather than just a copy of the cd. For grade 4 piano I learnt all the pieces without hearing them first & then my teacher bought the cd round so we could see how close I had got to sounding like it. I was pretty close but some passages I didn't agree with so I played them how I originally thought they should be played as after all, I think it's probably refreshing for the examiners to hear a piece played slightly differently by each candidate rather than sitting there hearing it being played the same way every time. It's your own decision though & if you find you are having trouble working out how a certain bit goes then the cd will definitely help you.

Lisa xxx

[neil.clarinet]

I had one for grade 5 piano when I was doing it but I felt I would give someone else's interpretation instead of mine if I used it too much. It was good to let you hear the pieces but not to dictate the final performance.

[Appassionata]

I think they are good, but you mustn't get too hung up on them and think that you must play the pieces exactly as they are on the CD - after all the examiner wants to hear your muscial interpretation, not a replica of the CD!

I find that often the tempos are too fast and impossible to play along with, but they do give you and overall idea of the character and style of the piece.

They are however a lot of money and when you add that to the cost of music, exam fees, accompanist fees etc it soon adds up.

[crazy_purple_piano_freak]

i never used to bother but i got the grade 8 one and it really helps as it shows how the piece should be played and you can hear it as a whole not just the bit you are practising. Also how else are you going to hear other stuff off the alternative list?

[violinandpianogurl]

I had one for grade 5 piano when I was doing it but I felt I would give someone else's interpretation instead of mine if I used it too much.  It was good to let you hear the pieces but not to dictate the final performance.

That was exactly what I was going to say! I know a girl who used to copy exactly what was on the recording and didn't put anything of her own into the pieces. The examiner picked up on that and told her to try adding her own touches.

[missniffler]

I have one for violin - helps with self confidence AND tuning.

[carys]

I use them, yes - they help me decide which pieces to choose.

[tabitha]

its for piano.thanks for the replies cause i didnt think anyone used them and i felt guilty for listening to the pieces before i actually tried it first myself .i thought you had 2 play the pieces exactly right but i realized its your interpretation thats important.

[sbhoa]

Yes & I find them really useful as it gives you an idea of how the pieces should be played.

Not a good plan generally to try to copy though.
And sometimes you may even disagree with the way they are played on the CD... can be a good way to learn how to discuss interpretation with your teacher.
A lot of people find that there is a tendency for them to be a little on the fast side on the CDs.... I don't mean too fast to match the speed but faster than you actually think/feel they should be.

They can be useful for choosing pieces and for ideas on interpretation once you are past the note learning stage.

[k_pianodude]

i always buy the cd now to know how a professional plays them and grade 6 a1 conrant sounds really beautiful.

[sarah-flute]

Also how else are you going to hear other stuff off the alternative list?

Most of my grade 6 flute pieces (I'm learning a couple from each list) I've learned by reading from the music alone - some of them I've not heard on a cd or even played by my teacher. The cds are good but listening to them should not replace learning music (and being able to learn music) from the page, it can become too easy to just listen and copy...

[George Burrell]

hi i was wondering if you guys listen to the exam pieces cd to play.

The CD assists with selection of pieces. It is very expensive to buy all the supplementary piano pieces in their albums - listen to the 12 supplementary pieces on the CD first, then compile the shopping list!

The CD also SUGGESTS tempo, style, dynamics and all the rest. Don't feel guilty about this - professional pianists listen to fellow professionals, and compare interpretations.

It is then a matter of fashioning your own interpretation, that will inevitably involve your own finger print - your way of playing.