Graded Piano Exam, Syllabus Options

[moomoolau]

I'm planning to let one of my students to sit for the Grade 2 exam. He has started to practise the Scales a month ago. Actually how long do a student usually take to prepare an exam? I want him to get prepared well, so maybe he should take the exam in April/ May 2007. Will the preparation period be too long? And is that he should practise the pieces 2007-08 which will be released later instead of the 2005-06 ones? Thanks.

[noodle]

It shouldn't take more than 3 - 6 months to prepare for grade 2. If you're in the UK, he won't be able to use the current exam book for May - June 2007. If you're not in the UK, check the syllabus to see how long the pieces are valid in your country.

[carol*piano]

[quote=moomoolau,Nov 21 2005, 09:41 AM]
I want him to get prepared well, so maybe he should take the exam in April/ May 2007. Will the preparation period be too long?


YES! If you want plenty of time I would go for summer 2006. Any longer than that and you will both be totally fed up with the pieces. If your student is unable to perfect them by then he is not at an appropriate level for that grade. Good luck!

Carol :D

[DomRUK]

Preparation times I've got into for exams:

Exam is after half term in a certain term.

Pupil has an aural tape to practise with from at least the start of that term (or before).

Pieces from just after the half term before the exam (means about a term on the pieces).

Scales from start of the term before the exam, but generally ongoing so they're a 1 minute start to each practice always (particularly after grade 2). Marks out of 10 constantly updated for each scale in pencil in the scale book - motivating. (8 = ok to get through in exam.)

Sight reading always (Harris "Improve..." workbooks) ongoing, except for the few weeks after the last exam. Most of one practice per week, or 1 minute bit each practice.

Theory - ongoing (most of one practice per week, except during Aural preparation leading up to an exam). Theory is Fun workbooks.


For a pupil who works with such a format, this means of the 6 practices I set per week (15 minutes per practice for the first few years):
Daily bits - a scale practised
Daily bits - a sight reading exercise
Practice 1 - Aural tape, or Theory workbook if not near exam.
Practice 2 to 4 - Pieces.
Practice 5 - Pieces, or sight reading if not being done daily.
Practice 6 - Play-through & Repertoire / Composition = Repertoire playing of old pieces, or Composition, and play through of pieces ready for the lesson.


Just thought I'd think it through again - hope it's of interest to others too.