Abrsm Or Trinity? Options

[flute fanatic]

My opinion is that if you are really stuck on finding a piano accompanist for a grade, then CD backings should be allowed.

I took my gr.8 recently and had terrible trouble finding anyone to accompany me; they were either going on holiday or just not available. I must have phoned nearly 10 people. Finally I got a recommendation from somebody, luckily they were free for the day. What a relief. I had to travel for a rehearsal, but I didn't mind too much. If I hadn't have found anyone, I would have had to cancel the exam and I would have lost £62 (no excuses for not finding an accompanist). I did ask the ABRSM if I could use CD, but they obviously said no.

Thankfully everything turned out just fine. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

In my experience, if one plays with the CD as often as they can, they get used to what the accompaniment is doing and know where to come in (certainly for me anyway) (easier for older ones).

[Phil Dixon]

I totally agree that using a CD is not as good as using a living breathing pianist, but surely for the lower grades (perhaps 1,2 and 3) a compromise could be reached.

[jod]

I both play live and use CDs in lessons. The CD frees me up from the piano and allows me to confirm visually what I am hearing as far as poor posture and technical faults. Yes a live pianist is much more flexible, but when it comes to supplying practice material, I teach singers with no pianos nor keyboard instruments, and for these pupils producing practice CDs is vital. OK its not ideal but it is better than nothing.

For an examination I play for my candidates unless the accompaniment is beyond me when I get a better pianist to do so.

[Phil Dixon]

I use CDs all the time for my students to practise with.

I could always bite the bullet and learn to play the piano.

[flute fanatic]

I think it's good to have a balance between playing with CD and with live backing.
The good think about live piano accompaniment is that if the solo player slips up, the accompanist is there for support and can skip beats etc. to allow for the soloist to catch up.

CD is good when in lessons as the teacher can concentrate more on your playing, rather than trying to get his/her part right.

[Malone]

I was thinking of doing my grade 8 clarinet maybe sometime this year. Might try out TG before entering any pupils for it. If only I had the courage!

[sarah-flute]

I would also hate the idea of playing along to a CD in the exam. The idea of an accompaniment is that it accompanies the soloist, not the soloist follows the backing track!!

Yep!

Also a CD cannot adapt if a nervous student messes up an entry, adapt to changes of tempo, etc etc.

This CD can!!!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) - I wish more CDs were like you!!

I took my gr.8 recently and had terrible trouble finding anyone to accompany me; they were either going on holiday or just not available. I must have phoned nearly 10 people. Finally I got a recommendation from somebody, luckily they were free for the day. What a relief. I had to travel for a rehearsal, but I didn't mind too much. If I hadn't have found anyone, I would have had to cancel the exam and I would have lost £62 (no excuses for not finding an accompanist). I did ask the ABRSM if I could use CD, but they obviously said no.

To be honest I think grade 8 with a CD backing would mean you weren't truly being examined on YOUR interpretation of music, tempi, phrasing, rubato... etc etc. While I can understand the use for lower grade exams, and for jazz it is hard to find someone who can really give that groove, for grade 8 part of the exam is your personal interpretation and your interaction with the piano part/the person playing it... your musical reactions, so to speak.

[flute fanatic]

I agree, but if I was desperate, wouldn't playing with a CD be better than loosing £62 on a cancelled exam?

[sarah-flute]

Obviously, no one wants to forfeit £62... but I don't think it would be a true reflection of your playing and I totally understand why the AB wouldn't allow it at that level. Better to find a flexible accompanist, or join in a special visit on a defined date so it's easier to organise... there are too many pieces at that level where playing with a CD could completely kill the music.

I KNOW it's hard to find accompanists, especially when doing an entry in a normal exam session... if all else fails, it's possible to ask for a date "no later than" in order to be able to give a potential accompanist a defined window (in your case, your were after all retaking after already obtaining a merit, so presumably wouldn't NEED to try and get an exam in the last week or the session?).

No one wants to forfeit sixty two pounds and I think the AB would maybe do well to relax the prescription for a real live accompanist for very early grades, (though I think ideally learning to play with a real accompanist is great however early the level) but I think a grade 8 exam where the flautist was playing along to a pre-recorded accompaniment made for someone else's interpretation would be a lousy indicator of that person's playing.

[anacrusis]

I would not want to use a recording - I think the real communication happens in a totally live performance, with musicians responding to each other. I have to say, though, I've been incredibly lucky to have had wonderful musicians accompanying me for my last three exams- both of the people involved have helped me to give of my best by their playing. It comes back to the idea of expressive playing, I think - capturing the mood of the moment, matching the acoustics of the playing space, performing for a particular audience rather than just playing in a room...that just can't happen if half of the performance is issuing from a loudspeaker (I know, electronic music uses speakers all the time, but I can't help finding most of what I've heard of that genre rather sterile).

I wonder if a register of accompanists could be started, so that ABRSM and Trinity candidates alike could make the best kind of music - live music....
*desperate attempt to stay on topic (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) *

[flute fanatic]

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

[sarah-flute]

I wonder if a register of accompanists could be started, so that ABRSM and Trinity candidates alike could make the best kind of music - live music....
*desperate attempt to stay on topic (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) *

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

(I agreed with what you said but this made me laugh too - I should probably have (IMG:style_emoticons/default/offTopic.gif)'d myself... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif))

[Alicia Ocean]

I've just been thinking about the diffferences at grade 6 flute..

With Trinity;
there's the option to play a pair of Orchestral Extracts instead of scales - on flute or piccolo
there's the option to replace any one of the pieces with the candidate's own composition
there's the option to play one piece on piccolo or alto flute
three's the choice between aural and improvisation
the results are available within days

With ABRSM;
erm, well, I can't think of anything nice to say

they do have a good forum though

[andante_in_c]

I've just been thinking about the diffferences at grade 6 flute..

With Trinity;
there's the option to play a pair of Orchestral Extracts instead of scales - on flute or piccolo
there's the option to replace any one of the pieces with the candidate's own composition
there's the option to play one piece on piccolo or alto flute
three's the choice between aural and improvisation
the results are available within days

With ABRSM;
erm, well, I can't think of anything nice to say

they do have a good forum though

Trinity: 5 major, 5 minor scales/arpeggios (up to five sharps/flats); one whole tone scale; one chromatic scale; one dom 7th; one dim 7th.

ABRSM: 7 major, 6 minor scales/arpeggios(up to six sharps/flats); four chromatic scales; three dom 7th; two dim 7th.

I usually refer to the AB Grade 6 as Grade six-and-a-half now. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[sarah-flute]

there's the option to replace any one of the pieces with the candidate's own composition

I've always thought this sounds great in principle, but in practice how on earth do you know if the piece is OK?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

I usually refer to the AB Grade 6 as Grade six-and-a-half now. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

*feels better about chickening out of it...!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)*