Do I Need An Accompanist For Grade 5?, If a piece has a piano part written for it, do I have to play with an Options

[Tim Hansen]

Hi,
I am a little confused about whether I need an accompanist for Grade 5 Trumpet or not. The pieces I’ve chosen all have piano parts, but I don’t have anyone to accompany me if I do, and the books that the pieces are in, didn’t come with a CD.

Anyone know what the rules are?

Thanks! Tim.

[Maizie]

Yes, you'll need a pianist to play the piano parts of accompanied pieces

From the regs (14):

Candidates must provide their own accompanist, who may remain in the examination room only while engaged in accompanying. The candidate’s teacher may act as accompanist; under no circumstances will the examiner do so. Candidates in solo Jazz subjects (except Piano) who opt to use ABRSM’s published backing tracks in place of a live accompaniment must provide their own CD player and CD.

From These Music Exams (available here):

The teacher or candidate is responsible for providing the accompanist on the day of the exam. The examiner will be concentrating on the job of assessing the candidate and writing remarks on the mark form, and so cannot and will not act as accompanist.

[jo.clarinet]

You do have to have an accompanist for any piece that has an accompaniment, I'm afraid! Have you got any musical friends who might oblige? Failing that, you could ask in your local music shop - they might be able to provide you with some contacts. Or you could contact the AB! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Tim Hansen]

Any idea where i can get an accompanist from then, anyone been able to hire one for their exam?

[Maizie]

http://www.musicteachers.co.uk/search allows you to do a search for accompanists

http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-accompanists/index.php is another place you can search...

Another option is to Google for 'accompanist [county]' so I would search for 'accompanist hertfordshire'. You might even find someone in your town!

[Tim Hansen]

Wow thanks, that is really helpful. If I did find a recording, do you think I could just take that in instead?

Thanks! T.

[Maizie]

Not for AB exams. The AB solo jazz allows CD backings, as do Trinity exams up to a certain grade, but for non-jaxx AB exams it must be a live accompanist.

[Tim Hansen]

Thanks for confirming that then.

[Good Intentions]

Good luck finding an accompanist Tim, remember you will need to have a good few practice sessions with your accompanist top get a feel of each others playing, and to make sure you can perfect playing at the same speed rythm etc. And to give the accompanist a chance to learn the pieces. Don't assume because somebody is a proffesional accompanist that they will be able to go in blind.

Good luck, again, let us know how it goes (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[all ears]

I wish that syllabus lists actually provided a key that said "accompanist needed"! I was surprised to find that son Viohazard's Grade 5 guitar exam syllabus at the time included enough unaccompanied pieces that he didn't need an accompanist that time. Unless you have finished preparations for your exam, perhaps you could take another look at the syllabus and see if there are unaccompanied pieces in list A and B?

This time round (G8 violin), I don't think it's possible, but it would be nice to feel really confident that an accompanist was or wasn't needed BEFORE ordering the sheet music and suddenly seeing the words "piano part" on the front cover! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/closedeyes.gif)

[SueHM]

Learning to play with an accompanist is an integral part of learning to play any solo instrument. Keeping in time, for instance with a CD backing track is only part of the picture. Hence the requirement to play accompanied pieces in most exams. Hopefully you will find it much more enjoyable and rewarding to play with another flesh and blood musician than just making do with a recording. A good accompanist will be supportive and helpful, know where you have to take breaths etc and will enhance your performance. Your teacher should have some accompanist contacts, otherwise follow the suggestions in other posters' replies. Good luck with your exam. If you happen to be in Gloucestershire I'd be happy to help.

[Maizie]

This time round (G8 violin), I don't think it's possible, but it would be nice to feel really confident that an accompanist was or wasn't needed BEFORE ordering the sheet music and suddenly seeing the words "piano part" on the front cover! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/closedeyes.gif)

The general regs for Woodwind and Brass says:

A live piano accompaniment is required for all pieces in List A and List B, except those which are published as unaccompanied works. Candidates must provide their own accompanist, who may remain in the
examination room only while engaged in accompanying. The candidate’s teacher may act as accompanist;
under no circumstances will the examiner do so. All List C pieces are to be performed unaccompanied

BUT, I don't think it's possible in any of the recorder exams to select an unaccompanied piece from A, B and C - so you know you'll need a pianist somewhere along the line...I see the strings general regs is even less helpful!

[notmusimum]

BUT, I don't think it's possible in any of the recorder exams to select an unaccompanied piece from A, B and C - so you know you'll need a pianist somewhere along the line...I see the strings general regs is even less helpful!

Only the list C piece in the Recorder exams in unaccompanied, Descant and Treble up to grade 5 for certain, fairly sure it applies to the 3 higher grades too.

[all ears]

Yes, that seems to be the general rule, so I was surprised to find unaccompanied pieces in the A and B list for guitar, but I guess it's the concept of "self-accompanying instrument".

Yes, it's fun playing with an accompaniment but it's extremely expensive fun! And if it's so vital to learn to play with other instruments, why don't piano exams include it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ? Maybe pianists should be "required" to learn the basic skills involved in accompanying all the rest of the musical world...for a start, it would make it easier to find an accompanist (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) !

[AnotherPianist]

Yes, that seems to be the general rule, so I was surprised to find unaccompanied pieces in the A and B list for guitar, but I guess it's the concept of "self-accompanying instrument".

You're right, it's because the guitar can play polyphonic music, so there is more unaccompanied music out there for it; similarly harp, and of course piano. I very much doubt you'd be equally lucky for violin; and even less so trumpet, as these are single line instruments. It's not that unaccompanied (or double stopped) violin music doesn't exist; the Bach violin partitas are a good example, but I doubt much of it (and certainly not those (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)) would be found on the grade syllabus, it's rare, and at a guess generally more difficult. In a way it's good for him not to have to restrict his choice to work around this anyway (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif).