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> Grade 6 - 2009/10
Fantasia in P major
post Feb 9 2009, 10:03 AM
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Is anyone hoping to take Grade 6 this Spring with the new syllabus? Looking particularly at A1, B1 and C1 !!

I think that these pieces give a really varied programme but some are quite long and will require lots of concentration!
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Tortellini
post Feb 9 2009, 10:37 AM
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I have almost finished learning B1 (Beethoven) which I love and C2 (Oscar Peterson). Actually I love all the pieces I have heard on this syllabus - which is just as well as I probably won't take the exam for ages as I don't have the theory.

P. S. Have I missed something? Are you doing exams in reverse order?!
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Fantasia in P major
post Feb 9 2009, 10:57 AM
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Good spot. Actually I am with Teoani on this one. I took my own Grade 6 about 25 years ago!

It is my son who is taking it this session!
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madbassoonist
post Feb 24 2009, 05:09 PM
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I am taking the exam this summer... haven't yet decided on any pieces, but am thinking of A2 (Mozart), B2 (Chopin) and C2 (Oscar Peterson). However, I'm not sure if I can make the jazz one go fast enough - having heard recordings of other pieces played by the composer he would probably have played it twice as fast as suggested! So I might do C3, the Satie.
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Fantasia in P major
post Feb 25 2009, 06:38 AM
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The last line of B1, the Beethoven, is taking up a lot of practice time at the moment - it is proving to be quite tricky.
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teoani
post Feb 25 2009, 07:24 AM
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Heehee, I took and failed my Grade 6 about 15 years ago... Then I took and failed my Grade 7 and 8 again 14 years ago... haha...

This Friday will be my Grade 6 exam. Yes, B1's final bars are the ones that I often get very anxious about and make mistakes. It's like a sudden change of mood, and is supposed to sound very delicate, yet firm and clear. Can't be too loud, can't be too soft. Reputed to be the most difficult part of this piece, and is not written by the master himself.

But of course, my most unstable piece is still A5... Ah, may the Almighty bless that my fingers don't slip when playing those staccato chords!!!
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Juan Carlos
post Feb 25 2009, 09:29 AM
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My plans for my Grade 6 next year (2010) are Scarlatti (almost ready already), Beethoven (a lovely piece, almost ready, too) and the Jazz Exercise for List C (which I've only listened to).
As exercises, I am also planning to fo some ABRSM Studies for the Grade and also to start doing the Prelude by Glière (as an alternative for List B) and Satie's Gnossienne, part of which I've already done.
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Fantasia in P major
post Feb 25 2009, 01:58 PM
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QUOTE(teoani @ Feb 25 2009, 07:24 AM) *

Heehee, I took and failed my Grade 6 about 15 years ago... Then I took and failed my Grade 7 and 8 again 16 years ago... haha...

This Friday will be my Grade 6 exam. Yes, B1's final bars are the ones that I often get very anxious about and make mistakes. It's like a sudden change of mood, and is supposed to sound very delicate, yet firm and clear. Can't be too loud, can't be too soft. Reputed to be the most difficult part of this piece, and is not written by the master himself.

But of course, my most unstable piece is still A5... Ah, may the Almighty bless that my fingers don't slip when playing those staccato chords!!!


Dear Teoani,

My son keeps saying that if Beethoven had written the last page himself he would not have finished it like that! He only likes fast pieces therefore even getting him to practise this is trying.

Waiting patiently for exam date notification to arrive.

Good Luck, Good Luck and even more Good Luck for this Friday!!!!!
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Tortellini
post Feb 25 2009, 05:31 PM
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QUOTE
The last line of B1, the Beethoven, is taking up a lot of practice time at the moment - it is proving to be quite tricky.


I think I've got the last line under control but I am stuck on ONE BAR on the second line of the third page - why can't I play it? I always stumble here. I'm beginning to think I will have to choose another piece to avoid that bar (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)
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Juan Carlos
post Feb 25 2009, 06:09 PM
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Which exactly is the bar you're stuck in, Tortellini?
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teoani
post Feb 26 2009, 03:27 AM
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Is it bar 28, particularly the last 3 triplets?
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eldatom
post Feb 26 2009, 07:41 AM
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QUOTE(teoani @ Feb 25 2009, 07:24 AM) *

Heehee, I took and failed my Grade 6 about 15 years ago... Then I took and failed my Grade 7 and 8 again 14 years ago... haha...

This Friday will be my Grade 6 exam. Yes, B1's final bars are the ones that I often get very anxious about and make mistakes. It's like a sudden change of mood, and is supposed to sound very delicate, yet firm and clear. Can't be too loud, can't be too soft. Reputed to be the most difficult part of this piece, and is not written by the master himself.

But of course, my most unstable piece is still A5... Ah, may the Almighty bless that my fingers don't slip when playing those staccato chords!!!



Good Luck tomorrow Teoani

I will be rooting for you.

ET
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Tortellini
post Feb 26 2009, 09:35 AM
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QUOTE
Is it bar 28, particularly the last 3 triplets?


Yes! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

Good luck on Friday Teoani!
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teoani
post Feb 26 2009, 10:41 AM
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Thank you for the good luck, eldatom and Tortellini! I'm still working hard on my A5 piece now. I must remember for all pieces not to go too fast, and particularly to slow down for sight-reading. This evening I will practice my aural tests again. I really want to pass this, and hope to achieve merit if possible.

Tortellini, for the last three triplets in B1's bar 28, is the stretch too large to play the notes accurately i.e. in terms of pitch and tempo? I had that problem. I always played the wrong notes, or missed them totally. Then I decided to play the RH's first/lowest note of each triplet using the LH. That means the LH plays C & E, B & D and A & C. The RH only plays the 2nd and 3rd notes in each triplet. Hence the stretch is eliminated. I showed it to my teacher, and she thinks it sounds acceptable, so that's what the examiner will hear. I hope the examiner will not hear a marked difference. I don't know who has such a large hand to be able to play this large stretch smoothly!

If you want to try the same approach, don't forget that the C, B and A on the LH are to be held longer than the top E, D and C (supposed to be played by the RH, but now moved down to the LH), and the original LH notes are to sound louder than the original RH notes. This coordination requires a fair bit of practice.

Another approach I have taught of is pedalling and playing staccato on RH, though it was less of a success for me in this bar. I was not very good at pedalling.
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Tortellini
post Feb 26 2009, 10:53 AM
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Great advise Teoani - thanks for taking the time to explain. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
I will definitely try your idea as I really don't think I am going to be able to master it without changing approach.
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