Grade 6 - 2009/10 Options

[teoani]

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.

Hope it will be of help! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Don't forget to check with your teacher if this approach suits you. It can be very tough to change back once you get used to it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[Juan Carlos]

I should have thought splitting the semiquavers of the triplets between both hands would require lots of smoothness in the passage. Maybe you'd be better off isolating the RH triplets and focusing on them with greater attention, possibly practising with note-doubling in pairs (E A - E A - A E - A E - D F - D F - F D - F D, etc., if I'm not wrong), using different rhythms, extra slowly concentrating on the sensations of the stretch, etc. rather than playing one semiquaver with the LH and the others with the RH. Very perceptive ears might feel the tiny break unless you're great at smoothness.

[Fantasia in P major]

Dear All,

Is it possible to get quieter in Bar 21 ??

How is it possible to get smooth legato in Bar 36 with that fingering for the RH semi-quavers ??

Back to Buccaneering!!

[teoani]

I should have thought splitting the semiquavers of the triplets between both hands would require lots of smoothness in the passage. Maybe you'd be better off isolating the RH triplets and focusing on them with greater attention, possibly practising with note-doubling in pairs (E A - E A - A E - A E - D F - D F - F D - F D, etc., if I'm not wrong), using different rhythms, extra slowly concentrating on the sensations of the stretch, etc. rather than playing one semiquaver with the LH and the others with the RH. Very perceptive ears might feel the tiny break unless you're great at smoothness.

Hmm, I think you have a point. I hope I did ok during the exam. Will let you know if the examiner comes back with any comments on that bar. I did not pursue the stretch method, because it hurt my hand and wrist.

Dear All,

Is it possible to get quieter in Bar 21 ??

How is it possible to get smooth legato in Bar 36 with that fingering for the RH semi-quavers ??

Back to Buccaneering!!

B1's bar 21? Yes you can get quieter, if your crescendo in bar 20 is sufficient, and you still maintain at mf when you are at the start of bar 21. I tend to play softly, so I am asked to imagine mp instead of p in the middle of bar 21 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

In bar 36, try some pedalling? I only pedalled 2 semiquavers to smooth them out, so it was a short and quick pedalling, and the only one point I needed to pedal in the piece.

Have fun with C1! I think it was my best piece during the exam. I missed only a few notes, and manage to nail the final jump on the pair of Bs! I always missed them during practice. Isn't it a terrific piece?

[Fantasia in P major]

Dear Teoani,

Well done on your exam!! I'm sure the examiner liked your programme especially with the change from the calm Adagio to those fighting Bucaneers!!

I agree with the pedal being used during that Bar 36 will get son to give it a go!

[Car Expert]

I'll be doing my Grade 6 exam in the summer. I've chosen the Sonata in D minor (A3), Molto Tranquillo Semplice (B3) and Jazz Exercise No.2 (C2).

I did originally choose the Courante (A2), but I found I wasn't making as much progress on that piece as the other two, so I changed it, and it has turned out to be a good decision in the end.

Car Expert

[Juan Carlos]

I'll be doing my Grade 6 exam in the summer. I've chosen the Sonata in D minor (A3), Molto Tranquillo Semplice (B3) and Jazz Exercise No.2 (C2).

I did originally choose the Courante (A2), but I found I wasn't making as much progress on that piece as the other two, so I changed it, and it has turned out to be a good decision in the end.

Car Expert

So, car expert ... how do you go about articualting the Scarlatti piece? Do you stick to staccato - or slightly staccato - all along or do you combine staccato-legato, etc. The ABRSM CD offers a version where the staccato is sort of softened by some legato (mostly slurring the first two quavers in the three-quaver groups and detaching the 3rd). Do you do that, too?
I'm planning to choose the Jazz exercise, too. Is it engaging?

[Car Expert]

I'll be doing my Grade 6 exam in the summer. I've chosen the Sonata in D minor (A3), Molto Tranquillo Semplice (B3) and Jazz Exercise No.2 (C2).

I did originally choose the Courante (A2), but I found I wasn't making as much progress on that piece as the other two, so I changed it, and it has turned out to be a good decision in the end.

Car Expert

So, car expert ... how do you go about articualting the Scarlatti piece? Do you stick to staccato - or slightly staccato - all along or do you combine staccato-legato, etc. The ABRSM CD offers a version where the staccato is sort of softened by some legato (mostly slurring the first two quavers in the three-quaver groups and detaching the 3rd). Do you do that, too?
I'm planning to choose the Jazz exercise, too. Is it engaging?

I'm going for the detaching of the 3rd notes of the three-quaver groups route. That's what I feel sounds best IMO.

As for the Jazz piece, I felt I got into it quite quickly. You do have to be aware of some of the note lengths in certain places (particularly on page 1 and the last two lines on page 2) which might catch you out. For example, in bar 4, I found it tempting at first to ignore the minim tied onto the quaver, and in bar 8, it's tempting to sustain the second quaver in the bass clef for longer than it actually says! Getting the rhythm right on page 2 (first three lines) took quite a while though but it's all sorted now.

I play it swung, like it is on the CD. Although I played it like that in one of my lessons and my teacher was not convinced that it was correct even after listening to the CD. Therefore she phoned up the AB and they confirmed it's fine to play it like that.

Car Expert

[Tortellini]

Molto Tranquillo Semplice (B3)

I love this piece too! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) I have just started learning it - although my version is "poco tranquillo" at the moment (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

So far I am doing:
A5 Clementi - can play it but have to speed it up a LOT
B1 Beethoven - getting there if I can just master that tricky bar
B3 Steinhammer - just started
C2 Peterson - can play it but again, too slow

I would really also like to learn the Scarlatti, Mozart and Satie.

I think the pieces on the current programme are just beautiful - I might be on Grade 6 for a very long time (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[madbassoonist]

I agree that this year's syllabus is much better than normal.

Having heard all of the pieces on the CD, I like them all, but especially the Scarlatti (quite difficult to play though) - and C1 (The Buccaneer) is great - but I keep missing the notes!

[Fantasia in P major]

I think that the ABRSM have made a really good selection of Grade 6 pieces this session. Son wants to learn the Satie and Stenhammar after exam having previously played the Solfegietto.

I've just listened to the recent Podcast on how they make their selections which was really interesting and informative.

[Juan Carlos]

I think the Grade 6 2009-2010 syllabus is really excellent!
I'm gradually falling in love with most pieces and, as rarely happens, I'm preparing two for List B: the Adagio by Beethoven (a little gem in his production) and Glière's Prelude which I fell in love almost instantly but discarded as too difficult. However, in about 5 days, I was able to learn the first and a half pages from memory and I now have to speed them up, perfect the fluency, make it sound as the water-colour backdrop that the Teaching Notes suggest, etc., etc.. Anyway, having achieved so much in such a short time is great, considering I'm taking Grade 6 in June 2010, which gives me plenty of time to polish up this, the Scarlatti, where dexterity and neatness of sound are all-important and Beethoven's Adagio, where expression is foremost.
For List C I'd love to play Satie's Gnossienne, but for "therapeutic" reasons (I need to become more familiar with modern style) I'll choose the Jazz Exercise, which doesn't drive me crazy but which I like quite a lot.

[Fantasia in P major]

Dear All,

Just a quick note to say that son took his Grade 6 exam on March 27 and achieved a distinction.

Many thanks for all your tips and help when needed!!

How are you going with your pieces for the summer Juan Carlos, Tortellini, MadBassoonist and Car Expert?

[notmusimum]

Dear All,

Just a quick note to say that son took his Grade 6 exam on March 27 and achieved a distinction.

Many thanks for all your tips and help when needed!!

How are you going with your pieces for the summer Juan Carlos, Tortellini, MadBassoonist and Car Expert?

Congratulations to your son.

[teoani]

Yahoo! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yay.gif) Another Grade 6 distinction! Hi-Five!