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> Exams, coming soon!!!
maya3
post Jun 15 2009, 06:26 PM
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hows it going lottie?

I had my second last lesson before the exam today...

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lottie
post Jun 15 2009, 10:17 PM
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Och I'm at the giving up stage.

It's only grade 3 but my scales and sight-reading are rubbish.

I can play my pieces beautifully when totally relaxed but when I think about the exam I tense up and my vibrato becomes uneven, I miss my double stopping and I foul the adjacent strings with my bow.

I feel like such a beginner!!!

But my excuse is I've been so busy with work my practising barely exists!!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

( is that the correct spelling of practising? it looks odd (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) or am I just tired (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) )

Oh... and I haven't even thought about the aural yet....
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jojo
post Jun 16 2009, 07:44 AM
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QUOTE(lottie @ Jun 15 2009, 11:17 PM) *

I can play my pieces beautifully when totally relaxed but when I think about the exam I tense up and my vibrato becomes uneven



I know a little vibrato will give you a slightly higher mark (maybe) but it is not necessary at grade 3 (or is it with viola???) so why not just leave it out all together?

A perfectly played piece without vibrato will give you higher marks than one with a wobbly vibrato I think and it will be a worry off your mind too, just in case those nerves will play up?

by the way, how's your treble clef sight reading going? improving? doing lots of practice there? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
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maya3
post Jun 16 2009, 08:08 AM
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I agree with jojo, don't stress too much about the vibrato for the grade 3. i didn't even start learning it until I'd passed my grade 3.
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jojo
post Jun 16 2009, 09:56 AM
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QUOTE(jojo @ Jun 16 2009, 08:44 AM) *



by the way, how's your treble clef sight reading going? improving? doing lots of practice there? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Sorry ALTO not TREBLE (was thinking in double bass mode) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
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lottie
post Jun 16 2009, 09:53 PM
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I had my second last lesson tonight before the exam.

We ran through the scales and I made mistakes in each one and one arpeggio I started three times!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Partly nerves and partly lack of time to practice but it makes me feel quite shaky. The pieces are okay though.


Now I have to try to find the aural cd... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
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lottie
post Jun 21 2009, 09:32 PM
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I had my run-through with the accompanist this morning - she was terrible (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

She's keeping one of the pieces to practice before wednesday at my insistence! - she was just planning to "muddle through"!!!


Okay, I know she was sight-reading and it's only grade 3 but really!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)
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maya3
post Jun 22 2009, 02:15 PM
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that doesn't sound so good lottie.

i had my last lesson today and ahve my rehearsal with the accompanist on wednesday. i'm starting to get a little bit nervous.
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nova
post Jun 23 2009, 12:25 PM
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QUOTE(lottie @ Jun 3 2009, 10:41 PM) *
I have my date now - 24th June at 11.19am Yeeek (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yay.gif)


Best of luck! And to maya3 too.

I'm doing one next term, so I have the summer break to forget how to play, and then plenty of time to get really worked up about it.

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jojo
post Jun 23 2009, 01:01 PM
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QUOTE(nova @ Jun 23 2009, 01:25 PM) *



I'm doing one next term, so I have the summer break to forget how to play, and then plenty of time to get really worked up about it.

N


I have just changed teachers last week...
with my previous teacher I decided I was going to enter for grade 5 this winter (and it was me telling him: I am going to do grade 5 and him thinking I could do it), BUT my new teacher may have different plans, I will have to ask him what he thinks, he may think I am not ready for grade 5, in that case I will follow his advice as he seems to be MUCH more clued up than my previous teacher and all his students get distinction apparently. We'll see then (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mellow.gif)
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lottie
post Jun 23 2009, 02:57 PM
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(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I think I'm going to pull out of tomorrow's exam.

I have a problem with my Uni coursework to be sorted by Friday and the library server is down... the dog is at the vet and I don't know when I'll have to go and get her.. I'm supposed to have a lesson at 6.30 tonight which I may have to miss because of the vet.... - I didn't have time to practice yesterday and it's now 4pm and I haven't practiced today (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I actually feel quite ill. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)
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jojo
post Jun 23 2009, 04:37 PM
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QUOTE(lottie @ Jun 23 2009, 03:57 PM) *

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I think I'm going to pull out of tomorrow's exam.

I have a problem with my Uni coursework to be sorted by Friday and the library server is down... the dog is at the vet and I don't know when I'll have to go and get her.. I'm supposed to have a lesson at 6.30 tonight which I may have to miss because of the vet.... - I didn't have time to practice yesterday and it's now 4pm and I haven't practiced today (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I actually feel quite ill. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/thereThere.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)
sorry to hear Lottie, only you know if you have to/should cancel, I know if you don't do it you'll feel disappointed but from experience...'you will be alright', I had to cancel my grade 3 violin for unexpected circumstances too, it felt terrible back then but 'I got over it' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
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Minstrel
post Jun 23 2009, 08:50 PM
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I hope your doggie's better soon, nothing too serious I hope.

Don't worry about the exam - if you can't make it then don't. You won't be the first - or last - to find that circumstances on the day get the better of you. Even professional performers occasionally have to pull out of a gig and/or get a dep if something major crops up. Nobody can do everything all the time and it sounds to me like your uni and dog priorities may well be higher on the list than 'just' a grade 3 viola exam. Missing it will not make you a different player, but maybe a happier human tomorrow night if at least everything else is sorted.

Incidentally, is there any chance that you could get hold of the rep, explain your predicament especially with the uni work and ask if there is any possibility you could do it either at the end of this week or next week?

Good luck, whatever you decide, and, whatever you do, keep playing that lovely viola.
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lottie
post Jun 23 2009, 10:01 PM
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Thank you for the kind thoughts.

The dog's okay - she spends a day at the vet every three months or so for a system of routine blood tests for a condition she has. Today I was waiting for the vet to phone to say she was okay and to come and get her... and when I hadn't heard I was starting to worry. I did phone them to find the vet has left a rather strange message on a stranger's mobile because he didn't dial mine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) I shouldn't laugh but he's a 'boisterous' chap so the message will be a shouty/garbly one and totally confusing for the poor recipient (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

My lesson was awful.. I couldn't play the scales and my sightreading was terrible: even my rock-solid sense of rhythm had departed so we gave up... my thumb was so tight my hand was all out of shape anyway.

Tonight I've played for an hour and don't sound much better (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) If my sightreading is in sharps I'll be fine, if it's in flats I'm scuppered... don't know why - it's just spooking me.

So in the morning my neighbour is coming with me (kind of to make sure I get there) but I may still chicken-out. The library server is back up so I'm going straight to Uni after the exam. The first thing to go when I'm stressed is sleep so it's going to be a long night tonight (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) .

Can dizzy spells be caused by stress? Oh and my self-obsessed M-i-L is hassling me too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)
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Minstrel
post Jun 23 2009, 10:30 PM
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Good to hear it's nothing serious at the vet's.

Good luck whatever you decide tomorrow. Tune your ears and hand in by playing slowly and concentrating on your bowing and tone if you have a practice at home beforehand. Then just relax and go and perform to your encouraging audience of one - remember the examiner is on your side. Remember, too, the banana half an hour before you play, then two deep breaths and a smile before you walk through the door. Sightreading?.... play everything beautifully and musically and if you slip on the key, hope the examiner's instrument is something like flute which doesn't go anywhere near alto clef!

As for the MiL - (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) Mine's called the Outlaw..... I'm grinning and bearing for you.
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