Last Minute Tips?, 3 days left... Options

[lilly763]

I'm going to be resitting the Dip on Sunday - does anybody have any suggestions for the best way to prepare at this point? I've mainly been doing slow practice of trouble spots and running the whole program through at least once a day to build stamina...

[anacrusis]

It's such an individual thing that my answer might not help you at all...but here's what I did:

Made sure my programme notes (if that's a bit you're having to redo) were right, printed them, folded and stapled them, and had one more copy than I needed to hand. I was playing recorders, had an accompanist and a page turner, so had my copy, one for my accompanist, one for the examiner and one spare.

Practised two days before, focusing on small stuff, the gremlins, if you will. Did a run through in the correct order with my accompanist and page turner (they're friends and were staying with us for the weekend beforehand). I was doing Trinity dips so didn't have any technical or viva preparation to do. Made sure whatever I was wearing for the recital was clean and reasonably uncrumpled.

One day before - put my music in playing order, and the clothes ready. Didn't touch my instruments. I play better for a days' rest before any big "do". Rested, snoozed when I felt like it, and enjoyed the company of my friends - who were kind enough to take off my hands all decisions about meals etc. I'm lucky!

On the day - got up in good time, had a reasonable breakfast and not too much coffee, helped my husband pack the harpsichord in the car and transfer it to the venue. Mine was the slot directly after lunch, so we again arrived early for my husband to tune up, with all music, programmes, accompanist, page turner and instruments present and correct and then started as soon as everything was ready, which was five minutes before time.

Afterwards - helped my husband shift the harpsichord back into the car, slung my recorders in after it, and sloped off to Starbucks for some restorative Gingerbread Latte (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif).


Very best of luck (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif).

[lilly763]

It's such an individual thing that my answer might not help you at all...but here's what I did:

Made sure my programme notes (if that's a bit you're having to redo) were right, printed them, folded and stapled them, and had one more copy than I needed to hand. I was playing recorders, had an accompanist and a page turner, so had my copy, one for my accompanist, one for the examiner and one spare.

Practised two days before, focusing on small stuff, the gremlins, if you will. Did a run through in the correct order with my accompanist and page turner (they're friends and were staying with us for the weekend beforehand). I was doing Trinity dips so didn't have any technical or viva preparation to do. Made sure whatever I was wearing for the recital was clean and reasonably uncrumpled.

One day before - put my music in playing order, and the clothes ready. Didn't touch my instruments. I play better for a days' rest before any big "do". Rested, snoozed when I felt like it, and enjoyed the company of my friends - who were kind enough to take off my hands all decisions about meals etc. I'm lucky!

On the day - got up in good time, had a reasonable breakfast and not too much coffee, helped my husband pack the harpsichord in the car and transfer it to the venue. Mine was the slot directly after lunch, so we again arrived early for my husband to tune up, with all music, programmes, accompanist, page turner and instruments present and correct and then started as soon as everything was ready, which was five minutes before time.

Afterwards - helped my husband shift the harpsichord back into the car, slung my recorders in after it, and sloped off to Starbucks for some restorative Gingerbread Latte (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif).


Very best of luck (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif).

Thank you! Although as you said it is a very personal thing, I must confess that you have assuaged my guilt about something - I have noticed that in the past few days I really don't feel inclined to practice obsessively (unlike when I tried last session - even a few days before I was working desperately to solidify my memory..). about 15-30 minutes of actual practice, play through the programme, and I've been satisfied. I can't say I would be comfortable not playing all of the day before or the morning of though!

And thank you for the luck... it definitely doesn't hurt to be lucky! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)