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Exam Nerves, When do yours kick in?

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jod	Jun 30 2011, 12:59 PM Post #1
Maestro Group: Banned Posts: 9899 Joined: 14-January 05 From: Burwell, Cambridgeshire Member No.: 2939	I know I'm prepared. There is no good reason to be nervous for this Grade 8 exam. I have prepared for performances before and been there and got through. I've even got two grade 8s already. However, like it or not it is tomorrow and the nerves are just beginning to kick in.

Sunrise	Jun 30 2011, 01:23 PM Post #2
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 3389 Joined: 7-June 10 From: Gibraltar Member No.: 106844	QUOTE(jod @ Jun 30 2011, 12:59 PM) I know I'm prepared. There is no good reason to be nervous for this Grade 8 exam. I have prepared for performances before and been there and got through. I've even got two grade 8s already. However, like it or not it is tomorrow and the nerves are just beginning to kick in. LOL yes, right on time!! Best of luck for tomorrow jod, I'll be thinking of you x

Mad Tom	Jun 30 2011, 02:01 PM Post #3
Unregistered	For reasons that I only partly understand, I seem to have regained the cool confidence that I last had as a seventeen year old. My performance nerves have almost entirely disappeared, and at my last two public outings I have felt only mild excitement, rather than the near crippling fear that I have felt on all my other public performances since returning to serious study of the piano ... 4 years ago. How long it will last is anyone's guess. Hopefully until after my DipABRSM re-take (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) The same fear and nervousness were in part responsible for failing the recital component of the DipABRSM exam last year. The other factors were inadequate preparation (what else), poor choice of the main piece, and a too-early exam slot that meant I had to be out of bed by 5:30 to get to the venue in time. Why is this? Partly it is external events putting an event like a short amateur piano performance into context ... in the grand scheme of things it is not that important. Partly it is being a better player, simply getting back into really serious practice these last few weeks, and finding that although I thought progress had stalled for several months, in reality the old subconscious was beavering away, integrating the lessons and stimuli of past practice. Partly it is a change in attitude. In the past I was a terrible "show-off" (without much justification (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) ). I would "hog"the piano terribly at events. Now I am happy to play my bit, then get out of the limelight and support and appreciate the other performers. And I would be constantly trying to impress everyone. Now I just try to understand the music, then share that understanding and project the feelings that the composer intended. Partly my entire brain/mind/way-of-thinking seem to have been reorganized through some shocks to the system

jod	Jun 30 2011, 03:13 PM Post #4
Maestro Group: Banned Posts: 9899 Joined: 14-January 05 From: Burwell, Cambridgeshire Member No.: 2939	Like your style Tom. Well I've done an honest appraisal. Aural thats sound should be OK as is sight reading. Scales and arpeggios: Take care before starting to mentalise task and play purposefully and musically. Don't let one start a rot off. These should be fine and they are the best prepared I've ever been for scales and arpeggios. Pieces: Bach. Keep focused and this should be fine: Actually this is the hardest as its the counterpoint, but musically this is the one all things being equal I have the greatest empathy with. Beethoven: Don't set off too fast! Actually that is the real key. I checked the one really difficult bit today (i.e. the last page) and as long as that is sound I'm OK. Debussy: Feel it not fight it. Enjoy the big chordal sections. In warm up recheck final page. As I said I'm as prepared as I can be. All I need now is to keep calm and carry on (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Oh and a good night's sleep (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) .

flobiano	Jun 30 2011, 07:30 PM Post #5
Prodigy Group: Members Posts: 1434 Joined: 27-August 09 Member No.: 73855	Good luck jod. Sounds like you are as prepared as you can be, you've worked really hard. Now go in, enjoy the performance and knock the examiner's socks off. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

lou24	Jun 30 2011, 07:59 PM Post #6
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 117 Joined: 9-December 09 From: North Lincolnshire Member No.: 83766	QUOTE(jod @ Jun 30 2011, 04:13 PM) Like your style Tom. Well I've done an honest appraisal. Aural thats sound should be OK as is sight reading. Scales and arpeggios: Take care before starting to mentalise task and play purposefully and musically. Don't let one start a rot off. These should be fine and they are the best prepared I've ever been for scales and arpeggios. Pieces: Bach. Keep focused and this should be fine: Actually this is the hardest as its the counterpoint, but musically this is the one all things being equal I have the greatest empathy with. Beethoven: Don't set off too fast! Actually that is the real key. I checked the one really difficult bit today (i.e. the last page) and as long as that is sound I'm OK. Debussy: Feel it not fight it. Enjoy the big chordal sections. In warm up recheck final page. As I said I'm as prepared as I can be. All I need now is to keep calm and carry on (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Good Luck If the nerves hit try Bach's Rescue Remedy it always works for me. Have also got to ask who it is you are chief pudding maker to and whats your fav pudding? Oh and a good night's sleep (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) .

onion	Jun 30 2011, 08:22 PM Post #7
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 367 Joined: 8-February 05 From: London Member No.: 3103	Hi jod, it is slightly reassuring to me to hear that you still get nervous before an exam. I remember listening to you sing in the Rothehithe recitals way back when, and it's strange to think that someone who can perform so well can be nervous. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Good luck for the exam tomorrow. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/fingersCrossed.gif)

Dulciana	Jun 30 2011, 11:09 PM Post #8
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 5718 Joined: 11-January 06 Member No.: 5811	Hi jod, I missed this thread and you've probably done it by now. I had my eye on the fact that that you were dong this soon, but didn't realise it was SO soon. Nothing to add to the thread except that I REALLY hope things have gone well for you. You really deserve it. Best of luck for results. x

stetenorve	Jul 1 2011, 06:22 AM Post #9
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 2773 Joined: 25-March 09 From: Born and bred in Derby. Now living on the outskirts of Chesterfield. Member No.: 60099	Best wishes for a positive result. I'm off soon to the library at Chesterfield for grade 3 piano...

jazzycat	Jul 1 2011, 08:22 AM Post #10
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 865 Joined: 13-March 09 Member No.: 58803	Good luck jod (IMG:style_emoticons/default/goodLuck.gif) Hope all goes well for you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

madbassoonist	Jul 1 2011, 11:05 AM Post #11
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 2212 Joined: 23-February 09 From: South Cambs Member No.: 56880	I think I saw your name on the candidate list at the centre this morning - at least I could only see one Grade 8 Piano, unless there was another sheet of paper underneath. Must be a nice break for the examiners to hear piano music after all those young violinists! All the best (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

jod	Jul 1 2011, 12:22 PM Post #12
Maestro Group: Banned Posts: 9899 Joined: 14-January 05 From: Burwell, Cambridgeshire Member No.: 2939	QUOTE(madbassoonist @ Jul 1 2011, 12:05 PM) I think I saw your name on the candidate list at the centre this morning - at least I could only see one Grade 8 Piano, unless there was another sheet of paper underneath. Must be a nice break for the examiners to hear piano music after all those young violinists! All the best (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Well, I did not like the piano. I played the scales first and in the middle of c# minor I could hear another pianist. The pieces were performed - Bach was full of errors. Debussy was largely OK, Beethoven best of the bunch. Sight reading was fine, Aural the best thing I did all exam. Enough to pass... by how much I don't know!

Alicia Ocean	Jul 1 2011, 02:13 PM Post #13
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 2359 Joined: 21-April 07 From: Teacher of Piano and Flute Member No.: 10842	Well done. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

sbhoa	Jul 1 2011, 03:57 PM Post #14
Maestro Group: Members Posts: 18930 Joined: 31-October 03 From: Tameside Member No.: 24	Nerves can start their first serious kick in when the exam entry goes in. After that they come and go at random, sometimes at 'sit in the corner and cry' level.

jod	Jul 1 2011, 04:09 PM Post #15
Maestro Group: Banned Posts: 9899 Joined: 14-January 05 From: Burwell, Cambridgeshire Member No.: 2939	QUOTE(sbhoa @ Jul 1 2011, 04:57 PM) Nerves can start their first serious kick in when the exam entry goes in. After that they come and go at random, sometimes at 'sit in the corner and cry' level. In my case it was the day after the entry went in. I felt fine then uh-oh what have I done. There was a stage where practise-wise everything was going wrong and that felt pretty desperate too.

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