Exams, why do people do it?? To show off?? Options

[pianist_1210]

HI everyone, I just get to a stage where I hated these music exams!!
So why do all of us do them?? Is it like a chance to show off or anything?? I just feel to show off is not a good idea for learning an instrument...( hated it when people ask me what grades I have and that they are grade8s and diplomas ) So why do we want to show off?? It's just not right to do exams purely because off showing off!!

[Ayshah]

We live in a society that has Exams, i.e school, Uni etc. Its not going to change over night.

Regards the music exams. They are a choice. A student does not have to do them. However they are markers/guidelines as to the level you are at and generally by saying you are at G8 level, one knows that you are more advanced 'technically' if nothing else, than a G1 player. It relays information about your standard.

It has become expected that the large majority of music students do take the exams, but the Unis and Conservatoires do not insist that you have these exams. They would ask for written confirmation from your teacher or another similiar person that you have attained the level they require. I also know students who have only taken G5 theory and G8 practical, by- passing all the other exams.

It is certainly not just for showing off purposes! If you are not happy taking them - then its simple, dont do them!

[Gae]

Exams should be seen as a stepping stone and method of improving and judging your own ability on a particular instrument rather than the be-all-and-end-all of musical ability.
I do agree though. So many people become so obsessed with Exams and get highly competitive about which Grade they're on or what mark they've got etc. Unfortunately, we do live in a highly competitive world, so this kind of attitude is to be expected really isn't it?
I myself, only officially have a Grade 7 Certificate but passed that level of playing a long time ago just by totally immersing myself into the world of music over the years. I have decided though, to do Grade 8 for the following reasons.
1)As a stepping stone for the Diploma. Having letters after your name is always a good thing for a private teacher
2)To finally complete a system of Grades that I started 30 years ago which will give me a feeling of completion and achievement.
Exams are important of course but all the rivalry and competitiveness around it has nothing to do with music at all!

Gae

[sarah-flute]

Exams are (or should be) a way to see where you have got to, to test out your skills in a controlled environment, to help you see how you are doing and give you a way to realistically compare your skils to others/or where they need to be. They are also a chance to get a few pieces up to as high a standard as possible, an incentive to make sure you know your scales, and also they test your musicianship as well as your instrumental skills.

[neil.clarinet]

I can not agree more with what people have said so far. Exams are an indication of what level you are at, and should help you reach certain levels through their broad syllabus. They are not essential, but they give certification of yur playing or theoretical ability which can be an advantage. For example, I knew that having a distinction for grade 8 would be good to have on my CV. And some universities exept grade 8 practical and theory as an alternative to A level music. And of course, you now get UCAS points for AB exams.

It is definitely NOT showing off. I don't know where you are coming from in saying this.

[joyjoy]

QUOTE (Gae @ May 18 2005, 10:01 AM)

Exams should be seen as a stepping stone and method of improving and judging your own ability on a particular instrument rather than the be-all-and-end-all of musical ability.

Hi all

I agree with Gae totally :) For me, I don't worry about what grades I get in exams, although admitidly the higher I get the more pleased I am) as I do them as I enjoy the challenge of taking exams!! Very much!! :) Even now, being an adult, I love them even more too, and its better as I'm more confident now, with regards to nerves in exams etc . For me, it is a way to mark my progress, for example, I have been playing the violin for about 9 months now, I think, and I am doing grade 1 in July as I've never taken an exam in violin before so I'm sure the experience will be differnt to piano exams. So it will be a nice challenge and also to situate my ability at the minute too - assessing myself.

Joy

[noodle]

QUOTE (neil.clarinet @ May 18 2005, 10:43 AM)

I can not agree more with what people have said so far. Exams are an indication of what level you are at, and should help you reach certain levels through their broad syllabus. They are not essential, but they give certification of yur playing or theoretical ability which can be an advantage.

Me too. As for showing off, what do you mean?

[july]

I do exams because I think the components (aurals, sight-reading and performing!) are valuable, essential skills, and I find they are easier to acquire through practising for an exam (and feeling proud of yourself when you've passed it - not showing off!) than just so, without a goal in mind! I can say (for myself) that I need this extra push sometimes to get my act together! It's working towards a goal that makes music exams so appealing for me!

[bassmadmatt]

I don't think its showing off to take exams, although there will always be some people who do take them just to show off. I'm sure the majority of people don't though.

I'm working through grade exams in Bass guitar and Percussion at the moment. I'm taking them because I'm self-taught and still teaching myself, and taking these exams helps me to assess myself, and gives me a structured target/method of learning. If I wasn't taking the exams, I'd never of bothered learning things like scales on bass, but now I've learnt them and they're always proving useful. Without the exams, I wouldn't really have anything to aim towards.

[crazy_purple_piano_freak]

QUOTE (joyjoy @ May 18 2005, 11:27 AM)

I don't worry about what grades I get in exams, although admitidly the higher I get the more pleased I am) as I do them as I enjoy the challenge of taking exams!!

i also think that its good to see how you're getting on and exams are a good way of monitering your progress but if you dont enjoy playing the music for the exams you shouldnt really feel the need to do them because you can test your ability to do them in other ways...its not all about exams!

[Fen]

I think that most people love a metric, and being able to say "I've got grade x" is the most obvious metric there is for playing an instrument if you're after a metric that performers and non-performers can grasp. Not an ideal metric, but it's an imperfect world. I suppose another option is to say that you could play a particular piece of music convincingly, but effectively that's implying a "grade" for that piece.
I have to second what July says - they're an excellent motivator. I know I need the stress of something to work towards to get me practising.

[sarah-flute]

I think it's clear from these answers that for most people the last possible reason on the list, assuming it's there at all, is "to show off"... so I guess you got your answer. I'm sure I know very few people who take exams to show off.... a few... but only a few.

If you're unhappy doing exams, then don't do them... and if you're unhappy about showing off.... don't do it.......

[Car Expert]

I don't like doing exams, but I think they are a good idea because you need a good idea of how well you're doing. If you don't do well, your teacher will be quite cross with you.

I've got a Grade 2 exam in June so I hope I do well!

[sbhoa]

If you don't do well it can also be the teacher's reponsibility......
Not always of course as things can go wrong on the day.

[pianist_1210]

QUOTE (Car Expert @ May 18 2005, 06:07 PM)

I don't like doing exams, but I think they are a good idea because you need a good idea of how well you're doing. If you don't do well, your teacher will be quite cross with you. I've got a Grade 2 exam in June so I hope I do well!

Yeah but sometimes an exam doesn't really mean how good you actually is....ie. if you're felling really bad on the day, you might do much worse than what you normally did... therefore I think exams ain't representative for your abilty.