Dipabrsm Viva Voce Practise, Would anyone give me some suggestions? Options

[AlexDBS]

If you copy a quote or sentence directly you must accredit the author and make it clear where the quote is, for example:

some writing of my own "this is a quote from someone else*" and then some more writing of my own.

(footnote) *name of author, title of article, source taken from

If you do not do this it's plagiarism and you could be disqualified from the exam if anyone recognises that quote.  Best to do little footnotes with numbers rather than *s I just can't (be bothered to) do it here.  Part of the test is to see that you can write well (considerably more difficult in a second language I know) but it's not acceptable to use someone else's good writing ability, even in your first language it's a skill to write beautifully.

Thanks a lot.
Should I change the sentences a little bit? I forget where I got the information from!

[AnotherPianist]

If you copy a quote or sentence directly you must accredit the author and make it clear where the quote is, for example:

some writing of my own "this is a quote from someone else*" and then some more writing of my own.

(footnote) *name of author, title of article, source taken from

If you do not do this it's plagiarism and you could be disqualified from the exam if anyone recognises that quote.  Best to do little footnotes with numbers rather than *s I just can't (be bothered to) do it here.  Part of the test is to see that you can write well (considerably more difficult in a second language I know) but it's not acceptable to use someone else's good writing ability, even in your first language it's a skill to write beautifully.

Thanks a lot.
Should I change the sentences a little bit? I forget where I got the information from!

In that case then you will have to change the sentences to something else: try to make your own description of the piece in that way using your own words. Even if you do it in your native language and then translate it to English afterwards (don't use babelfish though ;)).

If I read such a statement as the one you quoted I would be suspicious of plaigerism since it is almost 'too good' however if the student came across as very good in the viva then I'd believe that they'd written it. Any statement the examiners are suspicious of would probably be met with a question in the viva such as what do you mean by "The charm is more discreet and the mien more considered"? Or in what way does this show in the piece? etc. If the candidate cannot justify this then the examiners may become suspicious. An added problem with this is that I've never heard the word "mien" before, although this may just be down to me having poor vocabulary, but an unusual word would probably raise alarm bells in some cases.

The programme notes are a test of what you can write about the piece, okay you're not going to go back to original manuscripts and historical sources so will ultimately be relying on facts from other people (many sources though, not just one) for the factual requirements but descriptive work must be your description, not someone else's, after all it's you that they're examining! Even if you did quote the descriptions the examiners probably wouldn't be happy with that as they want to hear your description of the piece; unless, of course, you thought it was a particularly important quote and justified it's relevance such as: Bob the pianist, the first performer of this piece, said of it 'some insightful quote from Bob' this shows throughout the piece in this way, that way and the other way in bar something. The examiners are looking for what you have to say about the piece :).

[AlexDBS]

I have a problem about music.
People say Impromptus have improvisational feel. However, they are written out. What is improvisational feel?

P.S. I am going to have my exam this Friday. My teacher said I played well in the previous lesson :D. Wish I can keep this to my exam. I am worrying about the viva and quick study. What preparation can I do in this two days?

[AnotherPianist]

I have a problem about music.
People say Impromptus have improvisational feel. However, they are written out. What is improvisational feel?

Chopin improvised some of his compositions and then wrote them down. Thus the compositions are improvisations, and could well be said to have an improvisational feel even though they were later written down. An improvisational feel simply means that it sounds/feels like an improvisation even though it may be written down and may even be planned. If you agree with the statement and are playing Impromptus then you should consider this in the way you play it. I don't know how familiar you are with the common meaning of the word impromptu in English but it actually means something that is unplanned and happens spontaneously; this could be why such pieces are given the title, they are improvisational in style.

P.S. I am going to have my exam this Friday. My teacher said I played well in the previous lesson :D.  Wish I can keep this to my exam. I am worrying about the viva and quick study. What preparation can I do in this two days?

If you feel you are prepared enough you could have a rest. If you feel you need to do something perhaps you could read through your programme notes again to refresh your memory of what you wrote, and think about what questions they might lead to. The best thing to do (easier said than done) is just to try not to put so much pressure on yourself: you can only do your best, so make your aim to do as well as you can and be happy with that. Worry about everything else later. Glad your playing is going well, good luck for the exam :). Let us know how it goes.

[AlexDBS]

Piano exam today!!!



My first impression on the examinors are that they are very friendly and nice. They do put me in ease. Thanks God!!!

Talk about the recital first. The first and second movement including the introduction were quite good, but I skipped many notes in the third movement. I think the first two will pass but not that hopeful in the third.

The sonata ran quite smoothly, except I turned two pages instead of one in the first movement, which caused me a pause when turning back. Don't know if it matters or not.

The impromptu was not as good as I expect, especially when playing in the piano that I was unfamiliar with. Don't know if I pass or not.

The preludes were the best.



I did the viva before quick study.

- Which piece do you like most in your performance? (I answered the Gershwin's)

- What is the style of Gershwin's music?

- What other composition did Gershwin composed?

- Where did Bach come from?

- (I forget the exact question)Where did Bach spend his height of his career?

- Name some other composers at Bach's time.

- What is the difference between the instrument Bach used and the piano? How does it affect your approach?

- As there is no dynamics indication in this movement (the second movement), how do you decide the dynamics?

- What is a fugue?

- What is the key of this fugue and does it remain in the same key in the whole movement? (I don't know why I cannot answer this question!!!)

- What is the difference between Baroque music and classical music?

- Tell me about the structure of the sonata.

- What other compositions did Mozart write?

- Can you think of another Mozart's composition that is similar with the theme of the second movement in the sonata? (I said I have no idea but I can name another composition that is similar with the third movement)

- Where did Schubert come from?

- What was Schubert well-known for?

- As a painist, what is the most differcult in preparing for the impormptu? (I forget the exact question. I said the phrasing is the most differcult for a pianist. For a violinist, they can play a phrase in one bow but a pianist cannot)

- What other things you want to tell us? (I can't think of any at that time but now I think I should mentioned something about the Mannheim influence on the sonata.)



Finally the quick study is the easier than I expect. However, I was nervous and I think I play better when prasticing. I am not sure if it pass or not.

Probability of passing the exam: 48.286549%

Anyway, thanks for everyone who have helped me.

[SomePianist]

Piano exam today!!!

...

Probability of passing the exam: 48.286549%

Anyway, thanks for everyone who have helped me.

Well done on getting through it.

If your estimated probability of passing is transferred directly into marks then you will have passed!

[AnotherPianist]

Congratulations on completing the exam and good luck for the results :).