My first exam of the session occurs this week and I am going to meet the student at the exam centre to support her as her teacher. When I mentioned this to my own teacher, she was very surprised and asked me why I'm going. She also asked me if I was charging them for my time. It seemed to me that she thought I was being silly and there was absolutely no need for me to be there.

I expected that it was usual for teachers to offer to be at the examining centre with their student at an exam? I've asked all my students whether they would like me to go with them (if the exam is within a reasonable travel distance) and I see it as just part and parcel of being their teacher. I don't charge them extra when I need to photocopy things for them or go out or if I need to spend time on something to do with their lessons outside of the lesson time - and we all know that teachers do a lot of work for lessons at home!

I wondered what everyone else does? Of course if you are accompanying, that is a different matter, but just to be present at the exam session as a supportive teacher?

Well I see it as my reponsibility to be there. I think the parents like that they have someone (who they employ) who can lead and manage such matters...it's something less for them to worry about.

I also like to see my students before the exam and just make sure they're in a positive, confident and calm frame of mind.

I will be attending two of my students exams next week and won't be charging anyone for it.

No, I regard it as their solo flight.

I attend practical exams always. I accompany my own simnging and recorder students but I never charge for doing so. I help to create a happy and calm atmosphere in the waiting room and am on hand to answer any last minute questions. I do not go to the theory exam centre. They are on their own for those tests.

I remember when I was growing up my piano teacher was there for a few of my exams. Mostly though it was just me and my parents.

I haven't been to any of my student's exams, mostly because they tend to clash with other lessons or work that I have and I can't afford to take the time out. I trust that their parents will be there with them to offer support and keep them positive.

If I had a student who I felt could do with the extra support and I didn't have any other commitments at that time I would probably make the effort to go along. It would be great to see their immediate reaction to the whole process and could be useful in working on not just the music but the emotional preparation for future exams.

Yes, me too.

Me, too. As a piano teacher, I've never asked if anyone would like me to be there and no-one has ever asked me to go along. My teachers never went to my exams and I suppose that's why I've never thought of doing it.

Maybe if I had a very shy student who asked for my support, I might go, but this hasn't happened...yet!

I like to think they'll all be confident enough to go without me.

hmmm, interesting. At least though I know that I am not being unreasonable - the way my piano teacher asked me why on earth I was going with my student, I thought it was a crazy thing to do that I didn't know about!

Most students have their parents to take them, so generally I don't need to go, but I think it is nice to offer.

This particular student has never taken exams in England before and it is her grade 5. Both her parents are out of the country at the moment and her driver is taking her from school to the exam. I would have offered anyway, as I do with all my students, but I especially thought with her that I needed to suggest that I could meet her there and both her and her mum were very grateful.

I won't cancel lessons to go but do make an effort sometimes if I'm free.

The only time teachers have attended my sons' exams is when they were accompanying them or if the exam was at their house. My son's first violin teacher accompanied all his pupils' exams and did a fine job of winding them all up before they went in. He tried to give them a lesson in the warm up room (and they could usually have done with many more lessons!) and got them really worried and nervous. He wasn't even a very good accompanist but didn't like me to do it as I 'played everything a bit fast' (in other words, at the right speed, but most of his pupils weren't well enough prepared to play at the right speed).

Goodness, what a rant. We've had nothing to do with him for years but I'm clearly still scarred by it! Anyway, on the whole I think it's lovely if a teacher is there (apart from the above, but he was an idiot) but I wouldn't expect it as I know it's a big chunk out of a teachers' time. In my experience teachers are always exceedingly generous with their time anyway and I'm very grateful for their commitment.

I think it will make a huge difference to her having you there under those circumstances.

I've always taken my children and not taken it for granted that anyone else will be there. If the piano teacher has turned up it's lovely to see her, as she has a calm and easy way of talking to the students before they go in, but we don't assume she'll be there. For guitar exams, the teacher has always been there so far and, again, has a great way of talking through things with the students. He's also a great help with the final tuning when the students arrive, as nerves often set in at that point

Like Banjogirl, we very much appreciate the fact that they're giving up even more of their time to be there.

Me too.
I think the support of a parent or friend is preferable to that of a teacher in the minutes before the exam - when they really just need persuading not to do a runner...

There probably isn't a right or wrong answer to this and some situations, such as the one Cadence describes, seem to merit the teacher's attendance more than others. However, I think we should bear in mind that no matter how good our relationship with our pupils and how calm and reassuring our manner, the presence of a teacher will not necessarily make a child less nervous and could indeed have the opposite effect as, for some, pleasing - or displeasing - their teacher could be the part about which they are most anxious. It may therefore be better to stay away. Just a thought...

Personally, as I teach five days a week, I've never been free to attend my pupils' exams.

I make a point of being there for a student's first exam, and have sometimes travelled quite considerable distances to do so - but then, I'm nosy and I like having a look at other exam centres. The only times I haven't been were for adult students who were quite confident and (I think) would have been a bit embarrassed to have their teacher tagging along.

My teachers never came to exams when I was learning as a child, but my organ teacher came to both exams to act as bouncer on the church door!

I don't have any option as our exams are a bit like a special visit. I'm the only person for miles doing AB exams and our representative brings the examiner along and I have to act as hostess and accompanist.
I have to do everything from pushing the piano into the exam room to providing the tea, orange juice, paper hankies, spare recorders etc. and keeping candidates and parents calm. So I am always there for all my candidates. It's great - like a party - but without the noise of course. Thank goodness it only happens once a year - at the end I am knackered. It happens this coming Sunday - all systems go!

I make every effort to be there. I often accompany my pupils and therefore have no choice! I once drove 150 miles to be with a pupil for her exam!

Not usually, but the last couple of times I have gone, but only because I was free with nothing else particularly to do. The centre's only 5 minutes from me so it wasn't far to go.

Interesting reading the responses. Piano teachers seem less likely to go, because there is no need, whereas instrumental and singing teachers who also accompany are used to going because of that.

I make every effort to attend nowadays. I used not to, but I've found in general that it helps the pupils to have a friendly face there. I have also been there to supply music and a flute when necessary, and a tuner to help them get set up reasonably well before they go in.

My first flute teacher used to accompany me, and I felt much happier about exams because she was there too.

Hey,

I know i'm not a teacher but I would like to just say one thing.
I personally like my teachers being there it just makes me feel more relaxed about the exam. I've always been glad to see them there.

Also 'most' of the teachers I have had, have been there for my exam and have never accompanied me, they have just been there for support. None of them have ever charged for being there.

Anyway just my opinion


Lisa x

I'm not a teacher either, but my piano teacher has never come to any of my exams (5 of them). With my clarinet exam a school music teacher did the accompanying (and didn't charge for it), since it was a school visit, and my clari teacher couldn't make it.

I think it's better without your actual teacher being there, except maybe for very young children or those taking their first exam, because then they won't be able to say afterwards "well piece A went well but piece B went wrong here and here", which could make the pupil more worried about their results. I know it would for me. I don't even like it when the parent who's picking me up asks "so how did it go? how well do you think you've done?" all the way home in the car!

Nick

I've only ever attended when I've been accompanying as I'm usually busy with other teaching at work. However, with all my higher grade college students who are leaving this year, I'm planning on attending their exams for moral support if I'm not teaching. The preparation for their exams has felt more like a joint effort at times so I'd like to be able to support them!

My piano teacher was with me for my grade 1 clarinet exam as my accompanist.
That was sort of weird!

For my grade 5 clarinet I'll have my clarinet teacher as accompanist.
For the few piano exams I've done my teachers have never been there and I think it's pretty uncommon with piano.
I've not attended any of the exams my piano students have done.

I don't normally attend pupils exams as I think it would make the pupil more nervous, and I don't usually have the time to go. I think preparation is important, and always make sure the pupil knows what to expect for the day of the exam. As someone has already mentioned, I think the pupil should be supported by parents/family/friends on the day of the exam rather than a teacher. However, I accept that there are sometimes circumstances in which it would be good for the teacher to attend - it depends on the situation.

I've only done one exam, grade 3 flute, and my teacher came because she was accompanying me. It was great having her there though, for moral support, to convince me that it would all be ok. And also, having a familiar face in the room with the scary examiner.

Mum was talking to my piano teacher who was giving us the details of the exam, and mum said "Right, so we'll meet you there then". My teacher said "What? Oh no, I won't be coming." I said "WHAT?!" Because I didn't even think about needing a piano accompaniment. She said "Well, it's got nothing to do with me really"

But this year we're taking my flute teacher to the exam centre, and giving her a lift Because she's blind and can't drive, and there's no public transport on a Sunday ( she specifically said any day BUT Sunday)

I attend exams if I can - it's not always possible. It's probably because my own teacher did, and it was the one thing about her that I liked...

It obviously depends on parents/pupils etc, but I try to be there to make soothing noises and remind them that it's not the end of the world if anything goes wrong, and for those who like that sort of thing - chew the exam over a bit when it's over.

Also, my pupils were the last ones in before lunch last week, so I was able to stick my head out the waiting room and hear my last pupil's pieces quite clearly, and it was a good feeling myself to be able to listen to him making a pretty good job of them and think, "I taught him how to do that!"

I have four students doing exams next week... two first timers (grade 1) and two who have done other exams.

I had a phone call from the parents of one of the g1s last week saying that unless I was there to accompany him they would pull him out! (Apparently he couldn't go into the exam room with complete strangers - which I think is a little odd - he is 8 after all...)

I had originally told all of them I wouldn't be able to accompany them and made arrangements for someone else to do it, but after that phone call, which somewhat threw me, I rearranged my schedule to fit them in. It means missing a few rehearsals, but I felt so guilty that the child wouldn't be able to do his exam that I couldn't see another way around it.

Did I do the right thing?!

I think only you can say whether you have done the right thing as you know the child/pupil but I would probably have considered arranging things if possible. I have a pupil doing Grade 1 in a couple of weeks and the plan was originally that I would go with her if I could arrange it. I had asked her if she would like me to be there as a) it is her first exam and b) my piano teacher was usually there when I took exams which I appreciated a lot. Unfortunately the date came through for a Friday (school peri day) and bang in the middle of the day, so I could not rearrange or miss a whole day's teaching because I wouldn't be able to give the full number of lessons for the term. I did contact the board concerned to see if there was an alternative but in the end we decided to stick with the given time as it gives her an extra lesson the day before the exam.

I remember my piano teacher usually asked for exams to be in the school half term week so she was free to be there or she arranged things so she could be there. I think it also made it easier for her to plan/know that all exam pupils would have their exams in that same week. I've noticed that exam periods don't seem to be in half term weeks any more - at least they haven't been when I've looked at dates for specific pupils and I haven't entered more than one at a time so far.


Louise

I would normally accompany all my pupils and had my fingers crossed that it wouldn't clash with my end of degree opera rehearsals, which would have been a nightmare to get out of. In the end it turns out I was meant to be in another 'easier to get out of' rehearsal.

I guess I just felt that the parents were being a a little difficult!
I did consider standing my ground, as in some ways I feel that its not up to me to babysit pupils in exams. The child is 8 and will have to do an exam on his own at somepoint! (What would they have done if I didn't play the piano?!)

Would it be a complete stranger though?
Isn't it usually a good idea to have at least one (and preferably more than one) rehearsal with the accompanist?

As a pupil I had 2 teachers with completely different approaches. One was always there for us and one let us go on our own. I absolutely hated having the teacher there. If I wanted to be quiet or turn pale or twitch I wanted to do it by myself.

And until recently I've usually not attended exams of my pupils. Sometimes it's simply not possible because I've been teaching. However, I had a teenager do an exam recently with a couple of little ones as well. I planned to go along (not strictly necessary being a piano teacher) because one of the little ones is extremely scatty and I feared she might even forget her music! Anyway, I'm quite friendly with the teenager's mum, and when the girl was in doing the exam the mum said that they'd had a talk in the car on the way and when the girl realised that I was going to be there, she visibly relaxed. I really didn't do anything apart from smile, remind her to take some deep breaths and enjoy it, but she came out with a merit which was a huge improvement on her previous exam when she had been really nervous.

So to quote a different thread, it's all down to the individual. But I think I shall enquire in future just in case pupils don't really want my good intentions.

Would it be a complete stranger though?
Isn't it usually a good idea to have at least one (and preferably more than one) rehearsal with the accompanist?

Yes....he would have at least one rehearsal this week with the other accompanist and probably one next week too. Which I had explained to the parents...

I think I might follow your example. I've never thought to ask if they would like me to be there, but maybe they would.....

I do that too..... I can ensure they all have the correct music- I help them warm up and tune before going in and give them a chocolate bar/ sweets (with parent's permission) afterwards. I find some of the parents get very nervous and wind the pupils up- so I see my role as calming them down!


Don't do theory exams unless it's one of my own offspring.....


Oh yes- and I have no choice this time- my first standard visit is happening in my house- so I have to steward..... have other teachers coming in on the visit too. I'm quite excited......

Ditto - this is exactly what I do (apart from accompanying). On many occasions the child and / or parent/s visibly relax when they see me there. But it does depend on the individual.

My flute teacher is always there for me, as he stewards for the exams, and accompanies anyone who requires it. I find it quite reassuring. He's always there to run through pieces a final time before entering the exam room, and is a calm, competent presence.

But I also go to my students' exams for ME. I want to know that they got on okay, weren't freaked out, and that nothing went drastically wrong. I'm afraid I'm guilty of sneaking down the corridor now and again to listen to their pieces! If these, at least, go okay, then I can go away afterwards and worry slightly less than I otherwise would about the results. Although no-one has failed yet, there is always a first time, and with any student's first exam (whatever age or grade) you dont know how they will cope.

I'm sure your grade 1 pupils will be relieved that you are to accompany them. Eight is not so very old, and some children are ready to face unknown situations earlier than others.

I accompanied my own children in the early grades partly to save money (their teachers didn't accompany so I would have had to hire someone) and partly because I knew they'd feel better with me there. By the time they were past grade 5 and I started to pay for accompanists, they were seasoned campaigners and didn't care whether I was there or not.

Once your 8 year old pupil has a couple of exams under his belt and knows what an exam involves, he will gain in confidence and no longer need your friendly face in the room. For now, for what it's worth, I think you did the right thing.

I always, always attend exams to support my pupils. As it happens, I am taking grade 2 clarinet in a few weeks time at Ripon Grammar School, and a few of my piano pupils from the school have said they are coming along to the exam center to calm me down beforehand!

On a slightly different topic, I accompany several of my piano pupils who are learning wind instuments and this I do for free. I do it for free as I enjoy doing it so much and feel it is something of a thank you to the parents who are supporting me as a piano teacher. I also am asked to accompany wind players who are not my piano pupils and this I charge for. Without exception I find I have to work on aural tests with these candidates. Is it my imagination, or do peripatetic wind teachers tend to duck out of aural test teaching?

I have always gone to the exam centre to meet my students there.
I think that is is very important to chat to them and the parent before the exam.The parent is usually more nervous than the student!
They have always appreciated it and I never charge them for my time there.
I usually request a morning session as I begin teaching in the afternoon so that I am able to get there.
The more support you give them, the better.

Barbara