Hi,

Well, the forms have been filled in, the cheque written out, and the envelope posted off to ABRSM. So now I'm properly committed to doing my DipABRSM in Piano Performance. I've gone for the December sitting.

I thought that I would copy Barry-Clarri, and put together a thread of my experiences of doing the whole thing (as I mentioned in the the topic description, can I ever do anything original?).

I thought I'd give you summary of what it's entailed so far, where I am now, and what there still to do.

Hopefully the whole thread will prove useful to others wanting to pursue their dip...

Done So Far:

- listened to most of the diploma repertoire, and downloaded a lot of it.
- of this, I came up with a short-list of pieces I really warmed to:
Bach - Toccata No.5 in E Minor
Beethoven - Sonatas: F minor (op.2 no.1), C Minor (op.10 no.1), F (op.10 no.2), C Minor (op.13 "Pathetique"), C# minor (op.27 no.2 "Moonlight")
Brahms - Ballade in G Minor op.118 no.3, Romance in F, op.118 no.5
Chopin - Nocturne in E, op.62 no.2
Gershwin - "The Man I Love" & "I Got Rhythm"
Mozart - Sonata in B-flat, K.570
Ravel - Sonatine
Rachmaninov - Preludes in E-flat Op.23 no.6, C minor op.23 no.7, G# minor op.32 no.12
Schumann - Des Abends & Aufschwung
Stravinsky - Tango
Bonds - Troubled Water (not on the syllabus)

[Some surprises in there: none of the Scriabin in the syllabus grabbed me (sorry, MT, in absentia), neither did any of the Schubert (sorry, Sol), and nor did any of the Bach, apart from the Toccata listed above]

I've got the sheet music to all of this, so I played through all of it (to the best of my ability).

I decided that I wanted to build my programme around a big, classical sonata. I preferred the all the Beethoven to the Mozart, so easy decision there. So which Beethoven? Lots of indecision here: Pathetique or op.10 no.1? I like op.10 no.1 less, but it's less well-known that the Pathetique, so possibly less risky? Decided on the end on the Pathetique - I really like the piece, and will be spending a lot of time on it - rather learn something I really like.

I'd then fallen for the Ravel Sonatine, so that became an easy addition. And then finally went for the Margaret Bonds - Troubled Water, which is already in my repertoire.

- For the programme notes, and the viva, I've read very widely on Beethoven and Ravel, and have done specific research on the pieces. Margaret Bonds is proving very elusive. For example, I can't find any information about who the piece is dedicated to (Toy Harpur), and information on the first performance is also pretty scant.

Where Am I Now?
- So the programme is decided: Beethoven's Pathetique, Ravel's Sonatine, and Troubled Water by Margaret Bonds. I think the programme looks pretty varied (despite no Baroque - quite happy to field that question in the viva) - there's 100 years between the Pathetique and the Sonatine, and further 65 odd years between the Sonatine and Troubled Water. Decent mix of keys, moods, styles, piano technique required, etc etc.
- All pieces have been performed in public at least once, and at least once from memory (with varying degrees of success). The aim is to perform each one at least another three times in public, all from memory (all performing will be from memory from now on).

Still To Do / Upcoming
- Blackheath Festival: performing both the Margaret Bonds and Ravel there. Will be good to get some critical written feedback on the pieces.
- Find other performance opportunities for the whole programme (which will be mostly Forum events (sorry, everyone, more of the same!), and festivals
- Get the pieces properly polished - just a function of continuously sticking at practice, and taking performance opportunities
- Sort out programme notes properly

What I also intend to do is to use the thread as a sort of diary, and will detail the highs and the lows.

Apologies for the long post, and for copying Barry's great idea.

Cheers
Tom

Sounds great.

Don't feel you need to defend lack of Baroque, don't forget Cristofori invented the Piano after this time so going for music after then.

The Pathetique is beautiful isn't it, and as long as the programme holds together this is the main thing.

I agree that Impressionism is very different from other 20th Century genres.

Therefore this qualifies as a general rather than specialist programme.

You have plenty of performing opportunities between now and your diploma.

If you want me to read through your programme notes, then I'll happily do so. I have a general music degree and have written programme notes for a variety of different types of music.

Tom, good luck with all of that!
It's along time since my Dip (1963), but I did Beethoven Op10 No2
But I still have never properly mastered the Ravel Sonatine ! I have keep returning to it all these years .
Your programme looks good though,as you say its balanced enough without the Baroque, but personally Id always like to include something, even if just a short Scarlatti sonata.

@jod, many thanks for the offer of help with the programme notes - much appreciated. I most definitely will take you up on that.

I'm lucky that I'm also taking up some help kindly offered by other forum members on other aspects (you know who you are!!).

@fsharpminor, depending on time heading up to the exam, I will look into learning the Bach Toccata. Can't do without ever playing any baroque ever...

Splendid, I look forward to reading about (and hearing) your progress.

Regarding the Blackheath festival, I also entered a festival last weekend, and although I didn't walk away with a trophy, I found the adjudicator's written and verbal feedback immensely helpful. He spotted similar areas for attention as my own teacher, but put a slightly different perspective and flavour on it, with some new suggestions. I highly recommend it.

Jon

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Tom!

All the best with your dip. preparation. Can you PM me the date of Blackheath Festival, if I'm around, I'd like to come and listen, as Blackheath is only 15 minutes from Clari Towers!

...and even closer for me! I'd love to come and give you some support if the date works

Good Luck for your diploma and performances Tom!

I've had to postpone my diploma till next year on account of my piano teacher being ill

I really like your programme....does this mean that the two forum Tom's chose the Pathetique? Or did MadTom play the Moonlight?

Keep us updated

I was a bit alarmed at first when you said you were undecided as to your programme but if you have performed them all before, and from memory, then it should be a breeze.

I can't offer help because I'm sure you are already more clued-up than I would be.

Good luck.

All the best Tom! Will look forward to reading about your progress.

Great - and there will be a few playdays before then so you'll be able to get some performance experience in.

Which Schubert pieces are on the syllabus by the way? I think that the more interesting pieces of his are on LRSM rather than Dip.

On the syllabus there is D. 537 (which I have played - I enjoyed it on the whole, but it's not my favorite Schubert) and D. 664. I used D. 664 for my exam and loved it - definitely among my favorite Schubert, "little" though it may be . It's also not easy... at all! I would go so far as to say that it's actually one of his more successful sonatas for its brevity - as much as I love Schubert, I can understand why people find some of his works long-winded. D. 664 has all the melodic beauty one could ask for, without compromising the "tightness" of the structure. But it admittedly isn't incredibly "dramatic", in the sense that it is a largely cheerful/calm work, at least on the surface.

On the LRSM syllabus, there is D. 784 (which I'm not too fond of), D. 958 (which I feel like I *should* like, but really it doesn't grab me), and D. 959 (which I love again ). D. 958 and 959 are also on the FRSM syllabus, so definitely a tough/risky option. I would be surprised if many candidates went for either of those! Honestly, the only other Schubert sonata I want to learn besides D. 664 (I don't think I'll ever consider myself ready for D. 959!) is D. 845, which doesn't appear on any AB syllabus, but is bizarrely on the ATCL list - I personally think it's far beyond that level!

I look forward to reading about your journey. As others have said, do let us know the date of the Blackheath festival, or any others for that matter.

Had my lesson yesterday. We focused on the final movements of both the Ravel and Beethoven:

- Ravel: some of the technical trouble I've been having in the final movement is not due to inadequate practice or technical inadequacy (as I'd originally thought) but rather down to rhythm, pure and simple. In the stages where the piece is in 3/4 (there are loads of time signature changes throughout), I've been tending to rush the third beat of the bar. When I paid attention to the third beat, the problems sorted themselves out. Had a similar experience with some areas where there is slurring. Focusing on the slurred notes helps in getting the other notes right. Left hand too heavy in some areas. But otherwise progressing quite nicely.

- Beethoven: still struggling to get this to sound light enough. And, as usual, the problem comes down to rhythm. Big improvements through paying attention to the final beats of the bar, and the ENDS of phrases.

Still waiting to find out the exact dates of when I'm playing at Blackheath, but progressing well. Just wish I didn't have as much going on at work!!

Devastated - I've had to pull out of Blackheath due to work commitments. So instead of playing tomorrow night, I'll be jumping on a 'plane. Uuurrrggghhh.

Let me know of any other performances you make, Tom