Just wondering, those that have taken their performance diplomas at ABRSM venues, are they usually held in a normal exam room (my G8 was in a smallish music room in a school) or in a bigger hall? I would like to ask for a different venue as I think my performance will be better in a bigger place with a grand piano to accompany me, but could do with knowing if it's the norm first.

Also is dressing up (for example simple long dress for a singing diploma) the usual thing or just smart casual the norm? Again I believe my performance is better when I'm dressed up, but I think I'm one of the first dip singing candidates here in Gibraltar and so have no frame of reference!!

Definitely dress up - it’s a performance diploma after all and it will help you to rise to the occasion!

My son took his DipABRSM in Oxford and the venue was wonderful!

http://www.st-hildas.ox.ac.uk/index.php/ab...p/jdpabout.html

I don't know whether all the diploma venues are as nice as this, but you should certainly have a grand paino to accompany you.

As to dress, there are no regulations, but if dressing up makes you feel more the part, that's the thing to do.

Thanks - and wow that is some venue!! We have the Convent ballroom here, in which I'm performing twice before my exam and has a lovely acoustic for singers, and so I'm thinking of asking if it could be held there. It is effectively in the Governor's house - but being a member of the military band I might just get granted special permission to use it. And yes, I'll definately dress up if I get to sing there! It is often used as a classical concert venue, and the Music Festival is held there too.

It's going to be really hot too - June here is normally 30degC...

The venues vary widely - I've had some Dip candidates take their exams in smallish classroom-sized rooms, and others in recital halls! All had grand pianos though

My candidates have tended to go for 'smart casual', and I did the same when I took my clarinet diploma a few years ago, since I feel extremely uncomfortable and unlike myself if I'm very dressed up. Whatever you feel best in will be fine. Good luck!

When I did my teaching dip (alongside many doing the performance one) the venue was told they had to hire in a grand piano for the diploma exams. In fact they do usually hold them in a different venue in glasgow. So I got the impression that there had to be a grand there. I would email the diploma office and ask though if you want to double check, they are lovely there!

I have just emailed the rep here, will see if I get a response. I found communication with my pianist very hard last time as there were 2 other upright pianos between us and all I could see was the top of his head above the piano!!

I have suggested the Convent....

My Dip (both of them, actually... ) was held in a largish classroom with a grand piano. I was lucky enough to even know what type of piano it would be (semi-decent Yamaha) because my teacher coordinates the venues! But it probably depends on what is available in your area.

Regarding dressing up, I would say standard recital wear is appropriate, so reasonably formal (as much as you feel comfortable in). I personally wore a dress (not quite full length though) and some light jewelry. Like you, I feel more confident when I am dressed nicely - it helps me "play the part" of a seasoned performer better

I wouldn't go for the 'smart casual' either as it is a performance rather than an exam you're going for. I think a formal dress is the best option for a woman, and that means you can go for something strappy, which is ideal if it's very hot. And the bit of 'light jewellery' too adds a bit of polish to your appearance, so long as you make sure it isn't likely to be noisy!

Thanks everyone - from what I've heard it's likely to be in the same room, with upright piano (and 2 inbetween us too) - this is what the accompanist has said last night, and he is the guy that accompanies everyone here! Doesn't give a great performance start....

I guess the jitters are setting in!!

No need for a dress if you aren't the 'dressy' type: I found a jacket and trousers was quite acceptable.

It's your performance. If it's at all possible to rearrange the set up even if it's only by standing somewhere different yourself then take the time to do it. Any way you can try to deal with this in advance?
If you do have to perform in less than acceptable circumstances send off your complaint immediately after.

mmmm I'll bear that in mind. I know it felt difficult in my Grade 8...and I'm getting more used to performing in bigger concerts LOL

I'm concerned that in a smallish room my voice is just going to project too much for the examiners to be comfortable. And it's got carpet on the walls to deaden the sound so there is no natural ring to the room. I must admit I'm not overly happy with the prospect at the moment!
And if I wear my nice dress (not overly posh, just Per Una from M&S LOL) I'm concerned I'll feel stupid in there!

Sorry to hear that you'll be in a room where you find it difficult to sing comfortably. Carpet on the walls doesn't sound ideal, but presumably the examiners will make allowance for that. Try not to let the venue spoil the fun of doing your diploma - it's not every day that you have a captive audience for 35 or 40 minutes!

Hope you really enjoy the big day when it arrives.

Have other people done a diploma in Gibraltar? If they haven't and you are the first then I would ask for (demand) another room and a grand piano (based on what other people have posted here). Thigns are more tricky if someone else has already done a diploma because you are likely to be told that it wasn't a problem for X. But then it might be worth trying to contact X to find out if any remark was made on the room by his/her examiners.

I'm not sure - I personally don't know of anyone. My accompanist said that the question had been asked previously re using the convent, and the answer was "if we do it for one we have to do it for all". So it sounds like there has been..... I am still awaiting a reply from our ABRSM rep. Just had the worst practice ever too after my virus so not happy today

It might just have been an ordinary exam. Even if you do set a precedent for diplomas they are hardly going to be inundated with candidates (I mean Gibraltar's not that big). I'd insist on asking again.

If it's as bad as it sound I'd have been sending in a complaint if it had been for a grade exam!
Playing or singing with obstacles between you and your accompanist is really not on.

Really feel sorry for you, a virus and a potential ropey venue for the performance too - not great i would definitely challenge it and try to change it.

Have to say i feel REALLY spoiled in Nottingham, both my dip and LRSM were held in the University arts centre recital hall, an amazing room with 200 seats so great acoustics and a fabulous Bechstein? grand piano (might have been Steinway - but i wasn't playing it so didn't care!).

Both performances were great, the venue made a MASSIVE difference to my experience and sound, these aren't just ordinary exams - they are after all professional level qualifications so surely we deserve the best venues available?

I wore a lounge suit and smart tie, a little less dressed up than usual but still smart and very comfortable.

If the venue really isn't up to much in Gibraltar you could always consider a city hop to the UK and use one of our local great venues instead if you can afford to that is after the huge cost of the exam!!!

Thanks! Feeling better now at least. Still waiting for the rep to get back to me. I think I'm going to have to phone. Just rehearsed for a concert in the Ballroom in the convent, and how I wish my exam could be in there!! The acoustic is a singers dream. Pianissimos that effortlessly carry to the back, ahhhh!

Sadly I can't afford the air fares/hotels and can't afford the time off either, otherwise I would hop to the UK as you suggested.

Well the Governor - who lives in the house the ballroom is in - is going to my concert on Thursday, so hopefully I might get chance to talk to him and ask him if he would mind it being held there (particularly as I'm a member of the military band and he is my top boss!!). Worth an ask at least.....

OK....here's where I'm at....spoke to the Rep finally today and have a date of the 17th June. Yay.

He admitted to me that he doesn't read his emails (didn't even open it) and only picked the phone up to me because he had a letter for me and didn't know what to do with it!!! Not impressed

So on talking to him, I explained about the difficulites of the room, and he tells me that people have taken them in the convent before (last diploma in Gib was a few years ago and was in the convent), but the examiner is scheduled up and I'm the last candidate. He is going to see if there is any flexibility in his schedule - if there is, and I can get the convent to agree then I might be able to use it. If there isn't he doesn't have time to walk the 15 minutes to the alternative venue and I'm stuck with the other room.

He went on to say that people normally approach him asking about alternative venue beforehand - LOL I DID, he just didn't even open the mail.

So fingers crossed please for the outcome of all the phone calls.

It's going to happen in the beautiful Convent Ballroom!!! YAY!!!!

Thank you all for your tea and sympathy earlier....great outcome, now let hope for a good result!

Well done Dawnmc71. Let's hope the accompanist situation gets sorted out as efficiently too, so that you can go into the exam focused on the right things

Yup - but at least I have a date now so I can persuade Miguel at the weekend that he really WANTS to play the piano in the ballroom!!

Excellent news!
Now for the accompanist!

Glad to hear you are getting to perform in what sounds like a fab venue for your exam!! Fingers crossed for the accompanist!!!! And very very best of luck!!

Thanks all! Praying the accompanist says yes....

Have been away for a few days and so have come to this somewhat belatedly.

It's great that you've got it all sorted out and best of luck

Thanks!!

Well he said yes , but we still have to work out how much
Also been offered a pre exam recital in the cathedral by the Dean after last night's concert....so just got to find some mutually good dates

So not only did you get the venue and the accompaniest, you also got a practise there as well.

Someone will have to tell me how people manage to do things like this...

Well Done, and Good Luck for your diploma dawn

Thank you!

Well the accompanist wanted 230 euros which I can't afford, so I'm sticking with the other one, crossing my fingers, offering a bit extra to what he would normally charge in the hope some practice will be done too.

The preexam recital is an extra, in the cathedral (after one rehearsal, eek), but the exam is in the ballroom, which is a different lovely venue - but I'm going to book a rehearsal in there earlier in the week. That's what happens when you live in a little place - buildings are multipurpose!

230 Euros!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is that really the going rate for a diploma accompaniment? I feel like my accompaniest wants nothing...

Errm well he is a VERY good accompanist, 4 of us sang with him on Sat night with 10 mins total rehearsal over the 4 pieces (literally...it was a bit stressy, just topping and tailing) but he did a great job. However.... I'm giving the other accompanist ?100 which I think is much fairer - and might still encourage him to practice!!

I would call my accompaniest VERY good as well. I think ?100 is more fair though, if the pianist is of the same quality...

Good luck Dawnmc21. I hope the preparations are going well.
Whatever the venue I would dress up - it's what I did for all my diplomas as did the candidates before and after me. I've done them in classrooms at Trinity College in Greenwich, yet we all wore evening wear.
Accompanists are expensive for diplomas I'm afraid, and fees reflect the practice time as well as travelling, rehearsal and performance time. I remember paying ?200 back in 2002 to include six hours of rehearsals in two sessions with my singing teacher present to ask for more weight here, more rubato there. If your teacher isn't there make sure you tell him exactly what you want. You are in charge!!
I've got all my fingers crossed for you.

I have a joint rehearsal on Wed, and tonight showed up loads of issues both accompanist and myself. Really looking forward to it! On the day I'm going to have to go in to work that day in my evening dress!!

Photo please!