Since the deadline for entries is tomorrow, who is doing what in the forthcoming exam session?

As I mentioned on another thread, I'm doing G6 flute. But I only have 2 students in this time - one violin, one theory. The autumn term always seems to be too short to prepare people from scratch, so these are just students who didn't quite make the summer session.

Anyone else signed up?

Grade 5 theory for me !

Just a singing exam.

(see Diplomas board for details)

Grade 8 oboe for me.

I was feeling reasonably confident about it till the application actually went in...

Grade 6 Theory for me.

eek.

Grade 5 theory for me too

Grade 4 Viola

It was going to be Grade 5 but I had a confidence crisis so have stepped back a grade. Everything is fine apart from the aural, scales, arpeggios, sightreading and two of the three pieces.

At least the 'C' list 'Makin' Whoopee' is going great

Son's grade 7 horn is happening as far as I know. No news on the grade 3 bassoon , but since school has a visit I assume the deadline is different.

My deadline isn't 'til late October (not that it makes a difference to me now ), but I'm doing ATCL clarinet performance

Makin' Whoopee was my favourite - until during the exam when I looked up and the examiner was sitting with his head down writing notes, whilst dancing along and singing under his breath!!! lol. Took a lot to finish it without getting the giggles!!

You will be fine Lottie, pm me what books you want me to post up

Good luck to everyone else, for the first time in ages i'm not doing one, but have 10 pupils at a special visit on Halloween (only 4 weeks!!! eeek!!) and 2 doing theory grades...

Re-taking grade 3 piano.

Taking grade 8 theory at last.

exam for me!

...and I should've added to my above post - very best of luck to all the session C'ers!

ditto!

And from me too

Hello.
I am doing Piano G3 in December.

Floricica

I'm doing Grade 2 Piano in December. I need the last possible day of the last week. If I end up with the first day of the first week I shall scream.

And also Grade 4 Theory. Can I go 2 hours without a loo break?

Nothing this session for Little Bella or Little Little Bella. But they're both planning on session A 2012.

Welcome to the forums Floricia


Has anybody got their date yet? I've a feeling my exam is in November

No, I haven't got a date yet.

But when I entered online I saw that they are due to start releasing dates between 19th - 21st October. I presume this would be for the first week of exams.

Grade 5 theory for me.

Hello and welcome to the forums. Hope your exam goes well - I'm taking piano grade 3 this time as well.

I ought to be doing Gr 5 piano - but I bottled it because the pieces were still rather shaky at the start of term, and I only had one lesson before the entry deadline (and only two before the earliest possible exam date). Pieces are now fine, naturally [though no doubt if I had entered they would still be dreadful! ], so I have to decide whether to keep them going until March or just move on...

Son No.1 has Grade 5 theory, and Son No.2 is making heavy weather of Grade 1 piano.

I had hoped to enter for Grade 5 piano but my pieces are not ready yet! Work has got in the way, but maybe they'll be ready for the Spring! Good luck to all of you who are entering exams!

How are the exam preparations going?

Good luck everyone. Grade 3 violin for me, and I'm desperately hoping I'll be able to wangle the time off work, whenever it is.

Have entered for LTCL piano recital (Nov/Dec) but will have to wait some time yet for a date.

Gulp

Good luck to everyone in the exams

Two weeks today it will all be over My Gr 5 theory is on 2nd Nov at 5pm and I am now gently pacing myself doing some theory every day, writing out tenor and alto clef key signatures and learning a block of ten performance directions. During the next 12 days I'm doing the 2008 and 2009 past papers ( I've done 2006, 2007 and 2010 !). As I don't have a theory teacher it seemed like a good idea to get the whole set and plough through them. I have learned an incredible amount and also now realise that I can remember things.
In a way I will be very pleased when it is over, but at the same time I'm thinking of buying the Grade 6 workbook on my way to the exam

I enjoyed flautando's remark about buying the grade 6 books on the way to the grade 5 exam. I did exactly that 6 years ago and have yet to open them!
Good luck flautando!

You'll be 'great' Kate, good luck to everyone else

Six years Do you think you might be tempted to open them soon? Good luck with your exam katemorrisviolin and thank you.

Tempted? Always! but I have a job and two adolescents at home, so have to be on top of my game parenting wise. When I win the lottery I shall be a full time muso. I can only devote an hour a day to myself so violin gets it.

Has anyone got a date for their practical yet? I am trying to restrain myself from checking all the time.

Not withstanding that I sent my application form in during late summer, the closing date for Trinity diplomas this session was only today, so I don't expect to hear when it'll be until mid November...

I haven't received a date for my practical yet. And sadly I'm spending more time checking to see if I have a date, than actually learning my scales!

For the ABRSM-ers amongst you - date publications...

No point checking again till Wednesday now, and looks like I have til at least till the 21st November.

That means I will have orchestra concert in exam venue before exam rather than after so can have a go at some scales/ pieces in situ. But also means I don't have a few post exam days to blitz my orchestra pieces,will just have to try and juggle everything instead.

No date for me yet! I just want this exam done and out of the way!

No date yet but an emotional roller-coaster!!

I haven't played at all in the last four days after recording myself and thinking not only was I the fattest ugliest person on the planet but that my playing was beyond dire!!! It was recorded on my tiny digital camera balanced on the fish-tank so maybe not the best..... (somehow you always think you're in your 20s inside your head so seeing the mid-forties version of yourself is always a shock!!! )

I had decided to withdraw from the exam. (hubby was also on holiday and it's tough to find playing time when he's at home)

HOWEVER, I listened to the recordings again this morning and they're pretty much note-perfect! A couple of wee intonation wobbles but, hey, it's only Grade 4!!!

I already know there's one scale and one aural test I definitely CAN'T do so I fully ACCEPT that there are already marks lost but now I've accepted that I'm far less nervous about those parts of the exam!

SO... only a few weeks left and still a lot of work to do on the scales (arps and chroms) but I'll give it a go



But I'm already getting that FEAR in the pit of my stomach... with WEEKS still to go Any tips?

Hi Lottie

Be prepared as much as you can and also be prepared for the unexpected. Bear in mind that the exam venue may not have any warm up facilities with a piano, that you may be asked to go in early (you can refuse and go in at your alloted time) and that there may be a moderator with your examiner on the day.

Don't treat it as an exam but a performance opportunity and pretend the examiner is one of your best mates/dogs/family member etc and you want to show them what you and Hannah can do. If you get the jitters focus on starting your pieces as smoothly as possible and resist the temptation to speed up the tempo, just focus on the notes and the music. Worst case scenario and you make a mistake, carry on no matter what, steady yourself and re-focus. With scales, if you're playing in 2nd/3rd position and need to check against an open note, do it a low volume so that it won't be interpreted as a false start and when you're ready, go for it. Aural - just try your best (that's the point I usually do a runner). Sightreading - if you need to, go at a slightly slower tempo but again just keep going no matter what.

Above all, just be determined to enjoy the performing experience and have a lovely day out with Hannah.

Good luck for the exam and to everyone else doing exams.

Doing grade 5 flute . Slightly nervous (ok... I admit it...v v nervous!), as did grade 4 in '99!

But, it's going to be fine!!! Pieces are going pretty well, know almost all of the scales (whether I'll know them in the exam is another matter altogether!), sightreading is going well. Only problem is the singing part of the aural. But, it's going to be fine. I'm going to brilliantly in the pieces, then the aural won't matter! That's what I'm hoping anyway!!

Good luck for everyone else doing exams!

gemmasue

Hi gemmasue I hope you really enjoy your exam and do brilliantly in the pieces and everything else too.

We could be twins! I did grade 4 flute in 1998 but then stopped playing until this April when I got the flute out again. Hope to do grade 5 flute next March and meanwhile I'm doing grade 5 theory on 2nd Nov.

Thank you Blackbird

If there are no warm-up facilities there will be a seriously angry letter to ABRSM!!! There isn't a musician ON EARTH who doesn't need to warm up!! It's insane!! (I mean on their own - I understand a piano might not be available. But I remember as a kid warming up my clarinet in a freezing toilet - hardly suitable and I was hoping the ABRSM had sorted that out by now and used more appropriate venues!)

Our local centre has NO warm-up facilities - just a waiting room next door to the exam room...

W

There are three ABRSM test centres near me. One has a lovely warm up room , one has a piano that can be used, but the piano is also in the waiting room and the third has no warm up room, unless you count going out into the garden

I miss Blackheath...

W

Well deduced, willobie

Just got my date

November 24th

Better start practising!!!

hmm...well, I don't want to worry anyone, but they aren't exactly sticking to that time table. Just got my date today - 14th November.


I have just twigged that means I only have 2 lesssons before my exam.

PS: meant to add - good luck to Lottie and everyone else taking exams this session.

I have that problem with scales too. I learnt them really thoroughly (or so I thought) for Grade 5 flute, but nearly every one had a false start on the day!

Now I have a date for Grade 6 flute (23 November). Whilst checking, I accidentally clicked on a link about exam dates, and note that under the calendar, they now say that times cannot be changed, or swapped about between candidates. This is a disaster for me, because my time is 9:27, and at that time of the morning I may be there in body, but definitely not in spirit.

Edit: Just seen there is a whole thread on this....

Mysterioso, where is that thread you mentioned?
I'm having to beg and pray I can get cover at work, as the time and date is not possible for me as things stand. I wish they could be a bit more flexible for adults. Should I be cheeky and ask anyway? I'm really worried I won't be able to do the exam now.

woo-hoo, sorted, I can do it!
....Huge surge of nervous adrenaline to deal with now at the thought of the exam situation, and it's still a month away......