Just back from my grade 4 exam....oh dear.

Scales keyboards - must have failed lets just say right notes in the wrong places, and not even the right notes for them scales.
Scales on pedals actually went really well
Pedal solo picked the harder one and went as good as it could have been

Then down hill again...

The three pieces that I actually love to play I made whopping mistakes BUT think I kept the pulse going
Aural was OK, sightreading not at all bad. I do know that when asked the time sig, I said it was 4 time knowing it was 2 time, put it down to mental fatigue.

I'm just so cross with myself as I wasn't that nervous before (and nerves are a really big problem with me) and I was looking forward to "sharing" my set pieces on a lovely instrument in a beautiful church. I know I couldn't have put more work into things as I was really wanting to get a good mark not just for me, but my tutor as well.

Mind you I will consider my self very fortunate if I scrape a pass now!

The only glimmer of light is the examiner said, after my appologies for putting her through it, was I had nothing to worry about........ fingers crossed.

You always remember the worst parts of the exam...I've lost count of the number of times I've come out of exams (not just music!) thinking "Well, that was a disaster..." and really it's all been okay nerves never help either! I'm sure you will have done just fine, as you said the examiner said you had nothing to worry about, so try not to worry! Regardless, have some cake

One examiner said that to me once for Grade 5 flute. I later discovered he had given me a merit!

Sometimes what seems like a whopping mistake to the player are just blips - maybe a bar or two in an otherwise secure and well-played piece. Examiners (in my experience) seem to be pretty good on the whole at differentiating between mistakes that are down to nerves, and mistakes that happen because the piece hasn't been learnt properly - the latter obviously not being the case with you.

When I get back from an exam, I like to jot down what I would have awarded myself for each section of the exam - trying to be as realistic as possible. When you think about the different sections in isolation, it's easier to get a more objective viewpoint. It's also quite interesting when the results arrive to see where we agreed and where we didn't!

It's rarely as bad as you think. So - have you room for another piece of cake?

Littlegem , you have probably done better than you think. Don't dwell on the things that were less than perfect..... celebrate the bits that went well.
and let's all have some more cake.

I once scared my maths teacher to death by coming out of an exam saying "that was terrible""" when I had misread the last question, and finally saw it with two minutes to go. She nearly killed me when I got an A*.

You've probably done much better than you think, and I'm really pleased for you. I've played really easy stuff on a very ropey old church organ, and I am so envious of people who can do it properly, on a beautiful instrument. I may even have a piece of cake for you.... let us know how you get on....

Thanks everyone, I am feeling a bit better about things now. I know I haven't done what I was hoping to, but probably a bit better than my worst expectations, I know I am very hard on my self anyway but can find some solace in the fact an exam is only a snapshot of how you did in 20 mins out of your life.

Fail or pass I'm looking at grade 5 pieces now and getting all inspired to start trying them out on my churches congegration who are probably sick to death of the last lot!!

There you are! I think the more we care, the harsher we judge ourselves. Examiners can tell the difference between nerves on the day and poor preparation.

Littlegem, your exam performance sounds very similar to my grade 5 exam last session.

I even did a foolish thing of playing the oboe part for nearly 20 bars before realising it (everything sounding a tone lower). Then I had to stop, apologise and explained the problem, changed the sheetmusic and continued from where I left.

After all that, I still passed with merit!! I am sure you are going to get a really good score..

Took my Trinity G3 exam in the spring- had a migraine on the exam day and had to rearrange- so I stumbled into the exam room 48hrs after a massive headache and quietly cursing that the examiner was running VERY late. The piano was clunky (panic), my fingers turned to jelly (panic, panic) and I was so befuddled I couldn't even remember the key of the first piece when asked (mega panic). I was CONVINCED I had failed badly. I passed.

Don't worry. Amazing how what we hear is not what our audience (in this case the examiner) hears.
With best wishes and good luck with your G5 studies!

When I took my grade 5 many moons ago, I managed to slip off the bench trying to do the pedal scales. Still got a merit, so in addition to all the other things examiners take account of, being too short in the leg must be another!

Thought I would put this thread to bed with the news I actually passed!!

I'm so thrilled I got merits for all three pieces as I thought I had major mucked up.
Sightreading was OK
Scales that sounded like I was beating the keys with a smoked trout, 16 out of 21, I wouldn't have given myself 3 points so really pleased.
Aural let me down as only just passed on that, and I thought that went well, but what do I know! obviously not a lot

Overall 117 so only just missed a merit which considering how I thought it went is amazing!

Thanks again to all the messages of hope in my darkest hour

And good luck to everyone else taking exams at the moment!

Well done, littlegem!

Great, Well done Littlegem.
Do we get more cake now?

Well done littlegem!!

Excellent news Littlegem! Your report of your exam all sounded rather positive to me - and amusing to read (I can say that now) - so I am not at all surprised of your great result!

Well done Littlegem! Lettuce celebrate!

I don't believe it (as Victor Mildrew would say) but I passed my grade 8 piano despite nerves getting the better of me and fingers not working properly on the day. Phew. A lot of work over 8 years, but worth it and i can get back to normality and being creative in composing and recording.

Congratulations!

And Congrats to littlegem too.

Very well done both of you!

A little sympathy, please.

95 for the grade 4 piano exam. I knew on the day I hadn't quite done enough to scrape through - pieces were hesitant, scales and arpeggios were undisciplined, and aural was average.

Still can't decide why I don't give of my best in exam conditions. Pieces were certainly at pass standard in the last few lessons and scales etc were pretty secure.

Perhaps I should stick to singing.

Thankyou, you're very kind.

*sympathy for stetenorve*

I got 96 for my first Grade 7 attempt, if that makes you feel any better...



I NEVER did my best in exams of any sort.

Definitely sympathy coming your way stetenorve.

Happens to the very best of us, stetenorve. Exams can do strange things to pieces etc. Sympathies : but my suspicion is you are actually grade 4 standard, it's just that on the day, it didn't quite happen. Enjoy your music making

Sympathy for stetenorve. Also
Don't give up.

Maybe as well as practicing the piano you need to practice the exam conditions?
Did you do a mock exam? Do you practice playing for other people?

(I'd better start taking my own advice as I'm hoping to take my grade 4 piano in the Autumn.)

Sympathy from me too, and a huge slice of chocolate cake to make you smile again. Those piano exams are so difficult for us grown-up folk.

Thanks for all the support, guys! I'm not giving up...