Morning everyone!

I saw an accompanist friend yesterday evening. I took a deep breath, said that I was considering doing a performance diploma this summer, and asked if she'd like to accompany me. With the enthusiastic response that came back, a casual passer-by would have thought that I'd agreed to help her, not the other way around.

So, there you have it. I'm now officially working towards DipABRSM. Just seeing those words typed on the screen has made my stomach jump, so I'll be a nervous wreck by July! To make matters worse I can't stand bananas, and I'm not necessarily sure the hip flask will be a good idea (especially if I have a 9.45 exam!).

As things currently stand, my recital programme will be as follows:
Finzi: Prelude, Romance and Fughetta from Five Bagatelles
Saint-Saens: First and Fourth movements from Sonata
Weber: Second and Third movements from Grand Duo Concertant

Anyone with experience of such things is welcome to post their thoughts on the type of Viva questions this is likely to generate.

If any of my loyal readers who have either entered for the diploma, or have prepared students for it, can e-mail me copies of their programme notes, that would be a great help. I like to think I'm more than capable of producing 1100 words about some of my favourite pieces, but would value some kind of marker for the style and content - I don't want to be penalised for being either too general or too academic in my approach. My "List Of Things To Do Soon" includes downloading the programme notes guide.

I've always been a reasonable sight-reader, but I appreciate that Quick Study is so much more than that; it has to be a performance. I plan to get hold of some of the Grade 6 pieces that I haven't learnt and use those as practice. Any further advice that anyone can offer on preparing for Quick Study would also be gratefully received.

I just hope I haven't left it too late to find the right reed for this!

Off now to update my signature accordingly.

Deborah

Congrats for taking the plunge D!... and good luck!!!

Hi Deborah. Glad to hear you have a willing accompanist - have sent you a PM about programme notes! If anything, I found it very difficult to cut my notes down to 1100 words. I had to get rid of everything that wasn't absolutely relevant, as I had collected so much information from various sources. But then that was for piano repertoire - I imagine you'd have to come up with more of your own information for rarer clarinet works. A good balance between the background of the piece and information specific to the piece itself is important. Don't bother too much with biographical details about the composer that aren't relevant, as these can simply be taken from a book.

I found 'writing programme notes' by Nigel Scaife quite useful for giving examples of good/bad programme notes.

Make sure you are familar with the history of your instrument, as they asked me an open-ended question, 'describe the development of your instrument from x's time to present day'.

As well as practicing Grade 6 pieces, try some grade 7 or 8 pieces to stretch yourself technically so that when it comes to sightreading a grade 6 piece it feels like a step down and you can concentrate more on expressive details. Orchestral excerpts might also be useful for things like change of key, time signature, tempo etc which came up a lot in the piece I was given. I think they expect you to include around 90% of the details as well as almost all right notes to pass well. I did not give a 'perfect' account by any means but still managed to get 12/15. Practice 'bluffing' your way through passages if you are not sure, ie making up some of the notes. If this is done in character they will appreciate it more than someone playing all the right notes but without any expressive details.

I was unlucky enough to have a 9.45 exam, not being a morning person! If you in this situation make sure you allow yourself enough time to wake up and warm up.

Please ask if you have any other questions.

Good luck in your preparation - you have a very ambitious programme there! Your accompanist must be an excellent piano player as I know the Duo Concertante is awful for the pianist! I agree that the hardest thing with programme notes is cutting them down to be within the word limit. Wishing you all the best

Good luck, Deborah!

I love the 2nd mvt of the Grand Duo - I really enjoyed working on it when I played it at the Festival a couple of years ago!

A wonderful recital programme - wish I was still playing the clarinet! I remember the old days when having the 'right' reed was a major issue - hoping that it wouldn't split at the last minute. My clarinettist friend now makes his own reeds.

Thanks for the kind words, suggestions and support, everyone, and a special thank you to those who have sent me copies of their programme notes. I might have to look a bit further afield for research, as the music section of our local library comprises a set of Grove and a biography of Andrea Bocelli (well, a few more books as well, but you get the picture).

Appassionata - yes, Accompanist is excellent. When I mentioned the possibility of the diploma to her, her first question was if I was doing the Duo Concertant!

Have a look at the recommended reading list for diploma candidates:

http://www.abrsm.org/resources/Reading%20L...2010May2000.pdf

If there's anything on there which looks promising, you can order it from your library for a nominal fee. If it's out of print, have a look at http://www.abebooks.co.uk/ to see if you can get a second-hand copy .

The interweb is of course a fab resource for this kind of research, if you believe the sources you come across. I think I've written all my notes based on internet articles, the books I already have and sleeve notes of relevant CDs...

Deborah, you need to go to Dorking to the Performing Arts library. Easier from your part of Surrey than from mine, I think.

Cheers

katyjay

What a name

IL, there's nothing funny about a town called Dorking. If you can't make any sensible contributions to this (or any other) thread, then please don't bother posting.

Rant over! Thank you everyone else for your help. katyjay, I remembered PAL this afternoon. It's an eleven minute train ride, then a twenty minute walk (to Denbies ), then Husband came up with the concept of inter-library loans - anything to keep me away from a vineyard!

Keep the ideas and suggestions coming gang, I promise to mention you all in my acceptance speech.

Grove's a good start!

Barbican library also has an excellent music department, I've spent a few saturdays in there note taking. It's a bit of a hike for you, but another option for interloans.

I've played all of those. Great programme.

Good luck!

Anybody have a preference for any particular edition of the music?