I AM NOT HAPPY

I took my grade 4 violin exam on the 30th November. Despite screwing up my scales, I came out of the exam with a positive feeling.

I had to wait until yesterday for my results, as my teacher has been poorly and the results had not arrived by the end of term. The suspense was killing me.

So, at music centre yesterday, my teacher still off sick and having passed the results on to someone else (the accompanist in the exam), we were told that the results were completely off the wall. The examiner had failed by 10 marks people who were expected to get at least 115, and certain grade 1 people who might not have even passed with any other examiner got distinctions. I got 109, and felt I should have got at least 125. The accompanist in my exam said I'd done very well and she thought it was one of the best exams ever etc. I did too.

So, my teacher has appealed against the results, and anyone who wants to can retake the exam at Easter. I was supposed to do grade 5 in the summer, don't know now. It goes without saying as to how I feel.

What does anyone else think about this? Do you think I should retake the exam, considering I've always had merits and distinctions in the past, where I've felt worse after coming out of the exam?

As disappointing as this mark must be for you, I would be jumping for joy just at the fact that I passed if I got 109. As the saying goes "P's bring degrees" - where P stands obviously for 'pass'.

I would definately endeavor to do the next grade up (grade 5) next time instead of retaking. You passed! hooray!

put all of your emotions and frustrations into practice! good job on passing. concetrate on becoming an awesome musician rather than stressing about marks.

There are millions of famous muso's out there who have NEVER done an exam before. They might not even pass grade 1 (I know people like this - look at some of the 'Australian Idols'...)!!!!!!

my point is, marks mean squat dideley when it comes to music. Beethoven often got shot down about his playing because he broke strings playing his passionate sections in his pieces or improvisations. Look at him now. Mozart was often rejected at court when he was trying to get a job there - but look at him now!!!


obviously we want to get good marks - but don't let your ego waste your musical mind.

I totally agree; go for grade 5. I've got lower than 109

Thanks for your advice. However, the person who I have my lesson with failed, so I'll probably have to wait until she's done it again before I can do grade 5 anyway. Any ideas?

Emm- they're both dead

You shouldn't have to wait just because the other person failed. I would be more concerned about your teacher's illness and lack of tuition.

I wouldn't resit an exam you have passed.

Matthew...

I'm really sorry that you're dissapointed with your result. My sister had the same experience: she was predicted a distinction,a nd came out with 114. She was lucky - some people came out with marks around 20 points lower than they were predicted, and everyone was at least a whole boundry below expected.
Your teacher (who I doubt would get things like this wrong) clearly thinks you're a good player if he expected a merit/disctinction. If you tihnk you should have got merit, then judging by the fact that everyone under-estimates their abilities, a distinction was most probably within your grasp. Which is all well and good, but now what?

I say you should completely ignore this exam, and move on. At least now you have motivation to prove to everyone how you are good enough for high marks, and with hard work grade 5 in the Summer sounds reasonable, particularly if you manage to do your piano this term. Why bother spending another term on pieces which you probably are sick to death of, just to pass the same exam? A pass is a pass, it's what most people get, and although you would end up with a better mark, you could just as easily start on some harder stuff (Vivaldi A minor concerto, or Dvorak Sonatine, Op100!!) and then move on to grade 5 and get a distinction. Look, you know you're better than grade 4, your teacher knows that, your accompanist knows that, clearly your examiner was just a total prat.

By the way, did you check your aural mark with your piano aural mark for the same grade? If your violin one is equal or lower, you know the marking is highly unfair.

From Milly


Didn't see this bit. Any chance you could have individual lessons, or have lessons with someone else already on their way to grade 5? Individual lessons would be best, even if they are shorter than you have now you would get more out of them, especially at this sort of level. You can always make a good start on scales, aural and sight-reading without any lessons, I reckon this should be your first step

As I've got older the idea of going into exam has become less appealing, and my marks have tended to slip. That doesn't make me any less a musician, it just means I get insanely nervous.

All I'm trying to say here, is that you don't need to get caught up in these results. BE happy you passed, examiners look for different things in musicians... just move on.

For grade 4, even though it's not been a good experience, be happy that you passed and move on to grade 5. Hopefully the examiner will be fairer next time. If it was grade 8 I may have suggested to resit if you had that opportunity, but there really isn't much point at grade 4.

To be honest, move on. Life is short.

I've decided to move on and keep my 109. I'll have to do better in my grade 5!

I think that's a good decision. Your grade 5 will be the best way of proving the point.