My exam is in approaching (one more month to go!) and I'm actually not that worried about my pieces, scales, sightreading, and aural that much anymore after all the great tips I got from everyone (thanks!)... ok maybe sort of.

But I'm more worried about the fact that I don't know how I should act in the exam, after my exam last year. I am naturally not as prone to nerves as most people, but on the outside I always look like a completely nervous wreck...and it's hard to tell a person you're not nervous, however truthful, when you look like you're about to have a heart attack! LOL. Is there like something like "Exam Etiquette" or something that some people know and some people don't, for making a good impression on examiners???

What should you wear?
How should you smile when entering the exam room without making a complete fool of yourself?
Can you sit down before the examiner tells you to? And should you thank him or her after you do?
When the examiner asks if you want to do scales or pieces first, should you answer with "(your choice), please"?
What do you do and especially where do you look in the short pauses between scales/arpeggios and pieces, as well as between each piece, when the examiner is writing? To look confident, instead of staring into space and twiddling your thumbs?

That kind of stuff. Please help...

The very best thing you can do is look calm and confident; even if you dont feel like that! It never hurts to thank the examiner. smile as much as you want to without looking gleeful. ive found it helpful to play the first few measures of my next peice in my head as the examiner is writing.I hope this helps!!

Good advice from Jasbeth. Don't forget the examiner is always short of time so do what you can to help - sit down and adjust the stool to your liking as soon as you get in - give the examiner the names and order of pieces you are playing on a piece of paper together with information on scales ie. "I am playing melodic minor scales". He will thank you for that. Beyond that, concentrate hard on what you are doing - you will play better and won't be distracted or so nervous.
Hope this helps - good luck with your exam.

so you're saying to make a sort of "program" for your performance, right?

I'm sorry I don't quite understand what you meant by information on scales - I need to play both major and harmin and melodic minor...so I can skip that part?

Thanks, btw!

If you can, make eye-contact with the examiner as you say hello.

A thank-you never offends, keeps the atmosphere positive and will make you feel good about yourself!

If you are playing piano (sorry - I can't remember but you probably said in a previous post) I would opt to play scales first, as they are a good way of getting the feel of an unfamiliar instrument.

Wear what you feel comfortable in.

Have you read the notes for candidates published by the AB? You can read them on line - try a search.

A sort-of -programme is not a bad idea - even if it's just in your head. Remember you can play your pieces in any order, it doesn't have to be ABC.

Lots of excellent advice from others already. The bit about concentrating is vital, and about hearing the first few bars of each piece as you are waiting.
Once you are sitting down and ready to play, try to forget the examiner and get into the music. Make your pieces as interesting as you can - bring out any contrasting moods or styles.

best of luck!
Maggie

If you don't know where to look between pieces, why not just look through the piece you're about to play? Obviously not an option if you're singing, I think that must be a problem- but you're playing piano, right? maggiemay seems to think so anyway
You don't have to smile but it is a good idea because it makes you and the examiner feel more confident- look at it from the examiner's point of view- they're trying to make you feel as much at your ease as they can, you know!
I would sit down whenever you like as I once went to a piano exam and the examiner didn't tell me to sit down lol
I was just standing there for ages and then she said "would you like to start with scales or pieces?"
"Scales, please" has always seemed fine (but remember the please!) for me.
And in piano exams scales always help to get the feel of the instrument before playing pieces, where dynamics and stuff really count.
Hope this helps!
Cecilia
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great advice, everyone!!! learned so much already. In all my past exams I used to flip the page to my next piece and look nervously at the examiner while he was writing - that never really did seem right - so I wouldn't recommend it!!! Looking through the piece doesn't seem like a bad idea - better try that in my next exam. What if I want to memorize the piece though?
The program bit - not a bad idea either! Should it be typed?

I'm still having a problem with what to wear though...because I normally feel comfortable in a Tshirt and shorts , but that is probably NOT ideal for a music exam. that's what my friend wore last year and she got marks knocked off for it. and right onto the mark form the examiner wrote "Do not wear that next time." i'm a girl, btw.
So my problem is, if what you feel comfortable in isn't suitable, what should you wear?

And what do you normally say when you get into the room? My teacher always tells me to say "Good morning/afternoon, madam/sir." I never really do that.

So what everyone is saying is, you won't sound "too" polite (that's not a insult, btw) if you say please and thank you a few more times than usual?

And finally, if you stumble in scales and want to start the scale over, should you ask the examiner, or just start over without asking?

I guess there's just part of the population who really wants to make good impressions on examiners...

What you wear should have no bearing on the exam at all - it's your playing that the examiner is concentrating on! I find it hard to believe that what your friend said could be true - did you actually see the mark form with that comment on?

QUOTE (pianokeys @ May 31 2004, 12:38 AM)

and right onto the mark form the examiner wrote "Do not wear that next time."

I have trouble believing that - the examiner could get in deep trouble if that is true

actually i didnt c it but i know it's true cos she told me...and she never lies!!!
i find it hard to believe too!!!

Maybe it was another board?
I remember reading through some syllabus where you were expected to dress as though you were performing for an audience and that dress was included in the marking.

QUOTE

What if I want to memorize the piece though?

I don't think this is a good idea because memory can often give way under pressure- keep the music there just in case!
I'd be interested to know what other people think about playing from memory in exams...

QUOTE

I normally feel comfortable in a Tshirt and shorts  , but that is probably NOT ideal for a music exam. that's what my friend wore last year and she got marks knocked off for it.  and right onto the mark form the examiner wrote "Do not wear that next time."

As others have already commented, this really isn't acceptable, (if it was an AB examiner). What you wear is meant to have no bearing on your mark whatsoever.

If it is another board, other criteria may apply (and it should be made clear in the requirements).
But not if it's just the examiner's personal opinion !

Maggie