Just interested! I would like to do The Challenge myself but have left it a bit late - perhaps some time next year... I have decided what my instrument will be! Perhaps I'll get some of the music and maybe a lesson or two in the next few months

So, yes, do tell of your experiences. This kind of thing is most fun and I don't think there has been a thread on it for a while!

Hi Benjaminja, thanks for raising the issue again.

For me, the actual challenge bit is done - I've got my Grade 1 Violin and raised cash for Cancer Research. So I could stop now. But I've absolutely fallen for my new instrument, and will be carrying on with it even though the challenge is over.

Out of interest, what instrument are you considering?

I cannot blame you for falling for the violin, katyjay! Strangely, my love of the instrument has only recently been reawakened, having seen some of the LRSM repertoire (I'll confess the DipABRSM felt like a bit of a chore).

I do hope you'll carry on with violin! One day, when I actually manage to get to a forums concert, I'll be able to hear it!

As for my own challenge, I might keep the instrument a secret until nearer the time, if you don't mind...

I haven't done it yet - I'm planning to take grade 1 viola at the end of the year, but have yet to find a teacher, so haven't started playing with any seriousness yet.

I've got the sponsorship pack from Women's Aid, and am ready to start, as soon as I can get me a teacher. Oh, and I need to hand in my phd before I'm allowed to start another instrument too.

I'll be doing Grade 1 flute, hopefully between now and the year 2056.....

I'm definitely going to do a Grade 1 Challenge, but still deciding which instrument!

I'm doing the challenge on sax. I've had one lesson and I've entered for grade 1 in June. I must be completely insane.

I'm hoping to try grade 1 on either violin or viola, hopefully sometime in 2007........

I was thinking the same , probably viola then I've more chance of playing in an orchestra, though I did play clarinet in Scotland's top amateur chamber orchestra a few weeks ago but only because the regular clarinettist couldn't do the concert, she's back now. I tried my cousin's violin ages ago and got about four notes - the open strings, hehe.

I'm seriously thinking of doing the challenge on the cello.....Meerkat is extremely kindly letting me have her old cello!!! I can't read the bass clef so it really will be a challenge!

It took me about a term before I had mastered the open strings!

You could do it for my 100th bithday.......

I'm planning to do clarinet... might need a bit of negotiation though as the teacher I have lined up at the moment seems to think it's not worth bothering...

I'd love to do it...but have problems with time and money. I'd love to play the double bass but don't think that is going to happen.

I did it on treble recorder - got 131. I played it (though was never taught it) at school, so decided to only give myself a term to learn the pieces and scales to make it fairer. Am still collecting money because I'm very disorganised but when I'm done I think I'll have got £100+ for the local MS information and therapy centre (my dad died from MS)

I'd love to do another one on horn, but no one has a spare French horn sadly!

Good luck Sbhoa. Although, it must be said, you have some seriously good negotiating skills, so it may be the clarinet teacher who needs the luck......

Thanks... I think...

Sarah... can you count this as the first reminder of the week?
(Don't feel too comfortable about reminding you but you did ask me to...).

Okey doke, sbhoa - and please do keep reminding me - I should remember....should... but I'd hate it to slip my mind (and it's possible, with the state of my brain!)

Going to wait until the autumn for mine. Work is more plentiful from September/October onwards, which allows me more flexibility with dates. Can't afford to turn work down this time of year as it's always in short supply during May/June and July.

I might do grade 1 clarinet in the winter - this grade 1 challenge seems a good idea!

David

A new challenger.... I was going to try to beat MrB but he quit.

You'll love the clarinet David, I know it!

Wondering what to do about this now.......
Looking at the syllabus I reckon that I could manage to do this in the summer session (still a week to go for online entries).
If I do that I think I will have to do it on my own as I can't see that the teacher I have had a lesson with going along with it.... and may be difficult to get any teacher to be happy about it unless they are a regular forum user...
I don't think that self study will be a problem.... just the matter of politely saying I decided not to have lessons after all (though I don't want to upset the guy as he was looking for an exam accompanist.. ).

I'm sure you're more than capable of prepping for G1 on your own, sbhoa. Once you're happy you can make a reasonable sound, you should be fine. How's my clari treating you? Hope it is behaving!

Not done much with it so far as the teacher I had a lesson with gets you making a sound just with the mouthpiece first and I've done as I'm told so far.
I might ring him after the weekend and cancel.....
The other thing is that I'm not too sure if I like him.
I'm sure he's a very nice man and a good teacher (better be for what he charges ) bit it's just one of those personality things I think. And I have learnt to trust my gut instinct on things and am rarely wrong.

Hi!
Please excuse my ignorance but I am only an occasional visitor to this site. I was drawn to this thread as I have recently bought myself a flute - I am a very lapsed pianist and viola player, and I've been inspired by my young daughter who has taken up the clarinet and joined a local wind band, which I quite jealously have my eye on joining.
So, please tell me, what are the finer details of the Grade 1 challenge? Is there a time limit from starting the instrument to taking G1 to say that you risen to the challenge? And how is the sponsorship aspect working - I am keen to raise money for the Royal Marsden hospital as a family member has recently been treated there. Are people collecting money per mark scored in the exam, or just a set amount at the giver's discretion?
Finally, I do not have a flute teacher, I am teaching myself with a little help from my friends as they say! Do you think this is wise, or should I try and find a teacher? What would you suggest?
Many thanks.

Hi Jingly B

No, there's no time limit between choosing your instrument and taking your Grade 1. And you are free to choose whichever charity you like.

My sponsors either pledged a single sum, or sponsored me per mark I gained over 100 (so if I'd failed my Grade 1 they'd have paid nothing).

Generally I'd think that for playing the flute you'd be wise to get at least a few lessons. The posture and embouchure are both quite awkward when one starts, and you don't want to cause yourself muscular problems.

Cheers

katyjay

This is the thread that started it off.... I think.

hi. What is the 'grade 1 challenge'? I can't find any info on it. Thanks

I'm doing my challenge this term - only descant recorder, but I've booked a lesson and bought some music and we're off!

hey this is a really good idea! I might have a go sometime, maybe over the summer...

already play a string and brass instrument so it would have to be piano, woodwind or percussion!!

Same here - I'd love to do cello if I could somehow fund both the instrument and the teacher on (currently) £5 a week....I seriously need a job!!!

I am going to do the grade 1 challenge on the piano .... I hope to do it in the Spring term 2007.... anybody else doing piano?? If so please say !
Louise

yes, but don't know when yet

Hmmmm.....i wish i'd done it on flute. Mine would have been the grade 3 challenge though seems i started in June and took my grade 3 in March.

Lucky I didn't leave this until tomorrow as I'm having to get advice on filling out the form with a blank space for 'presented for exam by'.

I know that some people who put in their own entries have their name here but I don't like that, just looks a bit silly to me somehow.

I just thought it was funny: my grade 6 theory says 'Presented for examination by YAP DipABRSM' at the bottom .

Not literally YAP, although one can specify anything one wants to put there - you could even ask for sbhoa or forums.abrsm.org .

Just got an email telling me that it's compulsary to have something there......
I think I will put 'Forum Challenge'.
A bit annoying that you can't choose not to identify someone as having presented you for exam.

Why not put "Herself"?

Any more offers....?
Maybe I should offer a prize for the most imaginative.
Going to reply to the email with the suggestion that being able to have that blank would be nice.

It's done now....

For my Grade 1 challenge I had exams in Grade 1 Clarinet & Recorder today! I think they went well and I'm expecting passes, so maybe it'll become the Grade 2 challenge soon!
Matt

Ooh, two in one day! Well done. Sounds like you did well!

Ooh got my first violin lesson on saturday will certainly take the grade 1 challenge some time...

Will be taking a flute challenge soon not sure which though as i can play gd.5 stuff already and only been playing a few weeks!!!

Also will take gd.6 theory challenge have chickened out of gd.8!

Well done

I didn't know where best to post this so apologies for cross-posting a little.

Just to let you guys know I raised £161.50 for the Gloucester MS Information & Therapy Centre

http://www.glosmsinfo.freeserve.co.uk/

Well done Sarah.

That's great, well done Sarah!

Well done Sarah!

Car Expert

That's great Sarah! Well done. Hope I do as well in my grade 1 challenge. Talking of which, I'd better get practising!!

Well done Sarah!