Well, my exam's coming up at the end of June (already know when as it's part of a special visit).

Scales - I think I'm OK on most. Mainly the contrary motion ones giving me bother - I can't not watch my left hand, and my right hand goes wrong if I don't watch that too. And I can't watch both in contrary motion - my eyes wont work like that. And I occasionally lose count of how far I've got with chromatic scales, especially if I'm choosing them at random.

Pieces - I changed my mind a couple of times but have settled on the Hook "Rondo", the Bloch "Dream" and the Villa-Lobos "Adeus Bella Morena". Of the three, the one I like best is the Bloch, but it's the one I play worst - my pedalling still leaves a lot to be desired, and the balance between my hands isn't brilliant. My teacher says that I chose the Villa-Lobos because it's almost operatic in character and I'm a singer. And the Hook either goes OK or I get my fingers completely tangled!

I'm reasonably confident about aural, and am practising sight-reading like nobody's business by playing every piece of music I lay hands on regardless of how hard it is.

How's everyone else's preparation?

All the best, Katyjay.

How do you count with the chromatic scales?

I go... 1+2+3+4+5+6+
the 2+2+3+ etc....

Yes, that's what I do. But then if the tiniest thing distracts me I lose it and have to hope I remember where I started.

Hi Katyjay! It's ok to count in quavers 1, 2, 3, 4, and you might tap your foot a little on every first beat and give the note a little more pressure to help you keep count on where you are. Worked for me.
As for the contrary motion no matter how my teacher used to asked me to play by feel, I end up taking turns to watch my left AND right hand. Perhaps you can sit further away from the keyboard to have a broader view of the keys without turning your head. After all, it's only 2 octaves

Good luck for Grade 5!

Good luck with all your forthcoming exams katyjay!



I'm struggling.

Good luck with the prep! I did the same pieces as you, except I played "La Tarantelle" instead of the Dream. I hope it goes well. My favourite piece was Adeus, Bella Morena (although I am no singer!).

Good luck with grade 5 , it sounds as though you're looking at everything thoroughly, do you have an aural part of the exam? That's the bit that throws me. Like you I'm playing all sorts of music to keep the sight reading going. Scales are OK, but too slow, and the staccato never stays that way.Most of the pieces are OK most of the time, I have a study by Delius called , Toccata, which , I'm sure in the right hands would sound lovely, but is such a struggle. I hope that you do well, do they let you know on the day?

Hi Gummidge

Yes, there's an aural part of the exam. I'm reasonably confident about that because (1) I did it not that in December 2003 for my Grade 5 singing so I know what it's like to do it "for real" and (2) I'm actually training my singing teacher's current batch of ABRSM candidates in their aural, including some Grade 5 candidates.

ABRSM don't let you know on the day how you've done - you hear about three weeks later. And that wait seems to last for ever.....

Do you count? . I just repeat to myself over & over the note that I'm supposed to be turning on & hopefully get stopped & turned round when I get there

I just stop thinking altogether but as I've practised them all WAY too much in the last few weeks I suspect I can do them in my sleep but that doesn't mean they;ll go right in the exam. i don't knoe my date yet

I'm doing rondo- I know what you mean about the fingers.
dream-my new favourite i changed from tarentelle so was behind but after lots of opractice I'm really happy with it How often do you clear the pedal?
New orlean's noghtfall one-I got to learn the title. i love this too.

My sight-reading is pretty good

Aural this is VERY erratic. On G4 I got full marks and not by guessing but at G3 I got below a pass. it depends on the day and how i'm feeling. Some days I just get embarrassed and then my mind goes blank.

Does anyone have any good tips for practising aural at home (I'll be on my own)???

By the way good luck

Smileygirl

Practising aural - get hold of ABRSM's Aural Training In Practice CD and book (should be in most libraries or can be ordered from ABRSM publishing). This gives you the chance to practise the tests as they will be put to you in the exam.

Pedaling in "Dream" - pretty roughly every time the triplet harmony changes I pedal, and to hold the bass notes at the end. But while it works on my clav, it makes a horrible "thump" on my teacher's piano, so I'm obviously doing something wrong.

Best of luck

Ooh thanks. i will look for that.

Contrary ones, I practised them hands separately till I could do each hand separately without looking, then put them back together. I think that's all I did - one day they just clicked and now I can do them without thinking. It's worth knowing for each scale which is the dodgier hand so you can keep an eye on that one (I find it isn't always the left hand). I tend to swap the watching between the hands - I can do them without watching now, just about, but I find i feel more secure.

Chromatics - I always count in quavers rather than crotchets, and I tend to slightly emphasise the key note every time I go past it.

Scales are about the only thing I can do on the piano at grade 5 or beyond level. Pieces are about grade 4 and sight-reading is about G2-3

Good luck!