I am doing my LRSM performance piano this year ..... I have a pretty good programme, but wondering if it's LONG enough in minutes, whether I should add one more piece...... but most people I know who have taken the exam even played shorter than my programme....

AND- wondering how to prepare for the Viva Voce part? My last exam with DipABRSM 's viva voce was so easy.

Love to talk to anyone else taking this diploma this year...

Hi there,

May I know what your programme is?

Oh yeah, that would help right?( Sorry !)

1) Two Scarlatti Sonatas (the Bb ones) ( Don't have the L. numbers in front of me)
2) Tempest Sonata (Beethoven)
3) Chopin- Nocturne in Db, Op. 27 # 2
4) Debussy Preludes II, No. 7 La Terrace and No. 8 Ondine.

Are you taking this exam too ?

Yes, I am considering to take the exam too. At the moment, however, it is not my first priority.

The timing of your program is around 45 mins, right?

What about your friends' etc. result?

QUOTE (pianokc @ Jun 30 2004, 06:07 PM)

AND- wondering how to prepare for the Viva Voce part? My last exam with DipABRSM 's viva voce was so easy. Love to talk to anyone else taking this diploma this year...

Pianokc - I'm not doing the LRSM diploma but I am preparing my programme for the DipABRSM and wondered if you could tell me a little about your experience. For instance did you perform your programme from memory? If so, did you find that difficult to do. How long did it take you to prepare yourself from starting out learning your programme to actually going in and taking the exam? Apparently the quick study is notoriously difficult - did you find that? What was the piano like that you played on for the exam? Sorry, a few questions there but I'd be so grateful for any advice/hints/tips etc. that you may have to offer.

Asagohan - you may have some words of wisdom to offer too......?

I'd be particularly interested to how you arrange your practise time. I find this very difficult. Scales and finger exercises etc, pieces, sight reading etc. It's really difficult to fit it all in

OK Ursie,

My timetable for practice is like that

Weekday
8:00-11:00a.m.
8:00-11:00p.m.

Holiday
it depends (to be frank, virtually no practice at all)

For sight reading, someone has already suggested using the romantic sketch books series from ABRSM publishing. Personally, I use 'Spectrum' not because it is similar to the one you will encounter in the exam but will help to ignore any misread notes. You may also try some Schoenberg's works which I think the serialism would be another advantage to the exam fulfilment.

Wow Asagohan, I envy the time schedule you set for yourself to practice. I wish I can do that too. I have a baby and I teach 5 days a week, so practicing is very difficult for me. The lack of sleep doesn't help my memorizing at all right now. I am starting to panic actually... I only have 4 months left for the exam.

Ursie- I did my DipABRSM half memorized.... 2 pieces I had to use book. I didn't find the quick study hard b/c I sight read a lot during my lessons, and from when I was young, I love to SR lots of pieces..... but I do see my students who did the DipABRSM 's quick study mark is low. They think it's hard too.

The piano for my exam was a Yamaha C2. Adequate.

I will take Asagohan's advice and try Schoenberg's pieces, and SPECTRUM? Is that a collection of works from ABRSM ? I used a lot of Sonatinas for the students to practice for the quick study first, then moved on to english suites and french suites, and then move them to 20th century works which helps, and also lots of pop music reading too b/c most of them have problems with LH's chords reading..... so pop music helps that way too.

Asogahan- do you have any information about how to prepare for the viva voce this time for LRSM? Heard from anyone's experience?

pianokc may envy my timetable, I am doing this with too much trade off though.

Well, actually I don't think that viva voce is easy anyway though I passed the section before. You must already have experience on how to prepare. In this forum, we have seen lots of tips. To me, program notes is the most direct to gain the insight of exam requirement.

I'll be back later.

QUOTE (asagohan @ Jul 13 2004, 04:41 PM)

pianokc may envy my timetable, I am doing this with too much trade off though. Well, actually I don't think viva voce is easy anyway though I passed the section before. You must already have experience on how to prepare. In this forum, we have seen lots of tips. To me, program notes is the most direct to gain the insight of exam requirement. I'll be back later.

Can you remember anything specific from your DIPabrsm viva voce and other aspects of the exam which may be of help to students such as myself who will be taking the diploma shortly? Do you have any advice or can you remember any of the questions asked, etc? Also, what was your recital programme?

Hi pianissimo,

From this forum, you should have enough information for the requirement of viva voce. I am not going to detail the questions here but briefly...

1. What is the purpose of J.S. Bach writing WTC?
2. Who are the comtemporary of Beethoven?
3. Did you know any of Beethoven's symphony?
4. Tell me about the form of the sonata.
5. What is a ballade?
6. Apart from piano music, what music did Brahms write?
...

There were too many questions which I can't write here at a time. You may have the idea of what you have to prepare then.

About my programme...
J.S. Bach Prelude and Fugue in D, BWV 851
Beethoven Sonata in C minor, Op.13 ('Pathetique')
Brahms Ballade in G minor, Op.118 no.3
Ravel Sonatine

Thanks asagohan and pianokc for your replies - asagohan, Ravel's Sonatine is one of my chosen pieces (which I've only just started to work on) - beautiful isn't it, but the third movement I think will be murder! pianokc, you're right about the sight reading I think, you need to practise it as much as your programme to expect a pass. I will take asagohan's advice also and try Schoenberg's works along with Spectrum and make more space for s/r in my practise.

Hi, Ursie

The 3rd movement of Ravel's sonatine is long and technically difficult. I think it is good for ending a recital though. The mood is set and beautiful.

For sight reading, another good option for training the grade 8 pieces in group C.