I'm really upset.

My grade 3 flute results are 111. That's a PASS. A pass. A PASS. It's on my records FOREVER.

That has RUINED my records! All my musical records are Distinctions and merits.

It's not fair. I'm not looking forward to grade 4 because I'll have the same teacher and it might all go wrong again.

My flute teacher didn't do ANY sight reading with me. Advised me to buy the scales book like a few weeks before my exam. And then only 1 aural test before the exam.

I HAVE been practising and stuff but there wasn't enough time to ask her other stuff on the last lesson-I learn in school btw

I'm just really disappointed with my mark.

Sorry that you are disappointed with your mark but it was a good solid pass.
Considering what you say that is very well done and if those are the circumstances the shortcomings don't seem to be down to you.

As for starting the 2nd piece... had the examiner indicated that you could start when ready?
If so it was up to you to decide when to start NOT your accompanist.
Maybe this is something to remember to prepare more thouroughly for your next exam. You need to know that your accompanist is working with you.

I think that this is something you have to put behind you now and move on.
Is it possible to talk to your teacher about things you feel need improving as regards exam preparation?

The examiner was writing what he thought of my 1st piece...

If so it was up to you to decide when to start NOT your accompanist.

She smiled. So I smiled back. It's an expression. Not a starting signal. -___-

Sorry to hear you are upset. What kind of comments did you have from the examiner?

It can be difficult learning an instrument in school as often there just isn't time to fit everything in. I do think that your teacher should have made some more time to help you with the aural tests and sight reading, etc. It is always disappointing to do less well in an exam than you wanted , but look forward to the next one and get lots of work done on the scales, arpeggios etc on your own. You can ask your teacher to hear them from time to time to check that they are correct and that you are working at them in the best way. Sight reading is something that you can work on alone too. Just get hold of lots of easy flute music and play, play, play! If you have a school orchestra you could join, do so and you should get lots of sight reading practice there too. But remember that you have PASSED your grade three and be proud of that , not unhappy. Well done! It is not a bad result at all. Is there any chance that you could have a few private lessons anywhere? Maybe your teacher would have more time to work at everything if you were to have some out-of-school lessons? Just a thought....

Sounds as though your teacher may be new to accompanying exams if she didn't wait for the examiner to say he was ready.

Next year I'm also starting other music lessons for my GCSES as well...But I do want to carry on with flute... But the thing is...My Monday to Saturday timetable is virtually all booked. :-/

i think you should go and talk to your teacher.....

i remembered when i did my grade 6 singing, i nearly choked to death for my second piece.....i was having a break after my first piece and took a zip of water...the examiner (a relative young female) asked me to start....i nearly 'sprayed' all the water on her face.... that grade 6 exam was a disaster anyway...

Sorry that you're dissapointed with your mark , maybe you should tell your teacher about all these thoughts , and that you needed more aural and scale practicing...

Congrats anyway

My daughter took grade 4 Flute in June Trinity and everything went wrong including the accompanist playing the only piece she played for the examiner too slow. The result was not what she expected either.

Like you she learns at school so lessons in the last term are all over the place. This is what caused her problems intitially. Once the exam was over her teacher naturally did not work on those pieces again. 4 weeks after the first exam she got the chance to re-sit grade 4 ABRSM. We found out on The Friday afternoon and she took the exam on Tuesday afternoon. All she did over the weekend was practice Flute, she had to learn about half the scales, had no one to brush up aural with her. On the day the accompanist was someone she had not worked with before, she viewed this as a bonus.

On this occasion the exam went well, she got a mark that exceeded expectations. the moral of the story is if you work hard, practise on your own initiative and relax you will be able to put your current situation behind you. I hope my daughter has learnt to practice scales as she goes along now regardless of the exam board.

Don't be upset you passed!!!
I would be well chuffed like
<3 daisy<3

Were you unaware that there were scales to learn and aural tests/SR to practice? It sounds like you should have knnown if you've taken exams before. Were they with different teachers? I would suggests actually asking to do the extra bits earlier because you know they are important, if your teacher isn't going to take control of them then it's unfortunately down to you. It should NOT be the case at grade 3 especially if you're new to the system but it mgiht be worth bearing in mind for grade 4.

Please don't be disappointed with your mark. It's a solid pass, and the best thing is that you realise what went wrong on the day, and in the build up, and no doubt next time you'll be able to put those things right, and get a higher mark. It's much more important to realise what you have to work on than realise what you can do well, and a sign of a good musician. Don't be discouraged! Maybe have a chat with the teacher and explain how you feel before starting work on grade 4 material, so he/she knows that you're aiming high.

Celebworld

Sorry this didn't go well for you for all sorts of reasons. However, do remember that as you climb the exam ladder so the demands go up. There is quite a jump to Grade 3 and, as you're already talking about Grade 4, I just wonder if you gave yourself enough time between exams and if you are exploring lots of music, playing in orchestras/bands etc to widen your knowledge?

You passed your Grade 3 and can now move on but please don't rush to Grade 4 - there's much to do besides exams in being a good musician. I'd talk this through with your teacher - explain how disappointed you are and see what she says.

Good luck anyway.

Yeah I would just like to say like everyone else that 111 is still a pass. Most poeple have got a pass before and been quite happy with themselves. How many exams exactly ahve you done apart from grade 1 and 2?

Oh stop whinging you miserable swine. A pass is a pass, be greatful and get over it. Or if you're such a perfectionist that you cannot live without your beloved merits and distinctions, then pull yourself together and re-take the exam.

And don't try and lay all the blame on your teacher. If you had the scales book then you could've learnt them at home, and similarily you're quite capable of doing yourself some mock aurals. I've passed plenty of exams with no teacher at all, and I'm sure that you're just as good as I am, and perfectly able to learn independently in addition to your lessons.

Either way don't moan on here, because there are plenty of other people who have tried their very hardest in exams and achieved passes, and I have no doubts that they are (rightfully) very proud of it.

Right that's my angry rant over.

Well done for passing your Grade 3, you should be proud, it is a great achievement.


Edit: Well I think that's closed this conversation down nicely!!!

I think you just said all that needed to be said, Matt!!

I think you should be pleased with your result, and if you're really not happy at a later date you can re-take it. A Merit or Distinction isn't everything you know. I'd be pleased to have passed if I were you, as a pass is a great achievement.