I'm an adult beginner and I've only ever taken two music exams in my life so I'm not quite sure how to behave during the exam. Apart from saying hello to the examiner, I then don't say another word, I just follow the examiner's instructions. Is this normal, or is it more normal to have some verbal interaction with the examiner? I feel as if some verbal interaction would help the atmosphere be less tense, but I don't know if the examiner would disapprove. How do other people behave in exams?

I'm not conscious of having had much chat with the examiner in any of my exams.

A breezy "hello, I'm Katyjay" on the way in, introducing my accompanist (except in my piano exam, where I didn't have one ), and an "oh bother I've forgotten my list" in at least one singing exam and my violin exam are about my lot.

I usually say "thank you" at the end of each piece, and thank-you to the accompanist as they leave the room. But otherwise there's not a lot of talk.

Oh, except for the aural tests at the end of my recorder exam. Did the singing back and the examiner said "You're a trained singer aren't you?" To which I said yes. And that was that.

Same as Katyjay, I don't say anything more than the required formalities. If the examiner wants to chat, then of course I would be happy to oblige!

Skylark

The important thing to remember is that the examiner is there to do a job and they have a very strict time-limit on each exam so, whilst they might want to socialise and have a really nice chat, they simply cannot afford to do so. Some examiners are naturally more out-going than others and some will have a more friendly word than others. It's not personal, they're working!

So, a nice smile when you go in, response to any questions the examiner might ask of you and anything you need to say regarding the exam is all that's expected. The examiner won't think you rude if you say no more and you mustn't think them rude if they don't say much to you. I remember being told at a Seminar that people who chat away actually distract the examiner sometimes, so I always tell my pupils to be polite but get on with the job and "go with the flow". Remember, too, that nerves make you talk twice as much usually - at least they do me!

Best of luck with the exam.

I've often been known to have a bit of a chat with the examiner...

If there is anything you don't understand or are unsure about, check with the examiner. I lost marks in my grade 2 cello exam because what the examiner asked me (or thought she asked me) did not correspond with what I understood I should be listening for. This became clear on the mark sheet. I should have checked, because I couldn't hear any crescendos/diminuendos in what she played, and she had expected me to listen for accelerandos/ritardandos, which I had noticed but didn't think I was supposed to comment on.

Me too!

I generally try to not chat too much, but waffling a bit seems to help me subliminate the nerves a tad, so in that case I just do, and if the examiner doesn't talk back, well heyho, it made me feel better!

I usually walk in say Hello and ask how they are

Thank you for your advice everyone.

If anything I think I'm TOO conscious of wasting the examiner's time, distracting them etc, and that's why I don't say a word other than hello. Friends of mine have admitted to the examiner that they're really nervous, or that their hands are shaking, or that it's the first exam they've done since their driving test etc. At first I thought that comments like these were inappropriate, but I have to admit that the examiners don't seem to have minded and from my friends' point of view, it seems to have broken the ice and made them maybe slightly less nervous. Of course I could try this myself, but I just don't want to get the exam off to a bad start if examiners generally don't like personal confessions like these.

I couldn't help smiling at Katyjay saying "thank you" at the end of each piece. Normally it's the examiner who thanks me for playing, and I think it speaks volumes that it's Katyjay who thanks the examiner for listening. I think I'm going to have to work on treating the examination as if it was part of my day-job, where I don't have any problem either with confidence or being in control of the situation

mwl1 - I'd love to know what you chat to the examiner about!!

Someone mentioned earlier this week in another thread I think that, they say to themselves that they are nervous and this makes them less nervous and also they set themselves up so they know they will make mistakes, and when they do it's not as nerveracking

It was something like that anyway

I meant to say before - I think the most important thing is that you are comfortable - so if it would make you feel better to blurt something out to the examiner, then do so - better than feeling like you wanted to say something and it "getting in the way" when you're trying to concentrate on your playing.

Both the exams I've done as an adult I have waffled - one examiner was very taciturn and barely said a word to me beyond "When you're ready... thank you" at the beginning and end of the pieces, and of course what he had to say to administer the aural tests, and the other was relatively chatty, but still did not say much: in both exams I got distinctions, so it didn't do me much harm!

Put yourself in the examiner's position. He's sitting there all day with one after another coming in and communicating with him as little as possible! Holding him back is not on, obviously, but there's something you want to say or ask, don't feel you shouldn't! I don't see the point in telling him you're nervous; he'll know that already. Everybody is to some extent or another, and he has to mark what he hears, regardless, so there's no point!

I don't think there's any point in terms of the marking - on the other hand it may help some people to get it out, so they feel less nervous/under pressure!

Our music service always use the same examiner and on occassions when my daughter has taken these exams he always tries to chat with her at the end! He only asks how long she's been playing and that sort of thing, friendly interest, but she hates it! She took her first exams at 10 and wouldn't have considered having a conversation with him and if anything she finds it very off putting when he chats with her.

In my G6 piano the examiner asked me loads of questions about what other instruments I played and groups/orchestras I was in. Then she asked me where I went to school and we had a nice little chat about what a lovely town it was.

I must admit I just say hello to the examiner, answer any questions they ask me and then thank you at the end, and goodbye!

Melody

Me too!! and a bit of moaning about scales

Welcome to the forums Melody!!

Thinking about the original question - what's the best way to interact? Whichever way puts you most at ease without making the examiner runs late. So - it depends on you and what will make you feel most comfortable, as long as you can cope with the fact that not all examiners will chat back, and that you mustn't cause them to overrun.

Heehee, that sounds pleasant!!

Err...The only interaction I've really had with an examiner was in my grade 3 flute exam. He asked if i'd done any exams before and I said i'd done grade 1 and 2 on violin. He then asked if i'd done my grade 2 flute, to which my respoense was "well actually, until about 2 weeks ago i thought i was doing the grade 2"!!

That happened to me too. I thought I was doing my Grade 1 guitar exam until about an hour before the exam when I noticed that I wasn't playing what other Grade 1 students were playing but that I was playing Grade 2 pieces. I asked my teacher what Grade I was doing and then he told me I was doing Grade 2. I was too young to be freaked out though.

My last practical music exam was about 20 years ago. I remember one examiner giving me hints on how to sight read better after I'd done the sight reading. I remember also asking one examiner if I'd failed or not - how irritating for the poor examiner.

Before my last exam I had a long chat with the examiner, who I think was a bit schocked to see an old man walk in the room after 4 hours of youngsters.

While explaining how I had gotten to this point he said suddenly " hey, wait a minute, I'm not supposed to know all this stuff! We had better get started."

I felt at ease after entering the room being very nervous and I think the examiner knew that a little talking would distract me.

My advice: be yourself and don't try to hide how you feel. If you would normally start up a conversation in such a situation, by all means do.

I felt so much better playing for someone who had showed himself to be a good bloke rather than a complete stranger.

I don't think too much chatting should go on, but brief civilities would seem good.

One of my daughters was very cross when, aged nine, she thanked the examiner at the end, stood there waiting for a reply, then gave up and left the room. She asked me to write to the AB complaining about his lack of manners. . . I didn't, but was also cross that he was too busy/important to respond to a child's own good manners.

When I was a lot younger, I hardly said anything...

But I'm doing Grade One Jazz Piano in a couple of weeks, and am anticipating more interaction with the examiner...

Are you planning to:



I will if you will! Let me know if it goes down well with the examiner!

Don't forget to tune your instrument before you start to play !

Just enjoy the damned thing! The work's been done by the time you get there. Yes, do tune your instrument, though, or nobody will enjoy it!

For my last exam, the examiner arrived just after I did, and held the door open for us as we lugged in our harpsichord, which was to be the continuo instrument. He was very polite, and gave us a friendly greeting when my teacher and I went in - and after the exam, he came forward and shook my hand and that of my accompanist (the first time I've ever experienced that!). Other than that, any talk was strictly business - my teacher asked if he was to leave for the pieces he was not accompanying, and I said a few words for each piece during the exam.
During grade 7, the only other interaction was as I got more and more flustered whilst hashing through the scales in a dismal manner...the examiner remarked "Calm down!" Thank goodness I was able to.

Only hellos , thank yous and goodbyes...


Ah , what do you talk about ?

In my piano exam i usually say "good morning "etc and "can i please test the piano out".Then at the end the examiner said to me "Thank you for coming to play to me today".When i did my grade 7 the examiner started laughing after the glissando at the end of carousel ! I think the best thing i have ever done is follow "Car experts" advice to eat a banana!

One that springs to mind was in my Grade 3 piano exam, where I was playing a Kemble piano. I also have a Kemble piano at home, which came with a free teddy bear advertising on its (his!) jumper the fact that we have been blessed with 90 years of Kemble pianos. The examiner asked me if I would like to try the piano, upon which I told him that I had a Kemble piano at home which was allied with a free teddy bear. We discussed this at the expense of my piano trying time!

He gave me a distinction did the man...

I say 'hello' and smile or nod as i go in and then at the end say 'thank-you'. In my grade5 piano aural, i can remember her asking me if i was OK because i was hardly breathing to which i replied 'yes, thanks, i think so. just nervous!'. I think that's happened in a couple of exams. I dont generally make a tradition of talking to them, though. At the end of the day, they're the ones to decide whether you pass or fail and if they had a nice personality and fail you...well, you might be disappointed or even more upset!

Just be normal. Talk to the examiner if that helps. They're always there to help you not to hinder your playing. And remember to smile!

I was always taught to make a good first impression by being polite. In my past two exams, i never said much other than the general necessities, but that might change next year as ive become more accostomed to performing.

Well that might be necessary if you're doing a dipolma exam...

I want this one!

well you would have to find the reference number of the examiner first... They tell you it on the paper with the exam dates...

I've got his reference number!

Not being a pianist, I'd no idea what the different makes of piano were, but by one of those strange coincidences, I've just seen a Kemble piano advertised for sale at an auction next week No clarinets though (I'm looking for a "cheap" spare until I treat myself to a decent one in a few grades time)

How exciting!

They have now replaced the old Kemble piano with a new big black shiney horrible to play one.

i always talk to them, found out that my last one was a conductor. interesting stuff...

Well then!

I sometimes say "I was dreading that one", after playing a scale or whatever...

It does make quite a different to which piano you are allowed to play especially for diplomas and grade 8... Sometimes the piano can have an influence to you rather that you influencing the piano! Its called pyschology...

Does your music service organise internal exams? It would be very unusual for the same examiner to be allocated repeatedly to the same centre by one of the main examining bodies.

I'm pretty sure that it rarely happens...