Hello all,

I am about to sit my Grade 6 practical exam in about a week, and my teacher has suddenly realised something about my third piece, C2 Prayer of the Matador by Norman Dello Joio.

When the right hand first comes it, there is a quaver rest, then an E quaver, then four more semiquavers on E. That is one bar.

However, there is a tie between the E quaver and the first of the semiquavers.

Does that mean that you play the quaver, hold it for an extra semiquaver and then just play the THREE more semiquavers, ie. playing the tie

OR

Do you play the quaver, then play the FOUR following semiquavers in time, ie. not holding the semiquaver?


I learnt to play it the first way, using the tie to only play THREE semiquavers, but the other day my teacher realised that there was a stress on the first semiquaver (if this is confusing consult the exam book ), which kind of indicates that that note should be played.

Sorry if this is confusing, but myself and my teacher have no idea how to play it as the music is quite contradicting.

Just to sum my query: if you have a quaver tied to the first of four semiquavers (that ALL have stresses on them), do you play THREE semis (using tie) or FOUR (ignoring the tie because the first semi has a stress that means its meant to be played)

I hope that was not as confusing a post as I think it is....any advice gratefully accepted!!

well, during my exam, i played the quaver and hold it for an extra semiquaver and then just play the 3 more semiquavers... well, but most importantly is that playing have to be expressive and the lines have to be clear.. anyway, are you taking grade 6 practical or grade 6 theory? u mention in your post that you're taking theory... which pieces are you playing anyway?

whatever it is, good luck for your exam...


ShArOn

Oops! (hey by the way), I didnt mean to write theory, I was rushing out to a lesson when I wrote that so I must have been a bit frazzledish. Im taking Grade 6 practical and currently studying the corresponding theory, sat the G5 theory mid-year this year so I'm just a beginner at G6.

I'm playing A1 Corant, B3 Vals poetico No. 5 and the Prayer one.

Thanks so much for your reply, my teacher did say that they're looking for it to be musical, not always strictly technical, but knowing someone else did that way (although Im guessing other did it too) kind of puts my mind at rest...so thanks



Julia

Well , since the question has already been replied , I have nothing to add except wishing you the best of luck in your exam , Julia.

i also played these 3 pieces for my exam in July... anyway, good luck and all the best for your exam...

ShArOn

Well by noting down the name of the composer and the title... I assume it to be a Spanish piece of music...

So I would hold the note down... It gives a sycopated feel which is stylistic in Spansish music...

Just imagine those people clapping to the music!...

I played the same exact pieces in July (my exam)!

Good luck!

I too played exactly the same pieces as you last March. Hope you do well - and I have my Grade 7 in about a week too!

good luck for your grade 7 exam... hope you can do well... don't forget to tell us how the exam goes


ShArOn

Hey juila

wow you are doing grade 6 piano. I'm so proud of you. I feel so guilty for not practising piano...... Last time I played the piano was last week doing a duet with my roommate(voice major from Florida).

Anyway, good luck with your exam. I'm sure you will do well.

Amy

Hi everyone

Thanks so much for the replies and support. One week to go!

Good luck to those doing Grade 7!

hey ames!

dont feel so guilty about not enough piano, your Interlochen major is clarinet after all!

I meant to call you the other day but got caught up when a girl I was babysitting got an ear infection...wouldnt go to sleep! I wouldnt blame her...

Oh and we're having band photos tomorrow... can you believe they left Spicato off!? I was so outraged lol. I told Mr Bell and Miss Hartridge (who had forgotten) and they've put us on at the end after choir. I was thinking about making a cut-out life-size model of you to stand in at the photo...I guess you'll have to be absent. Want me to get a photo form for you? I can keep it/buy a photo and you can pay me back next time you come over.


See you!

Julia

I'd just like to point out that there is a forum called Viva Piano

Yes I do know that, but regardless of the instrument all I wanted to know was the technical issue which is why I posted it on a forum open to all musicians