Hi,

I've just been looking at the DipABRSM exam dates and have been thinking that I should maybe try again for mine this July. I had originally decided that I should do it in December but considering that I'll be finished university in the middle of May for the year it would give me a good month and a half to practice solid until the exam as well as the next few weeks while i'm off for Easter. I've pretty much decided that i'm not going to change my repetoire so I just need to get all the pieces up to scratch. I failed the recital by 3/4 marks last July and also the quick study and I think i've improved quite a lot since then. Do you think it would be worth my while trying for it again this summer or would I be better to wait until i'm really 100% confident I can pass it? I'm not going to see my teacher again until the 25th April so i'd need to get the application off around then to be in for the 27th. Does anyone know what the resit fee is for just the recital and quick study?

To anyone else that has failed this exam, how long did you leave it before re-taking it?

Matt

Hi Matthew

I think a year is quite a good amount of time to have reconsidered your options. You'll never know 100% whether or not you are ready to take the exam again. I'd give it a go in July.

Last year I failed my LRSM piano performance recital by 1 mark which I put down to the uncontrollable shaking of my arms throughout the exam! When I took it again in Dec I sailed through. Often the experience of failure really helps to focus the mind.

Good luck

ps what's your programme?

My programme is Vivaldi Concerto in F (La tempesta Di Mare), Fauré Fantasy and the Hindemith Sonata. I'm going to practice as hard as I can over the next few weeks and deicde whether i'm going to do it in July with my teacher next time I see her if i've made good progress in that time. I just keep telling myself that all I can loose is the money which is probably true. Knowing the exam would be so close would make me practice much harder than knowing it's not until December and after thinking more about it I think the summer would be a better time of year for me to do it as I'll have many other commitments with work and university in December.

I agree that I don't think anyone knows when they're 100% ready and I could probably keep putting the retake off for years!

Go for it Matthew...I failed by Dip performance recital last July by 2 marks and will retake it this July.

Other people I know who failed last July retook and passed at Christmas, so I'm guessing we will be ok! (I hope... )

Like you say, its all too easy to keep preparing forever. I just hope I can overcome my nasty nerves by then! How did you deal with that ajm?