Two of my friends recently took violin exams - one took grade 4 and passed and one took grade 6 and failed. Neither are them are really interested in violin that much but thought they might as well take these exams as it would be their final term having lessons.

When one friend was telling another about the grade 6 student failing the friend that didn't know anything about music said 'how did she fail her exam?' we said she just did, and said that there was no reason to worry as the student wasn't that upset. The 'misinformed' friend(as i will refer to her in this way from now on) then went on to say 'It's just playing pieces isn't it? It can't be that hard.' ...

This made me boil up inside - this means that this one statement belittles everyone's achievements! I can't believe someone can be so ignorant. We then tried to explain about scales, aural tests and sightreading. But her case was lost - I think she thought nothing of these tasks but we all know that they can cause great problems.

I am just so shocked...

A sign of the times I'm afraid.

I have come across this philistine attitude before. May I ask, does she play an instrument herself? Has she ever endeavoured to take an exam? It sounds to me as if she has no understanding of music and it's complications at all! Really, I wouldn't take a thing she said too seriously

Not only is it quite shocking for us, but it must have been shocking for the examiner....

I think she should be made to do a grade 1 challenge.......

In fairness certain people probably do find music exams easy just because they have a natural ability at it. I mean someone like Mozart wouldn't have many problems with them (especially when he has at least one piece in most of the piano syllabus ) I know i don't though.

Even if it was just playing pieces it doesn't make it easy.
Most people have to put in some serious work to be able to do that anyway and more as you improve not less as some people think.

I don't suppose anyone as good as Mozart would've been that bothered about taking exams though!

He might have got really nervous! You never know...

Sorry the way I explained it must have been confusing( i was thinking about that as I was writing - does this make sense!). She was telling us that the exams must be easy.


I agree!! I can't rememvber whether she used to play keyboard in primary school but she obviously didn't take any exams!

Hasn't this person been brought up to respect that what is easy for one person will almost certainly be difficult for another? If they have no understanding of what is involved how could they possibly comment on whether it is easy or not?

No we probably won't but given that he was a child prodigy playing to concert houses across Europe in his childhood i rather doubt an examiner and a few aural tests would give him any problems.
Sarah's right though he probably wouldn't have bothered with grade exams i'm guessing the AB would accept professional experience as a substitute and let him skip to the diplomas

It's ignorance more than anything.

I don't think people who say other's achievements must be easy really believe it. They feel qute small themselves and need to bring others down to their level. I used to demonstrate lacemaking and few people would comment - I wouldn't have the time - wouldn't have the patience - as if that was all that was needed - not skill. I choose not to eat meat and that also gets an aggressive reaction - 'well, do you wear leather?!' even though I am perfectly happy for others to choose to eat meat.
Instead of the three r's perhaps schools could think about teaching three s's support, sympathy and sincerity.
Puts soapbox away

Well said. I was thinking about my use of the word ignorance in the initial posting and thought I hope this doesn't offend anyone but I think my reasoning for using this was that everyone else seems to recognise music exams as challenging and something to be proud of!

It was only a little comment but sometimes things like that get to me...a lot!

Exams require several aspects of music and require alot of bravery.

lol i am surrounded by people who don't even know what a piano is and have no interest in the art of music...sigh

I think a lot of people have no idea how hard it can be to "just play pieces" of music & how it certainly isn't just a question of playing the right notes, especially if you want to get a good result.

I am suddenly reminded of an argument between three of my friends.

One took three sciences and business studies.

One took music (violin, singing and bassoon at grades 4/5ish) and languages.

One took music (saxophone, piano, violin grades 7/8ish,) art, graphics and triple maths.

The Sciences guy looked down on all the music, art and languages because "everyone knows that the really clever people are into sciences."

The music and languages one took the position that saxophone wasn't a REAL instrument and was pointless anyway.

The music one decided that obviously the other two worked very hard, as she did for maths, but they just didn't have the passion needed for her sort of subjects.


Everyone thinks what they do is the most valid, and it's so frustrating... it drives me insane - it's so hurtful! (I am often told that as an alto I have it much easier than sopranos because I don't have to deal with all those difficult high notes... this from non-musical people...)


Yeah... so I didn't really do anything, just sat there and laughed... until it looked like a bassoon was going to go flying out of the window.

Unfortunately, everything in life is like that such as who has the best clothes, the best party, the best presents, the best house, the cleverest child, etc. It is really horrible but I'm just going to do what I want to do as long as it doesn't hurt other people. Sorry. I might have gone off topic here.

I'm just reading a book which humorously points out some logical faults that 'irrational people' often make. It's in the form of a form, so you can copy it and hand it to anyone irrational so they can know where they went wrong and you don't have to waste your valuable time arguing with them.

Anyway, logical fault number 31 was:

The example given was 'anyone with the right equipment should be able to perform nuclear fission at home'

Anyway, struck me as a perfect explanation of what happened here - the person has no idea of what a music exam involves, therefore it must be easy!

, sounds like a great book, Maizie!