I have my Grade 1 flute exam a week on Monday and Grade 2 violin later that week. I wasn't that nervous at first as I thought all I have to do is try and pretend I'm a competent player for the 12 or so minutes the exam will last. However, my brain has had other ideas and has decided to shut down. When I practise my pieces, I'm usually ok and occasionally I get to nail them and the scales. Last week I had a flute lesson and I couldn't get any high notes out and mucked up the scales and my violin lesson was even worse, I fluffed the pieces, couldn't read the notes sightreading or get the tempo and I completely lost it on the scales - I ended making my own up.

Now I'm really worried, I know I'm ready for the exams but I cannot persuade my brain of the same, and I'm terrified that the examiners are going to wonder why on earth I entered if I do the pieces etc as bad as I did them last week - I would give myself an automatic fail and I would be so angry with myself as I know I've been able to nail this in the past.

Sorry for being a moaning minnie but I'm now afraid I am going to completely freeze on the day.

Blackbird, don't fret. A week is actually quite a long time to practise. Don't waste your energy worrying, just make sure you commit some practise time each day and use this time diligently i.e. focus completely on the most troublesome parts only (so only play the parts of the scale that are problematic). Play them until you've nailed it again and again, then move on to the next most troublesome parts.

You know deep down that you do have it since you managed to play the pieces and scales well sometime ago. One bad lesson or one bad practise session doesn't mean that you've lost it. You just need to talk positively to yourself even if you don't really believe it right now, just keep on telling yourself that you've done the preparation and you've played well before so you can do it and if you say it enough times, you'll really start to believe it.

From your post, it sounds like you're panicking and you've managed to think yourself into a downward spiral. Now reverse this kind of thinking.

Good luck and think positively!

G

Don't worry.

Practice during the week, and do some last minute practice to make sure.



Guud luck!

I always played abhominably in the last lesson before exams, but recovered for the exam. Hopefully you have the same phenomenon! It really helps me to slow down all my practice to a speed where I feel in control when suffering from pre-performance nerves.

Join the club "oh, no! not another club!"

I've recently had a lesson and a last rehearsal with my soloist (accompanying exam) which were not particularly good as far as actually playing the right notes goes. This is pretty normal a couple of weeks before the exam so don't panic. If you were well prepared before then you are still well prepared now.

With one week to go my plan is to do careful practice, mostly taking out and working on the bits that are not quite as stable as they could be. Then a couple of days with full play throughs whatever happens but trying not to do too much as I know that I really am well prepared.

hi blackbird!

don't be panic, stay calm now, just look and practice through your syllabuses orderly, try to remember all the things that you have done and learnt

you can do it!

good luck with the exams!

I completely sympathise, I felt just the same last week before my exam. Deep down, though, you have done the work and you do know your pieces and your scales. If your brain is getting very dizzy, then take a day's break from practicing. Or just look at the little bit of the one scale/arpeggio you're hoping you won't be asked to play.

On the day remember that everyone gets nervous no matter how calm they look. And if you do happen to fluff (or, as in my case, growl) a few bars, just keep going and it will all get back together again.

Try to think of the examiner as being an audience rather than a judge.

Have confidence! You'll be fine.