I never had this until I did my exam yesterday where my examiner started tapping her foot in time to my study piece. Is this an one-off case? Or do lots of examiners do it?

Have you ever had an exmainer tap their foot or showing any other signs of enjoying your pieces?

It's really encouraging

When I played "Toccata in Seven" by John Rutter for my G6 organ exam (In 7/4 time) I had the examiner tapping his finger on the desk to make sure my pulse was sound, not because he was enjoying the music.

VERY OFFPUTTING seeing that in the corner of your eye, I can tell you.

David.

We had an examiner break into a round of applause at the end of a grade two pupil's last song a few years ago. She had full marks for two of her pieces.
I can't say that I have noticed much else.

I think that if an examiner hears something which they think is quite 'special', then they might show some sign of appreciation/encouragement e.g. a smile!
Last November I accompanied a girl in her grade 5 singing exam; in her last song ('A Nightingale Sang in Berkely Square' - please excuse my spelling! ) she captured the mood and feeling of the song really well - she 'sold' it. At the end of the song the examiner said, ''Thankyou very much; that was lovely''. I think she got 28 or 29 out of 30 for it. So I think that, if an examiner is 'moved' by a performance, then they may well show some sign of appreciation.

When i did my grade 5 flute a few years ago the examiner was swaying along when i played my list B sicilienne. I got a high honours (guildhall)

Some of mine have had examiners lean back in the chair and just listen/watch without writing anything. The comments are then usually along the lines of "you made me stop writing and listen" and the marks are usually tip top.

Cool. Thanks for all this. My exmainer didn't write anything until she'd heard my whole pieces and was just sitting there looking at her paper. I hope this is a good sign

Grade 7 - made a hash of the scales, the examiner got a bit tetchy and told me to calm down, which had the opposite effect. However, as soon as I started playing my first piece, the change in him was startling, even out of the corner of my eye, I could see him sit up to listen. It was most gratifying .
Grade 8 - the only thing I remember was the examiner asking to see the music, as I'd been playing a piece which required me to sing whilst playing - and that's a common request for Trinity, I understand, so nothing special there.
ATCL - when I finished my recital, the examiner stood up, smiling, walked forwards and shook my hand, before saying "thank you".

And yes, I did really pretty well in all three exams .

If it made you feel good, I'd say that was good for you.

Aah thats really nice of the examiner!
Mine was eating lunch with my teacher; i was the first exam after lunch.
I walked into the kitchen through the back door, so as not to disturb the exams and he said 'ah you must bee my next victi--pupil.'
Surely them tapping, if audile is helping you?

My grade 6 piano examiner said to me after i played the burgmuller gondelier thingy said "that was beatuiful, thankyou very much, jacob", and he sat back and listened to it, instead of scribbling. I got 29/30 for that piece, and passed with distinction (131) over all in the end.

I've had an examiner who tapped all the way through one of my pieces, and it was extremely annoying (i got 28/30 for the piece though), and i've also had an examiner who started to cry! i thought i'd done something wrong! i got 29/30 for that piece.

Good luck with your exam result! What instrument were you playing?

Jacob.

Haha I never got one to do that but she seemed to be smiling all the way through. She said right at the end it's been a pleasure examinig you, we dont get many bassoonists, especially at grade 8, and you make a wonerful sound.

That made me feel so good!

Bassoon by the way is what I play.

I've had this although in my singing exam last week my examiner was so over enthusiastic
Not complaining though, but after each piece... 'what a lovely sound you make! and thats such a lovely piece one of my favourites it always requires good breath support and you did that really well and you're good at languages who taught you the latin? they taught it well!' etc. I've NEVER had an examiner do that i thought they were supposed to be completely neutral? Not that i mind Gave me a lot of confidence

I like it when they sit back and listen to you rather than having head down pen to paper (not saying they're being rude by doing that - obviously they have to!) but it makes me feel more like i'm performing and as soon as the examiner looks at me i'm thinking 'right... posture, check. using full length of bow, check. relaxed bowing arm, check.' etc. and make sure i'm doing everything i need to be doing, so i guess it improves it too

I've only ever had an examiner comment once (I think it was Grade 4 piano), after my sight-reading he asked if I liked sight-reading, and then gave me full marks for that bit.

i had an examiner asking me how long i played the violin?
did it mean i done rather badly?? i hope i didnt!

I'm sure it wasn't any kind of reflection on your playing. More likely the examiner was just showing an interest and trying to put you at ease.