I've been searching 'viva voce' and other exam-linked topics, and in old threads I often come across the direction to the 'forum recordings' or something like that in the address, but when I click on the link I get some advertisement. Has this site been deleted?

Hiya

The address has changed. The site you want is http://www.forumconcert.co.uk/diplomas


Cheers

Katyjay

Thank you so much for your quick response!

Are you directed towards www.forumrecordings.co.uk? This was hosted by our very own YAP, originally as a place for, er, recordings of forummers, with the diploma support pages as a bolt-on. He received fewer and fewer recordings, so when site renewal was due, he just let it lapse.

Fortunately, there is a solution - our very own katyjay transferred the diploma support pages to www.forumconcert.co.uk

There are hundreds of sample questions there. When I was preparing for my viva retake, I had a look at them, and the general categories tend to be around your familiarity with the other output of the composers whose works you played, harmonic and structural analysis, and performance-related issues (e.g. playing from memory, how you chose the repertoire, running order etc).

Oh, and be prepared for the killer question at the end, "Is there anything else you'd like to say?".

Hmm, this is worrying me! That is such a vague and broad question! What sort of thing would you talk about?

I'm trying to put together some sort of revision strategy at the moment and I was thinking of covering these elements for each composer and piece I'm doing:

First of all, my programme: why I chose these piece, why I chose to perform them in this order.

Then think about each piece:

Composer's background, compositional output, relevance/importance in the history/development of music, contemporary composers/other composers who composed similar works - how they're similar/different, characteristics of this composer's works. If the piece is dedicated to someone - who they are, the relevance of this.

Then form/structure, key/tonality, harmony, title - what it means, its relevance...Italian/French/whatever language terms used in the composition and their meanings (just in case).

Then, the piano - how it developed and what the instrument was like for different the composers that occur in my programme and maybe what contributions these composers made to the development of the instrument, technical aspects of each work.

If I do this, I should be ok, surely?!

The extensiveness of the viva voce has dawned on me today!

Personally, my response to "Is there anything you'd like to say?" for both of mine was "I don't think so"! Don't feel you have to say something.
Your research sounds good. I'm doing similar things slightly frantically at the moment...

Frantically panicking, yes, sounds familiar. What day is your exam at RNCM joueur?

That's a good point, cellocase. Unless I actually have anything else worth noting, I think I'll take your advice there.




It's on Monday. Argh! That only leaves 6 days of practice left! Are you doing yours at RNCM too?

I notice you did your degree at Bangor, which isn't that far away from where I live!

Mine is at RNCM yeah, but on Friday. I need lots more time...