Hi Everyone

Can anyone tell me how much notice that you usually get for the ABRSM piano exams. I will be taking my Grade 4 in March, as it is my first ever exam I don't know when to expect the date to come through. I requested week 4, which gives me a bit more time but understand there is no guarantee that I will get that.

I think if I am going to be given the first week in March then I would like to know sooner rather than later.

Many thanks.

ET

I don't think I have ever had less than two weeks, and often it's more like 3-4.

I understand that appointments for the first week of the session will be sent out from 11 Feb. You or your teacher (whoever sent in the entry) can log on and get some idea when appointments will be posted for the various weeks - this is new this term and gives a bit more of an idea, so is very welcome.

We usually get a 'middle' week, and I tell my students that I start looking for the appointment during the week after half term - which would be in two weeks time here. Hope this is some help ET.

Hi Maggie thanks for that. I actually entered myself as my teacdher decided it would be better for me to be able to retrieve my result online myself.

I have been in and taken a look and 3 of the weeks are just blue and 2 weeks are white, does this mean that in my centre they will only be doing the 2 weeks that are shown in white? As one of the weeks is week 4 then maybe they are granting us that week.

ET

Ah - I have not seen an update with blue and white weeks so can not say with certainty - maybe someone else can. I think our centre is usually open for the complete session - I will take another look but it may not add anything.

(ed) ah, I see. The blue and white are alternate weeks for my centre, and I suspect that may be just for clarity of reading rather than carrying any other meaning.

Though if your weeks are not similarly alternating colours, it might suggest that there is another meaning.

Thank you so much Maggie for checking,

Mine are showing alternate colours for each week too, so this must mean its all of them. Ooh!! I am getting really nervous now, hope I have six weeks to go rather than 3!!! My aural still needs an awful awful lot of work!!!

ET

Good luck ET! I think I've generally had about 3 weeks notice. Are you able to try out the piano beforehand at your centre?

Thanks Skylark

Unfortunately not as the centre hires a new piano for each week. They actually hire the pianos from the shop were I purchased mine, I joked to my teacher that maybe I should go down there and try out all the pianos in the shop!

At least I know it should be a nice piano to play on. I can't make up my mind whether I should do the scales first or what. My teacher said it would be a good idea to do scales first and that it is a way of getting used to the piano. The downside as I see it is if I mess up my scales then I will be in a worse state to play my pieces.

I think I would prefer not to have to choose! What a dilemma!

ET

Good luck eldatom, I am taking Grade 4 piano this time round as well, haven't heard when my date is yet

What pieces are you doing?

Hi Altoclef

I am actually doing pieces from the old syllabus so I have to pass!

I am doing

A Piece - Air
B Piece - Petit Bateaux
C Piece - Baroque and Roll (Alternative choice)

How about you, which ones are you doing?

ET

[/quote]

I am actually doing pieces from the old syllabus so I have to pass!

No pressure then

I am doing

A Piece - Air
B Piece - Petit Bateaux
C Piece - Baroque and Roll (Alternative choice)

How about you, which ones are you doing?

[/quote]

I am doing

A Piece - Allegro in F
B Piece - Valse lente
C Piece - On the Swing

Good luck

[quote name='altoclef3' date='Feb 10 2009, 01:55 PM' post='790437']
[/quote]

I am actually doing pieces from the old syllabus so I have to pass!

No pressure then

I am doing

A Piece - Air
B Piece - Petit Bateaux
C Piece - Baroque and Roll (Alternative choice)

How about you, which ones are you doing?

[/quote]

I am doing

A Piece - Allegro in F
B Piece - Valse lente
C Piece - On the Swing

Good luck
[/quote]

I liked Allegro in F and Valse Lente, my problem was I couldn't find a "C" piece that I liked.

Good Luck to you too, let me know when you get a date!

ET

Hi ET

10th March panic help

Deep breath now, it's all in the mind!!

Seems a bit too real now

Hi Altoclef

Best of luck, not long now then. did you find out today?

Hopefully I will have a couple more weeks than that. I had my piano lesson last night and my teacher is pleased that I have gone as far as I can with Little Boats and Air, but still work needed on Baroque and Roll, Having said that, she said that if it did come in on 2nd March that I will be fine.

Of course she probably hasn't taken into account my nerves! Also still working hard on the aural. Don't think I should have any problems with the sightreading or scales.

ET

Best of Luck ET. Let us know how you got on!

[/quote]


Best of luck, not long now then. did you find out today?

[/quote]


Yes found out at my lesson

Like you scales and sightreading, not too worried about but still need a bit of work on the aural. Although I have found that after I have played the 3 pieces I feel so relieved that it doesn't seem too bad

Best of luck to Eldatom and altoclef3!

Can i join the club?

I'm also doing grade 4 at a special visit end April. I did grade 2 last Summer and am really enjoying the pieces on grade 4. I started learning the old syllabus ones, but out of curiosity, bought the new syllabus book, and I prefer the ones in the new book. I'm doing;

Allegro assai, the lovely dreamy one might be B1? (not the Vaughan Williams), and also Honky Tonk piano which is hilarious!

Not worried about the aural, but scales in contrary motion are interesting aren't they?! However, it all seems to be coming together now.

Hope you get an exam date soon Eldatom!

Thanks PianissiMole, I think I will need all the luck, as I don't know how I will be with my nerves! Still not got a date, hoping it may come on line today.

ET

Hi Saxgirl of course you can join the club and anyone else that wants to.

Allegro assai is lovely but I also liked Allegro in F. and the Bourree 1 , in fact I always seem to like the A pieces the best. The B1 piece Lied der Grossmutter is lovely too but to be honest I didn't like any of the C pieces, but would probably have gone for the Sonatina unless there was an alternative piece that I could have found.

Anyway, hopefully I will pass my Grade 4 as this is the last time that we can use the old syllabus pieces.

Still no date as yet, still hoping that it comes on line later on, I keep checking! Need to book up a few things in March and daren't until my date comes through.

ET

No, I checked an hour or so ago and nothing - although I did notice that there is a mistake in one of my names - and although there was an edit button, it wouldn't let me edit. I wonder how best to go about getting this corrected?

Gone are the days when we used to get those cards which asked us to check the details.

I would either email them through the link, or telephone the number at the bottom of the page. At least they will have plenty of time to put it right as we now have at least until 23rd March.

It would be nice if I knew my date by tomorrow as I have a piano lesson tomorrow evening and I am sure that my teacher will be waiting anxiously for me too.

ET

Thanks ET - have sent an e-mail .

Hope you get your date today!

No Date so far. I don't know whether they update it more than once a day but I definitely know that they closed the site before 9.00am this morning.

Maybe this means that I am getting a later date in the week. I wish they would hurry up and tell me so that I can make sure that I am organised to get down to the centre.

ET

My teacher has managed to change my exam time to Monday 23rd just after 12.30pm I think. She managed to get them to swap with another one of her students.

This is much better for me as my son will be at school and I don't need to worry about sorting out picking him up and who will take him to tennis, look after him etc, as I will be home before he finishes school. Didn't need any extra agro.

Think I will probably take the train so then I don't need to worry about getting lost or parking.

3 weeks today!! Just need to try and take it in my stride.

ET

Glad the date has worked out well in the end - let's hope it's a good omen!

Best of luck!

YEAH!! So now you can concentrate on giving a terrific performance, and achieving your personal best, eldatom!

That's good news - you won't have all those worries at the back of your mind now. Good luck for the 23rd

Thanks Skylark, I hope so.

ET



Thats the plan, even if I am nervous I am going to go in there and try and look confident. I have been to a couple of workshops that a concert pianist runs and she says that if you look confident then even if you are nervous it will show a good performance, (well I know what I mean but difficult to put in the right words)

How did you get on with your exam on Friday Teoani?

ET



Thanks Crochetymum. You are so right, I will be able to just concentrate on me and the piano.

ET

That's a much better time - you'll be able to take things more easily now. My son has his exams on the same date!

Good luck - you'll be fine

That has to be a good omen then Chris.

Will email you soon.

ET

Good Luck ET



Mole

Thanks Mole. 2 weeks today! to be honest I am more nervous about finding the venue than the actual exam. I still haven't made up my mind should I attempt to drive, but then maybe I will get too stressed and not be able to park, or do I go by train, and then I am wondering where it is from the train!

Need to try and make some time before the date to get to the venue so I know where it is, I'm just not sure when I am going to fit it in!

Good Luck to Altoclef as she has her grade 4 tomorrow, what time is it Altoclef? You must let me know how you get on.

ET

Hope your preparations are going well eldatom, before you know it the exam will have passed

Hi there

Perhaps you can make a few visits to your exam venue to familarize yourself first? I know some exam venues are a killer to find ... I was lucky to have one near my house (for a first time Lol) in the recent exam ... and yup, it will be pretty much over before you know it (roughly about 15 -20 mins or less)...

Good luck and all the best for your exam ... share e good news here

Hi societyrain, yes I took a trip down to the venue last Sunday. I am soo pleased that I did as I am sure that I wouldn't have found it on the day. My friend is driving me down there so that I can stay relaxed and calm and I know where we can park. Afterwards we are going out for a celebration lunch (or commisseration) but I hope it is the first.

Et

Good luck to everyone taking the exam. I decided last minute to take it as well. I had a go last year, but fell apart with nerves, and decided to retrace my steps and get more confidence performing! Mine is on Thursday (Bach Bourée, Carroll The Reef and Stephanie's song). I'm performing the pieces on front of my neighbour tomorrow, and then I'll leave them (apart from perhaps playing them very slowly, or single hand practice)...Enjoy playing the pieces and don't fear the notes.

Enjoy that celebration lunch!

Good Luck on Thursday Oldpiano and lets hope that this time you manage to keep the nerves under control.

ET