Do you think that it would cause problems with either the AB or with the exam room provider if I were to bring a (digital) piano to the exam room? Obviously I would need to put it there the day before or before the first exam, and collect it after the exams had finished, so naturally I wouldn't mind other people using it for hte day if they wished.
It's not that the piano provided is all that bad, just wondered if this could be an option?
Full Version: Supplying A Piano For An Exam?
I don't think you would be allowed to do that 
QUOTE(noodle @ Apr 22 2009, 04:07 PM) 
QUOTE(Babybird2 @ Apr 22 2009, 01:17 PM)
I don't think you would be allowed to do that
It would be a logistical nightmare if every candidate exercised that right.
Besides - part of the skill of a pianist is to play well on whatever instrument is put in front of you.
This is what it says on the ABRSM website (http://www.abrsm.org/?page=exams/regs/ukIreland/2008/visits.html)
"A piano must be provided in the examination room. It must be properly regulated and in tune (a’= 440). An electronic piano may be used, provided it has a clearly recognizable piano tone, a touch-sensitive keyboard with full-size weighted keys, and an action, compass and facilities that match those of an ordinary piano, including a sustaining pedal."
I think the only thing you'd have to worry about is getting the piano to and from the venue, maybe if you ring your local ABRSM representative, they'd be able to help with access to the venue. I don't see a problem with bringing the piano, but like you said, would probably have to be left there until the exams have finished, or pick it up in the evening.
Jacob.
"A piano must be provided in the examination room. It must be properly regulated and in tune (a’= 440). An electronic piano may be used, provided it has a clearly recognizable piano tone, a touch-sensitive keyboard with full-size weighted keys, and an action, compass and facilities that match those of an ordinary piano, including a sustaining pedal."
I think the only thing you'd have to worry about is getting the piano to and from the venue, maybe if you ring your local ABRSM representative, they'd be able to help with access to the venue. I don't see a problem with bringing the piano, but like you said, would probably have to be left there until the exams have finished, or pick it up in the evening.
Jacob.
QUOTE(jacobpianofluteorgan @ Apr 22 2009, 04:32 PM)
This is what it says on the ABRSM website (http://www.abrsm.org/?page=exams/regs/ukIreland/2008/visits.html)
"A piano must be provided in the examination room. It must be properly regulated and in tune (a’= 440). An electronic piano may be used, provided it has a clearly recognizable piano tone, a touch-sensitive keyboard with full-size weighted keys, and an action, compass and facilities that match those of an ordinary piano, including a sustaining pedal."
INCLUDING a sustaining pedal....hmmm....interesting our school piano doesn't have any pedals they got broken off!
QUOTE(jacobpianofluteorgan @ Apr 22 2009, 04:32 PM)
This is what it says on the ABRSM website (http://www.abrsm.org/?page=exams/regs/ukIreland/2008/visits.html)
"A piano must be provided in the examination room. It must be properly regulated and in tune (a’= 440). An electronic piano may be used, provided it has a clearly recognizable piano tone, a touch-sensitive keyboard with full-size weighted keys, and an action, compass and facilities that match those of an ordinary piano, including a sustaining pedal."
I think the only thing you'd have to worry about is getting the piano to and from the venue, maybe if you ring your local ABRSM representative, they'd be able to help with access to the venue. I don't see a problem with bringing the piano, but like you said, would probably have to be left there until the exams have finished, or pick it up in the evening.
Jacob.
"A piano must be provided in the examination room. It must be properly regulated and in tune (a’= 440). An electronic piano may be used, provided it has a clearly recognizable piano tone, a touch-sensitive keyboard with full-size weighted keys, and an action, compass and facilities that match those of an ordinary piano, including a sustaining pedal."
I think the only thing you'd have to worry about is getting the piano to and from the venue, maybe if you ring your local ABRSM representative, they'd be able to help with access to the venue. I don't see a problem with bringing the piano, but like you said, would probably have to be left there until the exams have finished, or pick it up in the evening.
Jacob.
Isn't that just for special visits though, like when a teacher organises a special visit at his/her house?
So the above information about the type of piano is really for the teacher's benefit, to know what's acceptable? I don't know though, I might be wrong...QUOTE(skylark @ Apr 22 2009, 05:20 PM)
QUOTE(jacobpianofluteorgan @ Apr 22 2009, 04:32 PM)
This is what it says on the ABRSM website (http://www.abrsm.org/?page=exams/regs/ukIreland/2008/visits.html)
"A piano must be provided in the examination room. It must be properly regulated and in tune (a’= 440). An electronic piano may be used, provided it has a clearly recognizable piano tone, a touch-sensitive keyboard with full-size weighted keys, and an action, compass and facilities that match those of an ordinary piano, including a sustaining pedal."
I think the only thing you'd have to worry about is getting the piano to and from the venue, maybe if you ring your local ABRSM representative, they'd be able to help with access to the venue. I don't see a problem with bringing the piano, but like you said, would probably have to be left there until the exams have finished, or pick it up in the evening.
Jacob.
"A piano must be provided in the examination room. It must be properly regulated and in tune (a’= 440). An electronic piano may be used, provided it has a clearly recognizable piano tone, a touch-sensitive keyboard with full-size weighted keys, and an action, compass and facilities that match those of an ordinary piano, including a sustaining pedal."
I think the only thing you'd have to worry about is getting the piano to and from the venue, maybe if you ring your local ABRSM representative, they'd be able to help with access to the venue. I don't see a problem with bringing the piano, but like you said, would probably have to be left there until the exams have finished, or pick it up in the evening.
Jacob.
Isn't that just for special visits though, like when a teacher organises a special visit at his/her house?
So the above information about the type of piano is really for the teacher's benefit, to know what's acceptable? I don't know though, I might be wrong...That's what I thought - it just states that an exam centre must have a piano.
I think it's highly unlikely that you'd be able to use your own piano for a grade exam. As skylark says, the information about the piano is to help those wanting e.g to use their home as an exam centre.
By all means contact the Board for a final ruling, but I've never heard of anyone taking their own piano to a centre.
By all means contact the Board for a final ruling, but I've never heard of anyone taking their own piano to a centre.
I doubt very much whether this would be allowed, and why would you want to take a digital anyway, when there will be a perfectly good acoustic for you to play? If you are worried about playing an unfamiliar piano, you could ask the rep if it is possible to have a rehearsal on the exam piano beforehand - sometimes possible, although you would probably be charged a small fee.
QUOTE(SueHM @ Apr 22 2009, 06:45 PM)
. . . why would you want to take a digital anyway, when there will be a perfectly good acoustic for you to play?
How optimistic: I have no doubt that some, even the majority, of pianos provided at exam centers are perfectly adequate. However, I have to say that there are some I remember (from not that many visits) where the only thing you could say in favour of the piano was that it had been tuned. Sometime. Probably. I particularly remember one where it was unquestionably out of tune, the hammers and the dampers seemed to be equally worn, so that dynamics were almost impossible and the tone was that of a Honky-Tonk - not really suited to a Mozart slow movement.
Being practical, whilst I personally would not wish to do this, if you really do then I would definitely ask the board about this one: For almost any other instrument there would be unfiegned incredulity if you suggested turning up without your own instrument. Whilst it might be unusual to ask to bring your own piano, when you come down to it the arguments against are mostly not terribly sound: In particular there is the idea that ". . . part of the skill of a pianist is to play well on whatever instrument is put in front of you." Sorry to disagree Tom, but . . .
This may be true or not (see below) but even if it is there is no requirement for pianists who are taking a grade exam (as opposed to the diplomas) to be highly skilled in every area, so why should they be expected to cope with a strange piano if there is an alternative which they feel would demonstrate their abilities to better advantage?
As for whether it is true or not, at least one of the all-time greats is reputed to have played the same piano at every concert for decades, regardless of where in the world it was, having his favourite Steinway (and tuner) shipped around wherever he went, thus demonstrating that he at least did not regard the ability to "cope with whatever is put in front of you" as any relevant part whatever of his skill.
You obviously have to ask and there may well be logistical problems but, in principle, nobody should have a problem - after all, if the piano you're suggesting would be fine for a special visit that means it's fine for an ABRSM exam, period.
My pupils have often done exams in rooms that have 2 or even 3 pianos - they're not given a choice, the examiner steers them to the one he/she obviously thinks is best or he/she has specially positioned, (frankly, I wouldn't want them to have the choice - it would do their little heads in), but the principle is the same.
And, yes, I agree, come exam centre pianos are definitely dodgy.
However, practical issues may well come into play with bringing your own..
Good luck and don't get completely bent out of shape if the answer is 'no' - try to perform to the best of your ability. Many pupils only ever experience a digital and have to play on an acoustic on the day - it's not perfect but there's a lot of other factors too.
My pupils have often done exams in rooms that have 2 or even 3 pianos - they're not given a choice, the examiner steers them to the one he/she obviously thinks is best or he/she has specially positioned, (frankly, I wouldn't want them to have the choice - it would do their little heads in), but the principle is the same.
And, yes, I agree, come exam centre pianos are definitely dodgy.
However, practical issues may well come into play with bringing your own..
Good luck and don't get completely bent out of shape if the answer is 'no' - try to perform to the best of your ability. Many pupils only ever experience a digital and have to play on an acoustic on the day - it's not perfect but there's a lot of other factors too.
I organise the exam day for our special visits, and we have the exams in a local hotel which has a Yamaha baby grand piano. I mentioned once to an examiner that most of the students here use either a keyboard or a digital piano at home, and so are not used to playing on a grand piano. He suggested putting a digital piano in the exam room if we wanted to. The candidate could then choose.
I haven't actually done this, and I did put a post on the teachers forum a while ago, pondering if it would look a bit unusual if a student opted to play a digital piano, as opposed to the baby grand.
I think I decided in the end, that it was a great opportunity for the students to play on a baby grand, and approached it with that attitude in the lessons leading up to the exam. Fortunately we were also able to arrange a practice session on the baby grand before the exam day.
Hope this helps!
I haven't actually done this, and I did put a post on the teachers forum a while ago, pondering if it would look a bit unusual if a student opted to play a digital piano, as opposed to the baby grand.
I think I decided in the end, that it was a great opportunity for the students to play on a baby grand, and approached it with that attitude in the lessons leading up to the exam. Fortunately we were also able to arrange a practice session on the baby grand before the exam day.
Hope this helps!
I guess supplying your own piano is not really a good habit to get into, if you are going all the way to diploma level.
You might have to transport your grand piano over to the diploma exam venue. Don't think that is very convenient or cheap ... And imagine all the time you have to spend to make sure the piano is properly moved and setup to and fro.
Just our luck that the piano cannot be carried in a box
I wonder about harp exams. It is still possible to bring your own harp, right?
You might have to transport your grand piano over to the diploma exam venue. Don't think that is very convenient or cheap ... And imagine all the time you have to spend to make sure the piano is properly moved and setup to and fro.
Just our luck that the piano cannot be carried in a box
I wonder about harp exams. It is still possible to bring your own harp, right?
There are, of course the kind of transportable piano size keyboards used by popular music groups and one of my pupils got to Grade 6 on one of these. It had a pedal attatchment and a folding stand. the worst problem was that it wasn't all that stable and as he got bigger and played more energetic music that became a bit of a problem!I think you can get a case on wheels to trolley them about. Just iimagine the waiting room - particularly if a couple of double bass players turned up as well!
Seriously I suspect the practical implications would be too great. Maybe if you offered to lend your digital for the whole of that exam period so that everyone at that centre could have the choice? But I expect in the end it's up tothe centre rather than the candidate to provide the piano.
Seriously I suspect the practical implications would be too great. Maybe if you offered to lend your digital for the whole of that exam period so that everyone at that centre could have the choice? But I expect in the end it's up tothe centre rather than the candidate to provide the piano.
QUOTE(SueHM @ Apr 22 2009, 06:45 PM)
I doubt very much whether this would be allowed, and why would you want to take a digital anyway, when there will be a perfectly good acoustic for you to play?
Nice thought, but sadly untrue. I have accompanied exams on some dismal instruments.
Thanks for all the replies.
To clarify a couple of points:
- I haven't seen the exam room acoustic piano yet, but I am told that it has a very heavy action and a squeaky pedal, although it is probably reasonably in tune.
- the digital piano I would supply would be a proper clavinova, not a (wobbly) stage piano. I come against this all the time- there is a huge variation between the quality of digital pianos. I think a lot of people assume that they haven't changed in the last ten years. In reality I find the consistency of action and tuning make a good digital piano preferable to the average elderly/unmaintained acoustic. A well maintained acoustic with good action is, of course, a better instrument, but they are few and far between.
As I said before, assuming I can get access to the exam room, I would place the clavinova there the day before and remove it after the last exam, and I would be more than happy for it to be used by other candidates or accompanists as they wished.
To clarify a couple of points:
- I haven't seen the exam room acoustic piano yet, but I am told that it has a very heavy action and a squeaky pedal, although it is probably reasonably in tune.
- the digital piano I would supply would be a proper clavinova, not a (wobbly) stage piano. I come against this all the time- there is a huge variation between the quality of digital pianos. I think a lot of people assume that they haven't changed in the last ten years. In reality I find the consistency of action and tuning make a good digital piano preferable to the average elderly/unmaintained acoustic. A well maintained acoustic with good action is, of course, a better instrument, but they are few and far between.
As I said before, assuming I can get access to the exam room, I would place the clavinova there the day before and remove it after the last exam, and I would be more than happy for it to be used by other candidates or accompanists as they wished.
QUOTE(Babybird2 @ Apr 22 2009, 05:24 PM)
QUOTE(skylark @ Apr 22 2009, 05:20 PM)
QUOTE(jacobpianofluteorgan @ Apr 22 2009, 04:32 PM)
This is what it says on the ABRSM website (http://www.abrsm.org/?page=exams/regs/ukIreland/2008/visits.html)
"A piano must be provided in the examination room. It must be properly regulated and in tune (a’= 440). An electronic piano may be used, provided it has a clearly recognizable piano tone, a touch-sensitive keyboard with full-size weighted keys, and an action, compass and facilities that match those of an ordinary piano, including a sustaining pedal."
I think the only thing you'd have to worry about is getting the piano to and from the venue, maybe if you ring your local ABRSM representative, they'd be able to help with access to the venue. I don't see a problem with bringing the piano, but like you said, would probably have to be left there until the exams have finished, or pick it up in the evening.
Jacob.
"A piano must be provided in the examination room. It must be properly regulated and in tune (a’= 440). An electronic piano may be used, provided it has a clearly recognizable piano tone, a touch-sensitive keyboard with full-size weighted keys, and an action, compass and facilities that match those of an ordinary piano, including a sustaining pedal."
I think the only thing you'd have to worry about is getting the piano to and from the venue, maybe if you ring your local ABRSM representative, they'd be able to help with access to the venue. I don't see a problem with bringing the piano, but like you said, would probably have to be left there until the exams have finished, or pick it up in the evening.
Jacob.
Isn't that just for special visits though, like when a teacher organises a special visit at his/her house?
So the above information about the type of piano is really for the teacher's benefit, to know what's acceptable? I don't know though, I might be wrong...That's what I thought - it just states that an exam centre must have a piano.
Ooops! Sorry!
" For Practical examinations, Centres provide: a waiting room (or area); and an examination room, which contains a satisfactory piano (this may be upright or grand)"
I looked in the special visits section by accident! Oh well, we now all know what type of piano is allowed at a special visit centre!
Jacob.
QUOTE(teoani @ Apr 23 2009, 08:46 AM)
You might have to transport your grand piano over to the diploma exam venue. Don't think that is very convenient or cheap ... And imagine all the time you have to spend to make sure the piano is properly moved and setup to and fro.
Just our luck that the piano cannot be carried in a box
A cautionary tale...
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