I've selected my pieces for Grade 1 piano from the ABRSM book (A1, B1, C1 as it turns out)... do I need to memorise these pieces or can I bring my sheet music (the ABRSM booklet) and use it on my exam?

I *think* I read that I am allowed to bring my music for the pieces, but scales and broken chords need to be played from memory. If I am indeed allowed to bring my music, can I pencil-in additional fingering/light notation?

Thanks.

Ezra

From the exam regulations; (see top of page Exams and go to regulations. Also the section These Music Exams answers lots of questions in a readable way)

i) Performing from memory is optional (except for singers, who must perform all items from memory, other than items from oratorios or other large-scale sacred works, or any other works specifically indicated in the lists). The examiner is at liberty to review a copy of the music before or after the performance of any piece; therefore, candidates performing from memory must ensure that a copy of the music is available for the examiner’s use.

Your book is yours, you can write in fingerings/reminders/notes/silly jokes or decorate it with fluorescent colours if you wish ... presumably as long as the examiner can still see the notes if they wish to refer to the score!

Just to add to dorfmouse's excellent advice, the scales/broken chords do indeed need to be from memory.

I'd suggest following the score for your pieces, even if you have memorised them. I almost stumbled in my exam but managed to recover well from the sheet It's a good fallback plan!

You can take your music - and I continued to take my music along to my second diploma, so don't worry, memorisation of pieces is not expected. And yes, you can add pencil comments - the only thing to watch for is not to have anything marked in which might embarrass you if the examiner should glance over your shoulder for any of it . One of my pieces for my last exam was very, erm..... modern-sounding, and it so reminded me of cats fighting that I had pencil drawings of cats in various places in the score, to try to help me get some sort of sense of the mood of the horrible piece across... Some musicians find these marks very useful, others find them distracting, but if they help you, have them in.

I think this is sound advice. Occasionally a pupil says he doesn't need music for his pieces, and I know that sometimes he plays from memory in lessons (he's dyslexic, so it's easier for him). But I still recommend that he takes the music in with him, and runs his eye along it as he plays, so that if he forgets, he will know where he is and can pick up again with the minimum of disruption.

Sometimes, when you are under pressure, your mind can go blank. But you will know if you are one of those people (I certainly am!!)

Thank you, everyone.

I find the more I practise the pieces, the more I memorise them. But I wouldn't rely on my memory during an exam!!

If you have memorised the pieces though, if you lose your place, you can keep playing while you find it again!!