I am an adult of 50years old. I have been taking lessons now for two years. I have decided to go back to lessons this year as it is the only way I feel I can progress, with structure an routine.

I would dearly ove to take piano grades to give me something to work towards, will it benefit my playing as much as working on pieces of my choice with my teacher?

Hi Ragtime Clown, I took grade 2 piano last Christmas at the age of 47. That was my first music exam. I'm taking grade 3 this year. My teacher thinks that there is benefit in preparing pieces to exam standard. Non-exam pieces don't get refined to the same extent.

It is more boring preparing for an exam though. I worked on the same three pieces for about 3 months, playing nothing else.

I would have thought your teacher has an opinion on whether it is a good thing for you.

Paul

Yes, as a teacher, I have to say that exam pieces get worked on to closer to perfection than other pieces. It is indeed more boring though - at least for the pupil, I quite enjoy picking my victim's pupil's playing to pieces in minute detail...

Paul, did you go straight in at Grade 2 and skip Grade 1?

My teachers view last term when I asked was that Grades are fine for children. He felt the grades satisfy parents of young children who need to see something hanging on their wall to show for the cash they've handed over - perhaps a cynical view. He thinks that grades give children the discipline to stay focussed, he feels adults don't need this - they naturally stay focussed because they want to play.

Last term I worked my way through around 8 pieces, some really interesting challenges that took me out of my comfort zone. I've no certificate to show but if people come round, I can play a few nice pieces for them which is probably more satisfying for me that the framed certificate.

Perhaps!

But sometimes even grown-ups like having a goal to work towards, a structured syllabus to follow, or even just the pat on the back that an independent assessor recognises your achievement.

I took up learning an instrument as an adult a few years ago (in my case the clarinet), and I think my teacher assumed I would do exams, like all his students. Until he mentioned it, I'd never even heard of music exams, let alone the ABRSM. I think he may have said that I didn't *have* to do them if I didn't want to, but it was assumed that I would. I didn't know what to expect but I was willing to give Grade 1 a go, and after that I did each grade up to Grade 4 so far. At the time, exams were the right thing for me to do and I've hung up my Grade 4 practical and Grade 5 theory certificates, not for others to see but for me to feel proud of what I've achieved when I look at them. Those bits of paper represent something important to *me* and why shouldn't I feel proud to have them. They're not the only reason I did the exams though - I liked having the structure and the focus of working towards a goal.

Having said that, last summer I took up piano as well. I'm not planning to take each piano grade because much as I like doing the exams, I have to admit that they slow down your progress. On piano, I'm only having lessons every fortnight, so even if I only spend three lessons on my pieces and one week on aural practice, that's two months gone by and I'd rather spend that time progressing in a different way with piano.

I think it's a shame that you've said you'd like to do exams but your teacher is against it. Does your teacher know that you'd really like to do them? If you feel strongly about doing them, then I would talk to your teacher again about it. There are dozens of adults on this forum who take exams - they're not just for children.... far from it, in fact.

Welcome to the forums by the way, Ragtime Clown - hope you find it useful here

Personally I like doing the exams. Gives me something to work to as I'm useless without a deadline

Aswell as doing my exam pieces though I always have at least 2 or 3 none exam pieces on the go aswell which probably don't get the same amount of polish but I enjoy playing them anyway.

For example I'm currently in the final tweaking stage of my Grade 3 piano pieces but I'm also doing a little Jazzy piece form Pam Wedgewoods Jazzin about, a Burgmuller study (which gets it's world premier by me at the Chester concert in a couple of weeks ) and I'm attempting a Beethoven sonata which is slow work but I love playing it even if I am a couple of years away from playing it "properly" I also have lessons once a fortnight but I suppose it depends on the amount of time that you have in a day for playing. I play a lot on my digital so with headphones can plonk about until idiot hours if I feel like it.

Is there any specific reason your teacher is against you doing exams. I think that you can work towards the exams and still explore other repertoire

Lois

Your teacher is entitled to his/her opinion, but I reckon he's in the minority. I started piano this year, having never learned any instrument in the past. Within weeks, I had decided that I wanted to take Grade 1 as it would give me something to aim for, and the grading system will assist in ensuring I develop most / all of the techniques I'll need to play more and more varied pieces. Absolutely nothing wrong in being proud of passing an exam, whatever age you are. Arguably, it means more to some adults than children as they may not have taken any exams for years. Why shouldn't one feel good that a world renowned body thinks you are good enough to receive their commendation. If your teacher won't take you through a grade, then maybe you need to find a new one.

Hi - I enjoy doing the exams too! I spend quite a long time between grades though as I like to work on other pieces, duets etc I think if you like having a benchmark, something to aim for then there is nothing wrong with doing exams but I wouldn't want to work only on exam pieces.

It is nice to hear such support here. I'm back on Tuesday night to my lessons and I will be putting the question of grades to my teacher.

Is it possible to start at Grade 2 or 3 - depending on how your teacher feels about your ability level?
I generally am working on pieces that are either Grade 2-3.

I'm wondering if RC's teacher's response was because he has learnt from experience how nervous some adults can be in practical exams, and wanted to spare RC the trauma unless RC was really keen to do them? I've never been at all nervous in (normal written) exams and was very, very surprised at the state I got in when I did my first Grade 1 piano exam at the age of about 40 - hands visibly shaking, mind going blank etc etc. And one of my fellow students broke down completely and could not continue.

The only thing that was at all similar was my driving tests. For my first test I was very confident but failed. The second time my legs were shaking so much I could hardly engage the clutch. It must be something about being tested in a physical activity, which doesn't happen that often. (Thinks - "If I had passed my first driving test, would Grade 1 piano have been a doddle?")

That's not to say practical exams aren't worth doing, I just wanted to warn people who haven't done one before. I'm sure it would help to have experience of playing in front of people first. I hadn't done that, except for my teacher, who was a good friend.

Anyway, good luck RC!

Pat, my only experience of piano examinations were on 18th December 1968 when at the age of 9 years old I took my introductory piano exam and scored 80%.

I left the piano a few years later when my father couldn't afford the 10shillings (50p) every week for lessons.
When he visits now I love to play him some old tunes!

Yes I skipped grade 1. I had been trying to teach myself on and off for 20 years and had probably already reached round about grade 1 standard. The other thing was my daughter was taking grade 2 and we decided to do it together.

Paul

At the moment I am working on the Pam Wedgewood arrangement of 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square'. At first sight I thought it was too difficult but I have almost cracked it. I can play the song through from beginning to end - with a few minor stumbles. It is written in the key of Eb and the arrangement is really nice.

I have done grades 1,2,3 & 4 piano and am working on G5 now. I have really enjoyed the challenge, structure and achievement (hopefully) that exams give me, although cannot say the same about 'doing' the actual exam

Following an exam structure also introduces you to scales, (major, minor, harmonic etc), arpeggios, sightreading and other important things that make up a good musician

Exams are really not for everyone though and it depends on what you want to get out of your playing and obviously it is good to practice many different pieces and styles inbetween.

Obviously listen to your teachers advice but if you are not on the same wavelength regarding what you want out of the lessons then it may be time to look into changing teachers

Good luck anyway

P.S. How does your teacher feel about adults taking Theory exams ?

"Nightingale" is lovely - I'd like to be able to play it some day I haven't got any Pam Wedgewood books - which one is it in and are there any more pieces from that era in it?

'Its Never too Late to play Jazz' by Faber Music. The book also contains 'As Time Goes By', 'My Funny Valentine', 'I Get a Kick out of You' and many others. There is a CD with the book but my teacher has asked me not to listen to it and figure everything else myself.

I worked on 'Nightingale over the summer break, without my teacher and it took about four weeks.

Thanks for that, and I've just been having a look at the list on the musicmakers web site... ooo I see it's also got A Foggy Day, Love Walked In, Let's Do It and Let there be love. I'll have a look at it next time I'm in a music shop - I think it's going to be a bit beyond me at the moment but it sounds like one to get when I'm a bit further on

Being a bit prosaic: Exam provide mileposts and thereby mark a path through the wonderful but vast and confusing landscape that is the piano repertoire to virtuosity. There are other paths, some of which have their own milestones (it does not matter that most of us will never travel any of the paths to anywhere near the end). If you find that having such mileposts as intermediate goals helps you to keep yourself on the path then this is probably as good a path as any, though even then you don't have to stop at every milepost if you don't want to. The examination pathway won't suit everybody, whether children or adults. What matters is not which pathway you take but that whichever one it is, you enjoy the ride.

Yup, totally agree with Robodoc. I believe it's good to have an end to journey towards, but it's really the journey that matters in the end! Cheers RC.

Does anyone believe that alternative methods interfere with the progress of private lessons. I was thinking of play a little jazz by ear using alternate methods than standard music notation. I was worried that it may not contribute to the overall learning process??

You might well find that tihs compliments the work you are doing in lessons.
It could even help you to understand things better.
It will broaden your outlook and experience.

I found doing an exam very beneficial - I did piano duet - as I had to really knuckle down and learn the pieces thoroughly. Having a deadline and knowing it would be in front of an examiner did wonders for my concentration!
I would agree with Pat C that it can be very nerve racking. However, don't be put off - you feel great when it's over!