Hi all. Firstly, thank you to everyone for encouraging an Adult Beginner such as myself. While I've only been playing a short while (started lessons from scratch for only a couple months a few years ago, then restarted them this past summer 2009), I decided to set myself on the ABRSM track. In July 2009 I got a copy of the exam pieces and starting learning them; today I actually took the Grade 1 exam. I thoguht it would be good for some other first-timers who may be prepping for the exam to hear. And I would like to know how you thought I did/passed? As an adult beginner and having been with an excellent teacher, I can fairly assess when I did something correctly or not , so my comments reflect this...

Thoughts?

Scales and Broken Chords
Examiner asked for 1) C major (RH), 2) F major (RH), 3) D major (LH) and 4) A minor (LH), as well as contrary motion C. I aced all the scales *except* for my finger slipping and not correctly hitting G# in A minor . How many points might I have lost for that slip? (it was very obvious.)

As far as broken chords/arpeggios, examiner asked for G major (RH) and D minor (LH). Performed perfectly.

Pieces
I was a bit nervous in playing my three pieces (Gavot, Erin and Trudging). One of the pieces I performed quite well (Erin), and the other two I fumbled for a couple notes at some point but kept playing through and recovering from small slip-ups, and in Gavot I seemed to hit an extra note when played the final chord in last bar . How many points does one lose for missing a note or two and some slip-ups, but rest of piece played mostly correct?

Site Reading
The examiner gave me a short piece (as expected) in F major. Actually, turns out it was in D minor--there there were no B-flats and it ended on D. I was quite happy about this. I nailed every note perfectly and even the tempo (fortunately it ended on a minim, which I always find easier to end on rather than a crotchet or something absurd in site-reading like a quaver). I was pleasantly surprised at how well I did on this.

Aural Tests
Dynamics - I answered these perfectly, easy questions (Staccato, etc.)
Echo/Sing - easy repeats for me (I happen to sing in a choir sometimes).
Time Signature - yuck. yuck. yuck. I answered 2/4, but I realized shortly thereafter it might have been 3/4, so I think I missed this one altogether. I did do the "clapping" on beats, so maybe I'll get a few points for that?

That's about it. Did I pass? Of course, I hoped to Pass with Distinction, but I'll be happy with Pass.

Comments?

Cheers,
Ezra

Sounds like you did great, Ezra! I'd put money on you passing with flying colours

That sounds good Ezra : I should think you've passed, judging by that. Best of luck for the result!

Sounds very good Ezra. Don't worry.

I'm no expert but from what you say I would be expecting a very good result

Sounds like you did really well Ezra.

I wouldn't worry too much about the slips in your pieces. The main thing is that you kept going so I wouldn't have thought you'd lost too many marks. When I did my Grade 1 I made a few fluffs even having to start one of the pieces again and I got a distinction!

You may have lost one or two marks for the scale slip. I am sure it is impossible to achieve full marks on scales

Hope you don't have to wait too long for your results

Lois

Wrong notes don't matter too much in exams, and the examiner certainly won't be thinking along the lines of "Oooh, well, that's two notes wrong so I'll knock two marks off!" Its much more important that you play musically and manage to communicate the piece effectively despite any small slips. It sounds as though you've done well!

Yes, all of the above

Fingers crossed....... and hopefully we'll be able to crack open the Transatlantic champagne when the result comes in!