I have always taken loads of exams since I was little. Even though I know they're not everything and you shouldn't just play for the sake of exams and not ever extend you repertoire; but otherwise I find after a while my practise slowly dwindles to nothing as other things take over!

I was just wondering how many exams other people have taken.

I have only taken 6 so far (practical), 7 if you count my theory exam, but this is because I have only taken exams in one instrument. If I still had the time to learn another instrument, I would probably do more exams

taken 15... don't want to do any more though!! 4 violin, 5 piano, 3 singing, 3 theory.

QUOTE (nicki_flute @ Dec 28 2004, 09:19 AM)

I have only taken 6 so far (practical), 7 if you count my theory exam,

Only 6, you say Nicki?

1. Grade 1 1998 113/150
2. Grade 2 1999 109/150
3. Grade 4 2001 98/150
4. Grade 4 2001 105/150

I don't like exams. I like criticism, but I don't like playing in front of somebody trying to find fault with you playing.

I've done 3 clarinet exams, 3 piano exmas and 1 theory exam

I have taken nine including violin, piano and theory exams but I often don't take the exam for grades, for example I didn't take grade1, grade 3 or grade 6 piano.

I've just counted up and have taken 20 exams since the age of 8! I can't believe it and it doesn't seem to get any easier - in fact I think it gets harder and i get more nervous! I'm due to do another 4 exams in 2005 - GREAT!!!

five not counting thoery 7 if count thoery.

i failed my grade 4 pratical which was a complete setback then did it again and passed ( whoo hoo!)

then i failed my grade 5 thoery which was also a complete setback then i did it again and passed ( woot)

passed my grade 1,2,3 pratical very pleased with my third grade as i got a merit wooot!! ( passed those all for time )

I've only taken 3 violin exams in the past 2 years and I'm now on grade 5!
grade1 145/150

grade2 137/150

grade4 130/150

I love the violin soooo much but i think the higher the grade you go the more nervous you can get. I had my last exam for grade 4 about a month ago and i was so nervous which made me screw up my scales i only just got my distinction in that exam. I was just sooooo nervous!

QUOTE (david_t @ Dec 28 2004, 06:13 PM)

I don't like exams. I like criticism, but I don't like playing in front of somebody trying to find fault with you playing.

I don't think they are actively trying to find dault, unless you get a really mean examiner... if you aren't up to standard, yes, you'll be criticised, but the AB stresses so many times that the examiners want you to do well, too! if you play well, they're not looking to find every tiny fault they can mark you down on... in my experience most of them are quite positive with their comments... and the ones who seem mean in the exam room are usually the most positive, lol. weird but true.

I think I've taken 11 exams....
3 piano
7 violin
1 flute
oh and 1 theory...

12? I can't count...

It seems like more....

I've taken only 4 exams: Grade 3,5,7 Piano, Grade 5 Theory but next year I would probably take another 2 or 3 exams.

ive done 4 violin exams, 1 theory exam , 5 piano and 2 clarinet exams so thats 12 in total.

5 piano exams
1 theory exam
3 singing exams...

I suddenly realised, I only actually counted music exams, which makes, erm (G3,4,5,6,7,8 P, G5 T) 6.

But if we get into SATs, and GCSE's... and, oh dear.

I must have taken hundreds. Ulp.

No wonder us teenagers are considered abnormal!

ave dun 4 piano and 2 theory (which i didnt include in the poll) ((sorry if i was meant 2))

I've taken piano grd 5,7,8 and theory grd 5 exams in the past 6 years... & I will do theory grd 8 next year.

I found exams very effective on me, it just drives me to the piano and keep practicing. But the down side is... I am very detached from my friends now.

Although I also find extending my repertoire important... really the pieces/works that I likes are mostly post grade 8, so I just want to rush through them, and now it's time for me to really consolidate!

I plan to do DipAbrsm in '06 and my teacher sort of agreed to put it there at the end of that year, but I am not sure if I can get to there though!

Cheers...

Okay, so a little gripe about grades:

If you are just one of those players who learns the 3 pieces for the grade, scales and are able to know aural to a level sufficient to the grade then yes, technically you will pass and you will be "grade 7 piano" or "grade 8 horn", however, coming out of it after grade 8, you will find that your repetoire is that of probably only pieces you have studied, ergo maximum of 3 x 8 = 24. However, at a recital, you need to sound your best so you would only be able to play probably grade 7 and 8 pieces. AS WELL, 2 of those, out of those 6 would probably, (at least in my experience) boring scalic patterns and so not good in a concert. therefore, although you may have the coveted grade 8 certificate, you can only really play 4 pieces to your standard. Therefore, I ask you as a musician, do not just think that it is all about grades, but think about the music.

Sorry

BB

I've taken 14 exams- 6 on flute, 4 on keyboard, 1 on piano and 3 theory exams
(only ever failed 1)

I hate exams as well- they are too overrated, i.e people *have* to know the grade of the piece they are playing- and get all obsessed over the standard, rather than the actual piece. It also annoys me when teachers stop you playing a piece just because it's grade 8 standard and you're not even grade 4. If you like the piece enough, you put in the extra effort, and will be able to learn it.

By the way sarah-flute, if you think music examiners don't look for every little fault you make so they can knock marks off- you should take A level music, where you have to bring a photocopy of each piece you play so that the examiner can follow through- ringing every wrong note on the way at least thats what mine does

I've only taken Grade 8 Piano (practical) and Grade 5 Theory, but I'm taking Grade 8 Theory this spring.

when i saw the poll,i was thinking like over 8 is a lot of exams...but when i counted myself(piano+theory+violin), is 18! couldn't believe myself! good that some1 came up with this poll! it made us realize how much we've gone through through the years!

likeviolin

I have taken 8 piano exams, 7 oboe exams as I skipped grade 6.
1 theory exam grade 5.

Makes it 16 altogether so far.

Hoping to do dipABRSM in piano sometime in the summer this year.

ive been playing since i was 7... so 8 years... well thats more than half my life!!!

ive done grade 2
grades 4 and 5 (in the same year)
grade 6
grade 7
grade 8

(skipped 1 and 3)

and i did grade 2 and 5 theory

i havent failed any exams (yet ) but grade 5 was my worse, 115 i think it mightve been because I did 4 and 5, because grade 4 i got 130!!!

grade 2 was my best 137!
but i dont think thats ever going 2 happen again
hoping 2 do dipABRSM soon

I had to vote 0-5, the same vote as if I'd done none . Anyway I have done five: grades 1 to 4 piano and grade 5 theory.

Ive taken 6 exams

Grade 3,4,5 sax (2 merits and a pass)
Grade 2,3 theory (both merits)
KS3 Music certificate (passed with honours 91% HOORRAAAY for me)

*Head swells to the size of a beachball*

But however Ive got grades 4,5 theory coming up which I will fail

*head shrinks to the size of a head*

I've taken 8 exams:-
5 flute exams
2 piano
1 theory
I'm taking Grade 7 flute and grade 5 piano this term.
Anyone else taking exams this term?

who on earth has taken 30+?!?!

i've done 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 on violin
2,3,4 and 5 on piano
2,3,4,5 theory