Hi folks, I have been learning the Saxophone for just over a year now, and have a really good teacher that I am comfortable with and have really progressed with. I have been learning grade 3 pieces (Alto Saxophone) since September 04 and was hoping to enter for my grade 3 in Feb/Mar this year.

Now the problem: My teacher is excellent on the sax, but can not play the piano, so can not be my accompanist, not too major, but I have NEVER played with a piano, EVER, so I have learnt my pieces, but not with the piano. My teacher says this is no problem, and that I will be fine with which ever accompanist I find. I do not believe how this can be though. I can not possibly enter an exam room and play with someone I have never met, can I?

It is not just the playing though, I have no experience or practice of Aural work either.

Do I find a new Sax teacher that can also play piano, or do I stay as am and fumble through an exam in 8 weeks, or stay in situ, and not do exams?

I am also a coward about telling him I am going else where, as he has done nothing wrong, what would I say.

Advice really needed and greatly appreciated.

Sarah

Sarah,

You don't mention if you are at school, college or an adult. If you are either of the former two, could you speak with you music teacher there? I'm sure a school music teacher might be able to help, or point you in the direction of someone who can.

Have you asked your sax teacher if they know of any pianists who will do accompaniment? There are lots of instrumental teachers out there who don't play the piano, so your current teacher is not alone, but they should be able to help you find someone who can help for exam times. It is essential you have a few 'run throughs' of your pieces with piano accompaniment, before the exam day.

There are CD's and books available, published by the ABRSM, so that you can practice the aural parts of the exam. Most good music shops will stock them.

don't know if you're at school/in college or anything like that, but if you are, you could try speaking to one of your music teachers to find out if they can recommend someone (eg. local piano tutor/student) to play for you, or maybe even one of them could accompany you. Then, if it was possible, you could see if your accompanist could practice with you beforehand, eg. if its a teacher or student at school/college, then during breaks/lunch etc. or if they could come to one of your lessons so that your teacher can help you with how the sax piece fits together. If you can't find a teacher/friend who can recommend anyone to you, you could always try yellow pages or something - to see if they have any musicians locally, or you could search your area for a piano teacher on the ISM website (it should come up if you search ISM on google or something!) or you could try the thompson local website etc....

Hello

I think you should stay with the sax teacher you have at the moment. Because he is a good sax teacher although he can't play piano, aural nd accompanist pieces aren't as important as learning the sax well. When i learn pieces with an accompanist i don't usually use the accompanist till not long before the exam so aslongas you do get a bit of practice in with the accompanist it should be fine!

And don't worry bout aural because its not to bad until later grades but maybe you could go to aural classes at a music centre or something?

good luck

Beth

I don't think you should change a teacher because he couldn't play another instrument after all, changing a teacher could be inconvenient and might not work out for you. Besides it's not a good enough reason to change to another teacher, not to mention he is a good teacher (as you mentioned) and you might not be able to get another teacher like him.

I agree that you cannot enter an exam with an accompanist that you have never played with before as different pianist have different style of playing. In fact how can someone accompany you not knowing when and where you would do a rubato or some other stuff.

Have to tried asking a friend to accompany you (that is, if any of them know how to play the piano) you could practise with them. If not, how about asking your teacher to recommend some pianist (if he had not already done that) maybe you could arrange some time to practise with them.

Whatever you do, you'll have to decide soon as the exam date is not very far away.

Last but not the least....

Good Luck in your exam

This does happen. However, generally/usually your teacher should make the arrangements for finding/hiring a suitable accompanist?
I suggest that you ask your sax teacher to arrange for you to have one or possible two rehursals/run throughs with the accompaniest prior to the exam.
Alternatively ask a pianist to record the accompanying music on to tape and practise at home with a walkman.
There are also tapes available to purchase for Aural practise in good music shops.
I dont know how old you are but for future exams, either you or your parents should come to an arrangement with the music teacher about the accompanist well before the exam date.
Good Luck!

Sarah, Viohazard had to play his first ever ABRSM grade exam (grade 5) with an accompanist arranged by the ABRSM rep. He only met her once, for a rehearsal the night before the exam. Sounds scary, right?

He had taken a few theory lessons from a local piano teacher, and we asked her to accompany him, but she insisted that he would be much better with an experienced accompanist, not a person who was used to playing piano as the "solo" instrument, and sombebody who knew the ABRSM system.

Turned out she was right - my worries were all unfounded,the accompanist did an excellent job, and Viohazard was not only comfortable playing with her, he actually enjoyed himself heaps!.

Ask friends and local music or instrument shops for their recommendations, and don't forget that you can ask the ABRSM rep.

Hi folks,

Thank you all SO much for all your advice. I have to say it has really helped calm me down a bit, as I was really beginning to panic.

I am sorry I have not been back in touch for a while, but I do have an up date, so here goes.

I am an adult learner, just turned 30 (arrhhh), and as mentioned have been learning for just over a year. I agree with you guys that I don’t really want nor need the stress of trying to find another teacher, when I am comfortable with this one. However the extra cost of an accompanist is something I could do with out, but hey, my hobby, my choice.

I have spoken to my local ABRSM rep who gave me a list of possible accompanists one of which I have managed to speak to this evening. She was quite positive about having just a couple or so practice runs before the exam, which made me feel somewhat better.

My teacher has also confirmed he knows of some one who is an accompanist, so things are looking up. I am intending to apply for my exam tomorrow, unless you guys can think of any reason, for me not too.

Thanks again for your words; it is nice to know I am not actually alone.

Sarah.