Hi All..
I am a lowly grade two so lots to learn and drive me even crazier than I am now. I have found a difficult grace note in one of my pieces and rather than correct this my teacher has said I should learn another piece. I have found that this small problem can upset the whole piece when I am under pressure to play. Do you teachers out there suggest to your students to select another piece or do you solve the problem. If I move on and don't solve my problem will I eventually be able to play the notes as I advance or will it always be a problem. I assume the more experience I gain the current problem will be solved and I'll wonder why I found it so difficult.
What has been your experiences.
BFN Mike

Hi Mike

Well, I'm a grade 0 at present, so don't think of yourself as lowly!! When I first started with my teacher she used to cross out any ornaments I couldn't manage (you don't have to play them in the early grade exams, especially if it would interrupt the rhythm), but I wanted to try them, as I felt I would never learn.....however, she won! Now I've progressed a bit, when I go over my older pieces I find I can manage the ornaments, so I think this is what you will find as you progress - it's a question of your developing agility I suppose, because they're not difficult to read.

Jen

What kind of teacher is that? I'm not a teacher, but I know that rather than trying to learn another piece they have to correct it. IT'S JUST A GRACE NOTE! But if your teacher still thinks you're not good enough to play it and your technique isn't high enough then try to make the best of things by omitting the grace notes. Personally, I think that grace notes should be learnt since the earlier grades.

Thanks Jen and DGA
I could leave out the grace note but I am removing that all mentally from my head and doing a different piece.
I say grade two...this will be next month or March when my exam date arrives but I do feel I should pass. I have noticed that some pieces seem more difficult than others and that different players have different strengths but I just think I should be able to master all the pieces at the level I am playing. I bought the making the grade 2 book as it has an arrangement of Maple Leaf Rag but I can't even get started on this when I try. I can do some of the other pieces but don't spend enough time on them....However I am going to take time to learn the arrangement of Swan Lake.
Thanks for help
Regards Mike

I think that it's probably wise to change to a piece that you are able to play for your exam if it is close. I would, however, say that you should definitely pick up the piece that you've been struggling with after you've done your exam and overcome that technical hurdle, as you've realised it's important to learn rather than just doing the exams. If the exam was more distantly in the future I would suggest that you did pick the 'harder' piece to give you real motivation to overcome the technical hurdle. You seem quite wise in your learning and to have the right idea: as you have realised beware of moving on from grade 2 material to grade 3 before you're comfortable with the grade 2 repertoire; otherwise each exam will get harder and harder every time relative to your abilities and you'll be playing catch-up with yourself. Good luck with your playing .

QUOTE (PlinkPlonkMan @ Jan 24 2005, 07:24 PM)

Thanks Jen and DGA I could leave out the grace note but I am removing that all mentally from my head and doing a different piece. I say grade two...this will be next month or March when my exam date arrives but I do feel I should pass. I have noticed that some pieces seem more difficult than others and that different players have different strengths but I just think I should be able to master all the pieces at the level I am playing. I bought the making the grade 2 book as it has an arrangement of Maple Leaf Rag but I can't even get started on this when I try. I can do some of the other pieces but don't spend enough time on them....However I am going to take time to learn the arrangement of Swan Lake. Thanks for help Regards Mike

Well, maybe it's OK to start learning an easier piece, but after the exam I advise you to start learning that piece again. Or, you'll never be able to play a grace note!

Hello thanks for help it is worth carrying on trying to crack the problem......I hate being beaten......the difficult bit is that it's played with the 4th finger which is not that much in my control .....it's obviously harder to use than the others...I am playing mordents and trills and other ornaments ..so I think it's just a 4th finger thing....
Thanks for help Mike

May I suggest that you play the grace note, at a comfortable speed, 100 times a day. Just that grace note. It works for me.

Mike, I must say when I first saw the thread title I thought it was a new folksy group: Grace 'n Ote (because the threaditor would capitalize the N)!

I go along with others here. If you're really motivated to play it's a problem that's going to strike sooner or later. Perhaps, though, as you move forward, it will be less of a problem by the time you tackle it.

Sometimes (you don't often hear this on these forums) you have to WILL the thing to happen - just sit there, concentrate and say, right you ARE going to do it!!! and you bet, it'll happen! People underestimate the importance of sheer concentration and will, dealing with new technical difficulties.

Good luck.
R

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Hi All
Yes Rhapsodin I'll use the force.....
BFN

QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Jan 27 2005, 03:02 PM)

Sometimes (you don't often hear this on these forums) you have to WILL the thing to happen - just sit there, concentrate and say, right you ARE going to do it!!! and you bet, it'll happen!   People underestimate the importance of sheer concentration and will, dealing with new technical difficulties.

This may sound strange to some people, but yes, it does work.

This idea not only applies to playing music, but also applies to work, study, and physical fitness etc. But it works better on people who have stronger will power.