I know I'm prepared. There is no good reason to be nervous for this Grade 8 exam.

I have prepared for performances before and been there and got through. I've even got two grade 8s already.

However, like it or not it is tomorrow and the nerves are just beginning to kick in.

LOL yes, right on time!! Best of luck for tomorrow jod, I'll be thinking of you x

For reasons that I only partly understand, I seem to have regained the cool confidence that I last had as a seventeen year old. My performance nerves have almost entirely disappeared, and at my last two public outings I have felt only mild excitement, rather than the near crippling fear that I have felt on all my other public performances since returning to serious study of the piano ... 4 years ago. How long it will last is anyone's guess. Hopefully until after my DipABRSM re-take


The same fear and nervousness were in part responsible for failing the recital component of the DipABRSM exam last year. The other factors were inadequate preparation (what else), poor choice of the main piece, and a too-early exam slot that meant I had to be out of bed by 5:30 to get to the venue in time.

Why is this?

Partly it is external events putting an event like a short amateur piano performance into context ... in the grand scheme of things it is not that important.

Partly it is being a better player, simply getting back into really serious practice these last few weeks, and finding that although I thought progress had stalled for several months, in reality the old subconscious was beavering away, integrating the lessons and stimuli of past practice.

Partly it is a change in attitude. In the past I was a terrible "show-off" (without much justification ). I would "hog"the piano terribly at events. Now I am happy to play my bit, then get out of the limelight and support and appreciate the other performers. And I would be constantly trying to impress everyone. Now I just try to understand the music, then share that understanding and project the feelings that the composer intended.

Partly my entire brain/mind/way-of-thinking seem to have been reorganized through some shocks to the system

Like your style Tom.

Well I've done an honest appraisal.
Aural thats sound should be OK as is sight reading.
Scales and arpeggios: Take care before starting to mentalise task and play purposefully and musically. Don't let one start a rot off. These should be fine and they are the best prepared I've ever been for scales and arpeggios.

Pieces: Bach. Keep focused and this should be fine: Actually this is the hardest as its the counterpoint, but musically this is the one all things being equal I have the greatest empathy with.

Beethoven: Don't set off too fast! Actually that is the real key. I checked the one really difficult bit today (i.e. the last page) and as long as that is sound I'm OK.

Debussy: Feel it not fight it. Enjoy the big chordal sections. In warm up recheck final page.

As I said I'm as prepared as I can be. All I need now is to keep calm and carry on

Oh and a good night's sleep .

Good luck jod. Sounds like you are as prepared as you can be, you've worked really hard. Now go in, enjoy the performance and knock the examiner's socks off.

Hi jod,

it is slightly reassuring to me to hear that you still get nervous before an exam. I remember listening to you sing in the Rothehithe recitals way back when, and it's strange to think that someone who can perform so well can be nervous.

Good luck for the exam tomorrow.

Hi jod, I missed this thread and you've probably done it by now. I had my eye on the fact that that you were dong this soon, but didn't realise it was SO soon. Nothing to add to the thread except that I REALLY hope things have gone well for you. You really deserve it. Best of luck for results. x

Best wishes for a positive result. I'm off soon to the library at Chesterfield for grade 3 piano...

Good luck jod Hope all goes well for you

I think I saw your name on the candidate list at the centre this morning - at least I could only see one Grade 8 Piano, unless there was another sheet of paper underneath. Must be a nice break for the examiners to hear piano music after all those young violinists! All the best

Well, I did not like the piano. I played the scales first and in the middle of c# minor I could hear another pianist.

The pieces were performed - Bach was full of errors. Debussy was largely OK, Beethoven best of the bunch.

Sight reading was fine, Aural the best thing I did all exam.

Enough to pass... by how much I don't know!

Well done.

Nerves can start their first serious kick in when the exam entry goes in.
After that they come and go at random, sometimes at 'sit in the corner and cry' level.

In my case it was the day after the entry went in. I felt fine then uh-oh what have I done. There was a stage where practise-wise everything was going wrong and that felt pretty desperate too.

That's the stage I am at unfortunately. Can't even play scales - which I am normally ok with, without my fingers sort of sticking together. Urghh. I need some magic to happen pretty soon. Got some time yet but running out fast! Why isn't there a panic emoticon?

Hope your results come soon, and are as pleasing as possible!

Exam nerves kicked in yesterday thanks to a so-called friend who called me an idiot and questioned why I would want to put myself through the exams again after I'd failed the last one. I thought it was just friendly concern but the way it was put across more or less implied that I was going to fail anyway so why bother.

Apart from really winding me up, I now feel complete rubbish and instead of feeling excited about the exams, I'm now really scared

"Friends" like that you don't need.

I have heard you play, and I think you play very nicely. I hope you have a good and positive experience in the exam, because you surely deserve that.

I and everyone on the forums will be right behind you, sending positive vibes and crossing our fingers every inch of the way.

Well the ones that count will be. After the way I was treated yesterday aka grade 8 day on the forums I found out there were some users that are not as pleasant as Katyjay and the majority of users. I've failed exams. It isn't pleasant. It didn't stop me either. If it makes you feet any better a week before Grade 7 Oboe someone was similarly unkind. I passed with distinction. You deserve to do well.

Let Katyjay's opinion of your playing matter. She has heard you. Make the most of the day, and all the best!

I agree with what Katyjay said! Friends like that are not real friends!
We're all behind you here! Go for it! You can do it!
All the very best and try to look at the exam as a positive experience, something you can one day remember with a smile!

Try not to take any notice of those who really don't have a clue.

Nerves kicking in now for my student who has grade 6 exam this afternoon.
Somehow I manage not to pass on my own nerves to my students at exam time though I am able to empathise.

Thank you for your very kind and supportive comments - it's massively appreciated. Had a rehearsal with the accompanist for one of my exams and I loved it, felt really good.

I've decided that regardless of the results, I'm just going to enjoy the experience. My mantra for the next few days will be "Keep Calm and Carry On".

Many thanks again for your lovely comments - they've really helped to put a smile back on my face.