One of my grade 2 pupils wants to play the awful (in my opinion) Bah-ba-doo-bah for her exam. Having said that, she is playing it very well with a good rhythm and can do almost the whole piece from memory. My question is how should it be played in the exam? At the end of the 2nd line there is a repeat mark, and the bottom of the piece has DC al fine, so the piece ends at the second line. I always get confused about ABRSM's different rules about when to play repeats and when not to play them. Should we repeat lines 1 and 2 before playing lines 3 and 4, and then go back and play lines 1 and 2 with repeat again? Or should we just go straight through, ignoring the repeat at the end of line 2, so the piece would become lines 1-2-3-4-1-2 ? I guess playing lines 1-2-1-2-3-4-1-2-1-2 would make it too long.
Full Version: Grade 2 - Bah-ba-doo-bah
Well, I was dreading it but the time has come. One of my grade 2 pupils wants to play the awful (in my opinion) Bah-ba-doo-bah for her exam. Having said that, she is playing it very well with a good rhythm and can do almost the whole piece from memory. My question is how should it be played in the exam? At the end of the 2nd line there is a repeat mark, and the bottom of the piece has DC al fine, so the piece ends at the second line. I always get confused about ABRSM's different rules about when to play repeats and when not to play them. Should we repeat lines 1 and 2 before playing lines 3 and 4, and then go back and play lines 1 and 2 with repeat again? Or should we just go straight through, ignoring the repeat at the end of line 2, so the piece would become lines 1-2-3-4-1-2 ? I guess playing lines 1-2-1-2-3-4-1-2-1-2 would make it too long.
One of my grade 2 pupils wants to play the awful (in my opinion) Bah-ba-doo-bah for her exam. Having said that, she is playing it very well with a good rhythm and can do almost the whole piece from memory. My question is how should it be played in the exam? At the end of the 2nd line there is a repeat mark, and the bottom of the piece has DC al fine, so the piece ends at the second line. I always get confused about ABRSM's different rules about when to play repeats and when not to play them. Should we repeat lines 1 and 2 before playing lines 3 and 4, and then go back and play lines 1 and 2 with repeat again? Or should we just go straight through, ignoring the repeat at the end of line 2, so the piece would become lines 1-2-3-4-1-2 ? I guess playing lines 1-2-1-2-3-4-1-2-1-2 would make it too long.
Just straight through and then do the Da Capo - no repeats! 
Thanks. I thought that would be the way to play it in the exam, but always good to have a second opinion. 
I've found BBDB to be a very popular choice. Can really sharpen up someone's sense of rhythm. Lots of metronome practise usually required.
As has been said, play da capo repeats but not others.
As has been said, play da capo repeats but not others.
Go on, Porillo - smile ! It's like going to the dentist - you'll think you'll hate it but when you get there it's not as bad as all that - and you might even get a lollipop at the end! (sugar-free, of course . . .)
I'm quite a fan of BBDB - I like the articulation and the syncopation, which seem to add to the piece and not just be there on purpose to make life difficult. And those crotchet walking bass notes are a great rhythm tool (it's not the only piece to do this of course but all the same . . ).
And lots of children certainly seem to enjoy playing it.
(I certainly prefer it to Vampire Blues and that Garage Sale thing we had a couple of sessions back - now THAT drove me mad . . . )
And, yep, 4 lines and then the first two again.
Good luck !
I'm quite a fan of BBDB - I like the articulation and the syncopation, which seem to add to the piece and not just be there on purpose to make life difficult. And those crotchet walking bass notes are a great rhythm tool (it's not the only piece to do this of course but all the same . . ).
And lots of children certainly seem to enjoy playing it.
(I certainly prefer it to Vampire Blues and that Garage Sale thing we had a couple of sessions back - now THAT drove me mad . . . )
And, yep, 4 lines and then the first two again.
Good luck !
QUOTE(jo.clarinet @ Jan 27 2012, 07:13 PM) 
Just straight through and then do the Da Capo - no repeats!
I also agree.
I quite like BBDB (as we appear to be calling it!) But I do find that when we have had it in a lesson it stays with me for the rest of the day.
QUOTE(morceau @ Feb 11 2012, 06:03 PM)
......I quite like BBDB (as we appear to be calling it!) But I do find that when we have had it in a lesson it stays with me for the rest of the day.
Yes, me too!
I like it. I think it's a fun piece. One of my students won 'Young Musician of the Year' for her year 8 at school by playing it.
I didn't use it last year but one of mine has asked to do it this time round and I rather like it. For once it is a jazzy piece that isn't too complicated to spoil the fun at this grade.
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