Exam in 8 days - only had a chance to hear AB cd in last couple of days. Thought prayer of the matador was my best piece but having heard cd now not so sure. I've been playing it pretty much as written. Version on cd seems (to me) to overdramatise it re tempo, accents etc. Not seeing my teacher till day before exam. Has anyone any thoughts? I know their version is only one interpretation but have i totally misinterpreted it?

I remember when I had too play raphsody in blue and I played it as written and didnt do a jazzy style as I was supposed to and the examiner gave me extra marks for doing my own interpretation where really i was plying it wrong!

That sounds hopeful for me then!

i agree!

i think the use of rubato is a bit excessive but hey thats me! im playing it my way!

I have the opposite problem - I tend to go overboard on dynamics, then hear a beautiful version with very subtle changes of mood! Don't worry, you'll be assessed on your own interpretation. The idea is not to churn out carbon copies of one person's interpretation, it should be different for every person who plays it.

Good luck with your exams!

im doing it for my grade 6 (not taking it till nxt term tho), & i havnt heard the cd so i cant help there, but for mine im playing it pretty much as written, but iv put in sum pedal too! im playing it for a gcse mock performance tomorrow so ill let u no what my teacher thinks of it!

how did it go flute_gurl?!

andy_piano_flute- what are you going to do? alter how you play it or stick with what you do now?!

I think I read somewhere that as long as you are paying attention to how the notes, dynamics etc are written, you can interpret the piece to your own unique style, and this will earn you marks.

CL, I think I'm going to stick with how I'm playing it rather than trying to imitate someone else's interpretation of it. I think I'm getting in the dynamics, changes of tempo as written & hope that is OK with the examiner. I hope as mine is a reasonably early date he won't be too fed up with hearing it when I play it!

it went really well! i got an a*!!!! & my teacher sed it was wonderfully expressive, & i got full marks for interpretation, so theres obviously nothin wrong with playing it as written!

thats fab well done!

go you!

Well done, that's great!
So, the exam should go well next term!

alright for somemy exam is next week and i couldnt play at all today., my fingers felt like bricks and wouldnt move

thanx evry1! altho my other pieces r nowhere near as gud...must practice them.... everyone doing an exam this term, good luck, and i'm sure your all gonna do brill!

QUOTE (flute_gurl @ Feb 21 2005, 09:22 PM)

thanx evry1! altho my other pieces r nowhere near as gud...must practice them.... everyone doing an exam this term, good luck, and i'm sure your all gonna do brill!

wouldnt count on me doing brill but im sure everyone else will

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Feb 21 2005, 09:08 PM)

my fingers felt like bricks and wouldnt move

Aaaaw, those days are hard. Have you tried playing with woolly gloves on ? Seriously, it makes you appreciate how light and nimble your bare hands really are! And if you practise with gloves on you get really precise about where to put your fingers.

QUOTE (Fred @ Feb 21 2005, 09:25 PM)

Aaaaw, those days are hard.

they are indeed. esp when the exam is in a week

now then where are my woolly gloves....................

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Feb 21 2005, 09:08 PM)

alright for somemy exam is next week and i couldnt play at all today., my fingers felt like bricks and wouldnt move

why not? was it cold or somethin? cos i H8 that!!!!! like when youve just been out for ages in the freezin cold, even if youve just been the corner shop!!!! an you come in an try to practise an its just impossible!!!!

no not cold. i was just so rubbish that i couldnt play it

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Feb 21 2005, 09:38 PM)

no not cold. i was just so rubbish that i couldnt play it

i got that with me scales yesterday

i got so annyoed that i shouted FOR GODS SAKE!!!!!!!!

at the top of me voice

an my dad thought i had broke he computer.........typical of my dad!

well its typical that i cannot play everything with my exam being in a week. great.