This is mainly for females. I realise that the Diploma exam is more of a special occasion than graded exams, and that you should dress accordingly. Also, the recital component is meant to be treated as if it were a public recital, i.e., presentation is important.
I was just wondering what other people have worn for their exam, and what is considered appropriate/inappropriate. I plan to wear a simple brown silk dress with short sleeves, and black shoes with a slight heel and strap around the ankle.

I haven't ever taken a diploma, Hannah, so I can't really help you but it's meant to be comparable to a public recital. What you are wearing sounds very smart. When is your diploma and what instrument are you playing?

This summer on piano - I'm so scared! I've just finished collecting information for my programme notes and it's been a fascinating process. I've really learnt a lot consulting so many sources. I think it should be compulsory in the higher grades, maybe!
I hope to organize an informal recital for family and friends beforehand to get used to going through the programme. I think I should do ok on the viva voce, its the fast Schubert finale I'm worried about. Oh well, lots of slow practice, or 'donkey work' as I call it.

Good luck or since I'm revising spanish, mucha suerte! What pieces are you playing?

smart, but comfortable - you'll be playing for the better part of an hour after all!
For both of mine (one fail, one pass) I wore a skirt and black tshirt. First time round had a heeled pair of sandals, second time a pair of dressy boots - it was winter!

Having a 'friendly' concert beforehand is a really good way to prepare - all the best!

Bach - Prelude and Fugue in F major (Book II of the Well-Tempered Clavier)
Schubert - Sonata in A, op. 120
Edwin Roxburgh - Moonscape

And I might have to chuck in a short Ginastera piece if that's not long enough.
Good luck with the Spanish - which reminds me I'm supposed to be revising for my French oral exam in a couple of weeks!

QUOTE (Fen @ Apr 11 2005, 08:20 PM)

smart, but comfortable - you'll be playing for the better part of an hour after all! For both of mine (one fail, one pass) I wore a skirt and black tshirt. First time round had a heeled pair of sandals, second time a pair of dressy boots - it was winter! Having a 'friendly' concert beforehand is a really good way to prepare - all the best!

Yeah, I got a slightly bigger size to make sure I have enough movement. And silk is nice and soft!
If you don't mind my asking, what parts did you fail first time? Did you get any helpful feedback on where to improve? How did you go about writing the programme notes?

I wore a black suit, but took off my jacket when I played - it worked, because I passed! good luck in the summer

QUOTE

If you don't mind my asking, what parts did you fail first time?

Oh, most of it!

I failed the recital and the quick study. The comments were mostly helpful, but the fact that I was taking the exam in July after starting preparation for it in January (though I did have one of the pieces underway earlier) probably didn't help. I retook in December and passed - not with a lot of glory, but given the time put in I was happy.

Programme notes - read lots, jotted down lots of notes. I'd had an idea that I wanted to refer back to the development of the piano as I went through, so to an extent was able to structure the notes around that. Ultimately it came down to writing v1 of the notes which was about twice as long as the maximum, and then several weeks of paring down. I reviewed them a couple of times with my teacher, and got several friends to read them to give me an understandibility and pomposity check .

Hi Hannah,

I think it's better to wear smart clothes - for my exam, I wore a suit with a tie - I think I took off the jacket, can't remember though. As a rule of thumb, you can't really go wrong if you wear something that you might wear in a daytime recital - any examiner who may expect you to dress like that wouldn't be insulted, and any examiner who wouldn't care what you wear wouldn't think anything of it.

Dave

Yeah I wanted something that could work for a lunchtime recital, rather than more glamorous evening wear. Not too glitzy, but making something of an effort.

I wore a dark grey trouser suit with a smart, short sleeved blouse. I took my jacket off to play.

I did mine last summer and I wore one of those fifties style dresses that was white with red flowers, and a red cardigan. I like wearing red for auditions and things because it looks nice against my golden horn!
The girl who did her exam before me was wearing jeans and a T-shirt, and she failed. However, the boy who went in after me was wearing a suit and he also failed, so I don't think it's really relevant! You'll probably feel more comfortable in something smart though- it is a formal occasion, and your dress sounds lovely. Best of luck!