Hi,
I have stopped learning and playing piano for the past 10 years and recently i have decided to take it up again. I am taking the Grade 7 practical exam this year, could anyone tell me how to improve my playing of pieces as well as sight reading?

I will also be taking Grade 7 Theory next year, what is the shortest way to understand ? I understand that there is a change in syllabus recently.

Could anyone help?

Thanks so much.

Rgds
Claudine

QUOTE (claudine @ Mar 16 2004, 10:39 AM)

could anyone tell me how to improve my playing of pieces as well as sight reading?

Practice.. By the way, Grade 7 theory isn't easy if you haven't done Grade 6, easiest way to learn is get a teacher.

Sight reading....
Make sure you can read in the hard keys (3+ flats/sharps) without worrying about the black notes. When I did my Gr7, I got a horrible sight reading in Bflat Minor and only just managed to keep going. Also, the SRs are quite long compared to previous grades, so make sure you can keep going.
Pieces...
Don't go in at the deep end, especially if you haven't played for some time. Start off with easier pieces and work your way up to the standard. Also practise with scales because they really do improve your technique and come the exam, tricky passages in the pieces will be real easy! (hopefully!)
Gd luck!

Hi guys,
Thanks so much for your advices. My fingers felt stiff after so many years...cant seemed to play trills at all.

How about Theory... how can I learn it fast to meet the next year exam?

Thanks

I am taking Grade 7 Piano too. I hope I will get a distinction. Sight reading is horror for me. I like the aural part where you talk to the examiner about a piece. I hope I get 18 for scales, 27 for each piece, 15 for sight reading and 16 for aural. That will give me exact 130.