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sania
I really willing anybody's experience about what is usually being asked in the viva voce for diploma exam??
Need anybody's help soon
Thanks
YetAnotherPianist
I've enclosed the the questions I was asked, from what I recall. Noticeably, they asked more about Bach and Beethoven than they did about Scriabin/Szymanowski/Debussy. This is unsuprising - I'm sure they know far more about Bach and Beethoven; also, they could ask some of the standard book-work questions on form.
  • How did you choose your programme?
  • What were the technical challenges you faced when playing the Scriabin preludes?
  • Where do the opus 11 preludes fit into Scriabin's compositional output?
  • You say the First Movement of the Pathetique is in Sonata form. What is the structure of Sonata form?
  • What influence did Beethoven's contemporaries have on this piece?
    (in particular, Dussek)
  • You mention that it was written in Beethoven's early period; what characterises his early period?
  • How many piano sonatas did Beethoven write?
  • You said that in his early period, Szymanowski was influenced by Chopin. In what way can Chopin's influence be seen in this piece?
  • What did Bach mean by 'Well Tempered' when he wrote the Well -Tempered Clavier?
  • How should one approach playing Bach on a piano?
  • What are stretti?
  • What sort of answer does the Fugue have?
  • I noticed that you played from memory today; what effect does that have on the performance?
  • What does one have to bear in mind when playing the dynamics in, for example, the Debussy, compared to the Beethoven?

Hope this helps.
YetAnotherPianist
A few more points in reply to a PM Sania sent me, in case it will benefit others:

The AB's information on programme notes is here. I also read through music in words - a useful guide for the conventions obeyed when writing programme notes - how to write the titles of pieces etc.

The quick study I was given was in a 'modern accessible style' as the AB promised; others seem to have similar experiences. I read through the AB Romantic Piece compilation books of the appropriate level (grades 6 or 7), and the piece I was given wouldn't seem out of place in there. Other people have also recommended Spectrum; I didn't try it, but if you want some more material it seems like it would fit the bill.

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