I got my diploma date through the post this morning, too, and found that one of my examiners is Chief Examiner for the ABRSM Clara Taylor!!
I'm doing my exam in Cambridge.
This has completely put me off, I'm so worried performing in front of such a high-ranking member of the ABRSM.
I think I'd have been happier not knowing my examiner's names!

That is so scary!!

Good luck!

OH MI GOSH!! that is scary.

Just think how impressed she will be if you perform really well!!!

Try not to be put off, she comes over as quite friendly and understanding in the various articles she writes; besides if anyone is going to mark you fairly it's the chief examiner! Is she the generalist or the specialist examiner for your diploma?

Hearing her comments on the DVD I thought yes she was critical and certainly very strict, but always looked to compliment wherever possible. She sounds like she knows exactly what to look for in a performance which can only be a good thing for candidates, hence her ranking as chief examiner.

Good luck in your exam.

I've encountered her on a few occasions, and she's really nice! I'd be more than happy to have her as my examiner!

Thanks for all the support.
I think she's my specialist; I'm a pianist and so is Miss Taylor (I believe)

I went to a seminar run by her when they first launched the diplomas, and I thought she was very nice too; she has a lovely sense of humour when she was talking about various happenings in past exams.

Personally - I have always forgotten about the examiner in the room once I begin to play... the music takes precedence over the examiner's presence actually!
Might I recommend you do the same.

All you need to do is to go into the room and perform

BTW - I grew up hearing (and then read it in a book on Russian Pianists) that the only reason to be anxious/nervous is when you are unprepared. I trust that you are prepared.

Enough of my rant...

I don't agree - I get nervous even if I'm well prepared and playing things well within my capabilities as anything could still go wrong.

Like Jo.Clarinet I've also encountered Clara Taylor and she was really super on every occasion. I wouldn't worry about it - I would see it as a real "plus" that you'll get the highest quality of examining for your Diploma.

Think of the way you'll be able to tell your friends (when you pass) that you were examined by no lesser person than the Chief Examiner!!

Best of luck - hope it goes well. Are you taking the exam at the University Music School in Cambridge?

I don't agree - maybe you do get nervous because in your mind you know that you aren't as well prepared as you should.

If you engage yourself in some meta-cognition then you might be able to finger a reason or two why you really get nervous when you claim to be "prepared and playing things well within my capabilities..."

Yeah! Do you know the place?

Yes, I attended an ABRSM training event there and in my youth played in some concerts there.

Hope it goes OK for you.

For all you know she *might* be reading this topic as we speak...lol

I'm now in a similar boat.. I'm taking an LTCL exam next month.. I get the appointment slip through this morning only to find that I've got the Chief Examiner of TCL ! Eek!!

I wish you the best of luck!
It's scary, isn't it?

Thanks!!
It's one more stress I could do without!!

Me too. I was nervous in my flute exam and I was SO well prepared it was ridiculous. I could (and did) play the pieces practically without engaging my brain... I was terrified and shaking (I got 28 for all 3 pieces by the way) - I suspect I could have added a little more in terms of expression if I had been able to think straight, but from the marks and the comments I aquitted myself well all round. I got 136 overall... it was definitely well within my capabilities (only grade 4, I took it mainly because I knew that getting grade 6 scales up to scratch would be a longer-haul thing given that I knew basically no scales when I started preparing!!!) and I played well... My scales could have been better, nerves got the better of me, and my sight-reading lacked detail - I saw it, but not quickly enough to respond to it with my brain turning to jelly. The flute is not exactly an instrument that is forgiving for nerves either: dry mouth and shaking fingers very unhelpful, and stomach churning's not good to get the necessary support!!!

I was very very very well prepared... I could play the pieces, I knew my scales unpside down and inside out (though maybe not so ridiculously well as I knew my pieces...) andf the supporting tests were well within my grasp - yet I was terrified. So no, I don't buy "you should only be nervous if you aren't properly prepared." There are plenty of other reasons for nerves - probably no other GOOD ones that SHOULD make you nervous, but plenty of other things which can make your knees knock and your belly turn over. I think it proves the point that you can be very well prepared and even play really quite well even with nerves twanging; and I think you'll find that even many professionals at the top of their game suffer from nerves - some people even play worse when they aren't nervous. So to state categorically that nerves = not well enough prepared is, frankly, tosh.

I hope your diploma exams go really well, folks! By all accounts Clara Taylor seems nice... so I guess it's just a case of reminding yourself that she's human and pleasant, and ignoring the "chief examiner" thing. Easier said than done, I know... Personally I think if/when I get to that level I will be terrified whoever's examining me....