Hi everyone,

I got the results of my Grade 6 singing -

Song A 17/24 (eek!)
Song B 20/24
Song C 18/21
Song D 17/21
Folk Song 16/21
Sightreading 13/21 (eek! Made a right dog's dinner of that)
Aural 15/18

Total: 116 marks

Main area for improvement appears to be my diction, which surprised me as I didn't think it was a problem.

Nice comments were - "Attractive singing voice and good expressive qualities".

I feel a bit down in the dumps about it because I had hoped for a merit, and had my sightsinging not gone pearshaped I possibly could have achieved that. So overall it's dented my confidence a bit. I sort of needed the Merit mark to counteract the negative comments I get from my family about my singing. I know it's partly because they don't enjoy classical music, and partly because they just enjoy winding me up. But even though I try to ignore it, nevertheless it still affects my self confidence. I know I should just be pleased to pass, but there's still a voice inside me saying that it's not good enough.

And now, to make matters worse, my singing's gone completely pear-shaped.
I don't seem to be able to sing in tune anymore, and I appear to have lost my connection. I won't be seeing my teacher again until the middle of August, and I'm feeling a bit unsure as to how to get things back on track. He says I'm capable of passing both Grades 7 and 8, but I'm scared I've reached my maximum level of competence.

I don't have this lack of confidence in other areas of my life, just the singing. I'm hoping that by writing this down I will gain a different perspective on it all. Does this resonate with other people, and have you any tips/advice on how to get over it?



Amber
x

Oh, Amber. No advice, just hugs.

Big hugs, Amber. I do know how you feel - I felt exactly the same after my Grade 6. But it will get better, I promise. PM me with your phone number if you like, and we can have a chat, or AIM me later on. I've got a meeting in a mo, but should be finished by about 3 (I hope!). Lots of love.

Amber

Don't be down. It is the view of a particular examiner on a particular day and time and does not reflect how you usually perform.

You asked whether it resonates with others. It certainly resonates with me as I did badly in my grade 6 piano (worse than you!) and it really knocked my confidence and I had all the same feelings that you are having.

I suggest you have a good pep talk with your teacher who will certainly help you get it all into perspective and get rid of those negative thoughts. Can't you give him a ring and ask him out for a drink or a coffee or something. Your teacher is the one who hears you all the time and is the best judge.

One disappointing result does not make a doomed future. Bit like falling off a horse and getting back on again. Just start that grade 7 work immediately!

But I do know how you feel. I think we adults are awfully hard on ourselves and we shouldn't be

*hugs from me too*

I'm really sorry Amber.

I think you have done amazingly well, especially with all you have been through in the past months.

I know it's hard, but try to trust your teacher - he obviously believes in you. Sometimes we have to have faith in the honest opinions of those who know their stuff even though we have miserable lack of confidence in ourselves. There are an awful lot of very talented people round here (yourself included) who don't really believe in their own abilities... witness andante's thread a while back and the number of highly talented and qualified musicians who wonder how they've got as far as they have!

More than anything though... *HUGE HUGS* & don't you dare beat yourself up over this, young lady! *stern*

HUGS

I would second that - and there is lots of wonderful stuff on the Grade 7 syllabus. You'll be spoilt for choice! And interestingly, I did badly on my Alm del Core (A peice), which I think you did too. Was it the first one? My nerves were really bad. I thought at the time that gin in my water bottle would have been a good idea!

Amber I'm really sorry you feel disappointed with your result in particular, and with your singing in general.
Actually 116 is not a bad mark, you know!

You will have to make do with all the positive comments from us lot to counteract the negative ones from your family - plus the two your examiner gave you which were nice encouraging ones.

I'd find some new songs to sing if possible - and focus on that next lesson with your teacher. Believe him when he says you are capable of going further - after all, who's the expert ???

Maggie xxx

YES!

I think it was katyjay who said somewhere recently that she has to trust her teacher's estimation because she doesn't really believe in her own ability - and she's working towards her LTCL! (I am pretty sure it was katyjay... please correct me if not...) so don't feel that your teacher must just be being nice or something - he's got you this far, it's clear he believes in you! so believe him! & take heart - you really aren't the only one to feel like that now and again - or often.

Well done Amber on your grade 6 even if it's not the mark you hoped for. I don't know if this will help, but I am a singer myself. My teacher has commented all the way through my lessons (the past 10 years) that the quality of my singing is soooo connected to my mood, he had a long word for it which I can't remember at the moment. Basically it's this, if i've had a bad day, PMT , i'm coming down with a cold or anything, my voice gives it away. However, if i'm happy and fit and well I sing like an angel (apparently ), if you rethink your mark and look forward I would say your voice will come back although I appreciate how hard it seems right now. I also had the problem with classical training as no-one around me liked it and I know it can put you off practising to your full potential. For me as i've got older i've cared less what people think (there was a time when I would only practise piano with the mute pedal on ). Being relaxed and confident when you practise is so important, maybe you could look into finding somewhere more soundproof so that you can work on your voice and not be frightened that it's a performance all the time because people are listening to you.

Hope this helps and think positive!

hugs...big hugs.... my grade 6 exam was a disaster....i got i lower marks than you...there's bound to be some ups and downs.....don't be disappointed....pull yourself together and work on grade 7 and 8.....forget about grade 6....is over...

Some people don't even realise they are out of tune when they sing
At least it shows you listen to yourself properly when you sing, and are critical, which is a good thing.

Well done, Amber - considering the absolutely dreadful time you had a couple of weeks before the exam, you've done well in any case. Don't you remember, you were even thinking of withdrawing from the exam at one point?!

PLEASE don't torture yourself with self-doubts and agonising! I thought your singing at the Adult Learners' Concert back in February was really lovely, and I was wishing that I could sing like that!

Not so bad a mark Amber, I am sure you will soon come round to noticing the positives in this.
Remeber too that you were not really feeling up to it at the time... I reckon you can give yourself at least an extra 10% to compensate for that..

Just don't push it for now, relax a little until you have your next lesson.
Try not to let it get you down for to long.

I remember when I did grade 5 piano, which I felt went badly, my teacher asked if I would be quitting if I failed (not wishful thinking, honest!). My unhestitating answer was 'No'. ( Just passed with 105 BTW).

If you feel that way about your singing then you CAN pick it up again.

Well done Amber! Don't be too disapointed with 116, its a good average mark. What did your teacher think? This has been a difficult year for you and inspite of your health and other problems you have done well. At one point you nearly didn't do the exam and I remember your thread about the knobs falling off. Obviously I don't know much about the singing syllabus but looking at your marks, it seems to me you were probably nervous at the beginning and thats why your first piece wasn't as good as the others. Had it been you would certainly have got merit. As you say the sight singing let you down too. Take a break from singing for a few weeks now and look forward to some nice songs after the holidays.

Well done Amber, try not to be too disappointed

Well done, Amber, Grade 6 is hard and you got a high pass . Remember how disheartened you were feeling about taking it at all a few weeks ago?

I know how it is when those you love are not particularly encouraging and your confidence takes a knock. No advice here, just ~empathy and sympathy~. As others have said, you will get over this and your voice will come back on a happier day. I hope it's soon.

Hugs,

Fred xx

Amber, I feel so sorry that your family aren't supportive of your singing. I'm sure it's connected with the fact that singing is such a personal thing (something to do with you being the instrument, the player and the poet all in one) and we up-tight Brits just can't handle it when somebody tries expressing themselves in this incredibly intimate way. (It would be interesting to hear different opinions from forum members who come from other cultures).

I know you are down-hearted about your results, but don't imagine that you are anything near your maximum level of competence - after all, the positive remarks were about really important things (beauty of the voice, expressiveness) and the suggested area for improvement (diction) is relatively easy to tackle.

All your songs apart from the first were well into Merit territory, and you can write off the first as an aberration due to nerves (still scored over a pass, though). Sight-reading is another area that can be improved fairly easily, so that won't limit you in further exams.

After you get over the initial disappointment of this result, I hope you'll take heart from the fact that all the criticisms were minor niggles that you can easily improve on, and the absolutely vital, impossible-to-learn-if-you-haven't-got-it part, which is basically, do you have a voice that people find pleasant to listen to, you already have, and with that, the sky's your limit!

Possum's right too, your singing is a mirror to your soul, and if you feel down, it's hard to sing at your best. It'll come back all by itself when you are feeling better.

Well you passed so you should be happy I think you've done very well. Just practise on your weaknesses and you'll be sure to improve.

Hi Amber - sorry you're down about your mark, but it is a good one, nevertheless -and reaching grade 6 is such an excellent achievement (you should take that bit in brackets off your signature!!!).

Jen
x

Oi! Mysticalmusic! Another 4 marks on table 5 please!

now while we're waiting for that, Amber, congratulations on your high pass. The bracket covers a wide area and you were 4 times closer to 120 than 100. I can't believe that lovely family you keep telling us about can be anything other than mega-proud of you. I certainly would be if my mum did that!

Love Zoda xx

Amber, well done on passing. Given all the obstacles between you and the exam this time, you've done brilliantly. And from hearing your voice at the Adult Learners' Concert I'd say you've got a loooooooong way to go to get anywhere near the limits of your ability. You do sing well, so believe it.


Yes it was me. And it still holds true.

Cheers

Katyjay

Phew!

Amber, your teacher thinks you can go further, those who've heard you think you can go further... I know that sometimes, especially when things have gone a bit pear-shaped, it feels like "oh my word, who am I kidding?" - but trust those who know, trust their expertise. I look forward to hearing you sing one day, maybe at the concert, but by all accounts it'll be a treat whenever it happens.

Sarah

x

Not to worry Amber, what you need now is a break, then come back singing some enjoyable fresh new tunes! Well, a high pass at 116 is good. I've failed before out of nerves, so I know how you felt. And things go pear-shaped when you begin to worry. I think you'll be able to go on to Grades 7 and 8 too!