Dear all,

I'm 16 yr old guy from Hong Kong. I recently joined this site after reading the threads and posts which i find very useful as i don't have much chance of socializing and meeting other pianists around my level.

I've done the Solo Performance Certificate from Trinity, and this year i want to take the ATCL recital. My piano teacher also suggested that i can take the dipABRSM the same year, ATCL sometime during march or may (im not sure on the month) and the dipABRSM during Autumn.

It would be really great if i can do both in the same year, since some of the song overlaps between the two syllubuses. However i have many worries concerning the dipABRSM. especially the viva voce and quick study. I've read rieuwa's experience to dipABRSM and seeing that stack of questions being asked scares me. I'm sure my musical knowledge is not up to par and i'll need to prepare.

What is the difference between viva voce and the quickstudy?

For the viva voce, can the examiners ask questions non related to your program or your pieces? how would you prepare for that?

and finally, is it a good idea to take the ATCL and ABRSM in the same year? I really want to do well (im aiming for distinction)

Thanks everyone!

I have not taken a diploma and don't plan too, so the experts will come on to reply to you in more depth!

Viva voce is where you discuss your programme with the examiners.

Quick study is basically sight reading!



I *think* they could e.g. If you were playing a Mozart sonata or something then they might ask you something about his other sonatas. I think you are expected to know background information and a bit of other knowlegde, not just about the pieces you are playing.



Personally I think that if you are aiming for a distinction then don't take them in the same year. DipABRSM involves Programme Notes and a lot of preparation for the recital. I don't know what the ATCL involves.

I hope this helps, and if it is completely wrong I apologise in advance!

The two exams are at the same level, therefore I don't see any reason why you shouldn't do both in the same year.

Lzi

Hi Nat - your comments are quite right.

Imagineer -

ATCL (Recital) does exactly what it says - you do a recital.

That means you are examined from the moment you enter the room until the moment you leave it, looking at your presentation skills and stagecraft as well as your musical ability. Your recital has to be at the level of a public performance, but with an audience of one or two people (the examiner (s)). You also have to present programme notes, and are encouraged to introduce each work before you perform it.

Both ATCL and DipABRSM take a lot of preparation - as Saxlover says, taking both in the same year is not a good idea. Neither of them is "grade 9" - they're both a LOT tougher than that.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Cheers

Katyjay

All good comments. With regard to TCL diplomas I would clarify that being "encouraged" to introduce your programme notes does not, in my experience, mean you are at a disadvantage if you just write your notes, give copies to the examiners and then get on and play the recital.

I've taken this approach with both ATCL and LTCL recital and earned 9/10 on those elements. The stagecraft bit is important though, including (if you have one) getting your page turner to look professional (I borrow a lad from the quire who always looks smart in his school uniform.. he was quite chuffed to be mentioned in my most recent exam's report!)

in terms of your musical knowledge, first of all it's a great start that you realise it could do with some improving, and you can never know too much about the composers, pieces, styles, influences, and your instrument (provided you can remember it all on the day ) so don't spare any time on your research, it'll have a knock-on effect on the quality of your programme notes and can also aid your interpretation in the recital. you will of course get questions on your actual piece, but also about the composer's other works, contemporaries, influences, and styles. e.g. on beethoven's piano sonatas, you might be asked how his earlier sonatas differ from his later ones. questions can often be asked on the instrument itself (here comes another piano example) How is the modern-day piano different from those in mozart's time and how might this influence your interpretation?

you yourself should, with the help of a good teacher, find out whether or not it's a good idea to take both exams at the same level. neither should be much harder than the other, but you may find your efforts "diluted" if you spread them over two difficult exams instead of one. good luck whatever you do and remember there are plenty of people on the forums to answer most questions you might have.

Thankyou so much all of you for the advice. I'll keep them in mind.

I don't think you have that much time.
You are in Form 6 and you have to prepare for the A-level exam which is much harder than the HKCEE next year. I am in Form 5 and I think it is hard to prepare for the DipABRSM and the HKCEE at the same time.

hey i might do LRSM & LTCL together next year ! Any comments regarding this ?

i've thought about it, and i'll probobly just do ATCL this year. thanks again guys.

by the way, is the ATCL equivilent to a first year univeersity course?

Hi Imagineer

ATCL is an equivalent standard to the performance element of a first year music degree course.

Obviously someone taking a degree would do a lot of other stuff beside their performance, which the ATCL doesn't test.

Cheers

Katyjay

The expected level and requirement of both ATCL and DipAbrsm are very similar. My opinion is the Dip Abrsm is a little bit difficult then the ATCL since the student must write a formal programme notes instead of a short essay compared with the ATCL.