ABRSM's Ten Top Tips for Graded Exams

 Ten top tips - graded music exams

1. Arrive in the waiting room at least 10 minutes before your exam is due to start. Last-minute panics do not help the playing or singing
2. Use the time before your exam to get your music and instrument ready – you can warm up silently by moving your fingers or blowing though your instrument
3. Feeling nervous before an exam is natural. Try smiling as you go into the exam room – it will help you relax
4. Make sure you are comfortable before you begin. If the stool or music stand is the wrong height, don’t be afraid to adjust it or ask for help
5. It’s fine to ask the examiner if you can warm up by playing a scale or a few bars of a piece
6. You can choose to do your exam in any order. Just let the examiner know
7. Try to keep going in the exam even if you make a mistake – it probably won’t be as disastrous as you think
8. Don't worry about pauses between your pieces – the examiner will be writing and will tell you when to start your next piece
9. Your examiner may stop you during a piece if he or she has heard enough to make a judgement
10. Remember – the examiner is on your side and is looking forward to hearing you perform!

Adult Pupils' Challenge

It occurred to me that we older pianists need little challenges in order to keep us focussed and to give us a reason to play and practise, and so this is my idea.

We should devise a 3 piece programme each, to include one fairly easy piece, one more demanding one and a duet. Also to include some relevant warm-ups for each piece and a verbal introduction for each piece- you can write it out as a writen programme if you want.

For example my choice might be: Chopin Prelude in C minor, Beethoven Rondo, Pathetique Sonata, Finger Bustin' Boogie duet by Wedgwood. Your programme will be different of course, have a think and aim for a summer completion.

We could have an afternoon tea/ playing session or just work on these in lessons, it's entirely up to you. Recording the programme is also a possibility!