ive been playing violin for about four years and have only done my grade one exam is that bad? i wont to know how quickly you passed your exams am slow at learning or not?
I'll expand on that. My first cello teacher refused to teach for exams. He always said he was in business to teach pupils to become musicians, not examination fodder.
I'm 47 and have only been playing fiddle for 8 years and never done an exam and don't intend to.
Are you learning at school and are you doing it bbecause you like it or because someone wants you to?
If you enjoy it thats what matters- you can progress at your pace. An exam just means you've conformed to someones idea of achievement. Do you think you've got better? Do you enjoy it? Have fun and develop listening skills- it will really help.
Associated Board exams are irrelevant to people playing traditional music. They exam the skill set necessary for playing 'classical', which overlaps with but is not the same as the skill set necessary for playing traditional music.
Do you feel happy with your progress? If not, can you do something about it?
Further to my first post ...
when I'd been learning the cello for 5/6 years (I was 17), my parents thought it would be a good idea if I got some exam grades. So I was "persuaded" to go to another teacher. She heard me play and said she'd put me in for grade 8 straightaway, plus the required grade 5 theory (no problem), and all that needed to be done was to work on the grade 8 pieces. I got grade 8 the next year, and felt that the achievement was an enormous tribute to my first teacher - go figure.
All the adult orchestras I've played in have required grade 8 or higher - or (significantly) equivalent experience. My observations of some grade 8 players, whose only experience of playing music was being taught up through the grades in a teacher's studio, was that they they experienced a sudden and rude awakening to the hurly burly of real musical life when they joined an orchestra. Some survived, others, sadly, didn't ...
I just took grade 3 harp - for fun. But to be honest I'd echo the points above. Grades are irrelevant for traditional music. I took the exam because I was curious about doing an exam and getting a dispassionate view. I played in the exam from memory as I always play without the music (once I've learnt it, obviously!). I did well (I was expecting to) but won't be taking another grade exam.
I think if you want to have a benchmark and something to aim for then by all means go for it. But as the tradition is about playing with other musicians, that gives you all the benchmark you need - and most of the development opportunities too.
music is more fun without exams, they just make you get worked up and stressed about nothing really cause all you get at the end is a piece of paper. Its better to get out there play and make freind s that what music is about. There are too many exams about nowadays any way just have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What Nicky B wrote above simply isn't true as far as the piano goes. If I hadn't stuck with all the piano exams (and the multitude of lessons before them) I wasn't personally experimental enough to have come across scales and arpeggios in keys such as F#minor and Ab and experienced classical music written in said keys (Copland and Bartok spring to mind) which opened my ears not only to other forms of music but the joys of dissonance. Without this experience I wouldn't have discovered jazz or an understanding of what can be done with blues chords and I certainly would not have been able to accompany traditional musicians playing in D when the piano was tuned a semitone lower.
i do enjoy my violin playing and im meant to be doing my grade 2 at easter but im not looking forward to it. my teacher is choosing the peices for me. arghhhhhhhh!!!
What you need for ITM is enough music theory to understand the nuances of keys and modes, to be able to read tunes if that's your preferred way of learning, and to know when to throw all the classical stuff away and play it properly instead.
Forgive my ignorance, please, but my curiosity has gotten the better of me. What are these 'grades' that you're talking about? I've played classical viola for five years, in school and community orchestras, as well as taking classical viola lessons with two different teachers, and I've never come across anything like that. For getting into symphonies, I've done formal auditions, with no mention of 'grades.' Is it a UK thing? Or a public school-taught thing? Enlighten me, please.
This is a sticky matter. Maybe it's not always bad? I have never taken music exams. I have practiced scales, arpeggios, sight-reading, & ear training. My piano teacher made all of that great fun (when I was small). Apparently things swing the other direction. I hope you have a good teacher Kathryn123.
I am 74 and have been playing since I was 6. I took private lessons until I was 18 and never had a test. Once I could handle the violin well, we concentrated on concertos. I was able to do 3 movements of Lalo's Symphony Espagn ole during my High Scholl Graduation with the HS orchestra. That is the only test I got - a good performance.
violinist
violinist
ive been playing violin for about four years and have only done my grade one exam is that bad? i wont to know how quickly you passed your exams am slow at learning or not?
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by Kathryn123
Re: violinist
You don't need grade exams to play music.
I'll expand on that. My first cello teacher refused to teach for exams. He always said he was in business to teach pupils to become musicians, not examination fodder.
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by lazyhound
Re: violinist
I'm 47 and have only been playing fiddle for 8 years and never done an exam and don't intend to.
Are you learning at school and are you doing it bbecause you like it or because someone wants you to?
If you enjoy it thats what matters- you can progress at your pace. An exam just means you've conformed to someones idea of achievement. Do you think you've got better? Do you enjoy it? Have fun and develop listening skills- it will really help.
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by Caraaz
Re: violinist
Associated Board exams are irrelevant to people playing traditional music. They exam the skill set necessary for playing 'classical', which overlaps with but is not the same as the skill set necessary for playing traditional music.
Do you feel happy with your progress? If not, can you do something about it?
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by c.g.
Re: violinist
Further to my first post ...
when I'd been learning the cello for 5/6 years (I was 17), my parents thought it would be a good idea if I got some exam grades. So I was "persuaded" to go to another teacher. She heard me play and said she'd put me in for grade 8 straightaway, plus the required grade 5 theory (no problem), and all that needed to be done was to work on the grade 8 pieces. I got grade 8 the next year, and felt that the achievement was an enormous tribute to my first teacher - go figure.
All the adult orchestras I've played in have required grade 8 or higher - or (significantly) equivalent experience. My observations of some grade 8 players, whose only experience of playing music was being taught up through the grades in a teacher's studio, was that they they experienced a sudden and rude awakening to the hurly burly of real musical life when they joined an orchestra. Some survived, others, sadly, didn't ...
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by lazyhound
Re: violinist
I got my grade 8 when I was 15 or 16. It has helped me play Irish music about as much as my driving lessons did.
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by Dow
Re: violinist
I just took grade 3 harp - for fun. But to be honest I'd echo the points above. Grades are irrelevant for traditional music. I took the exam because I was curious about doing an exam and getting a dispassionate view. I played in the exam from memory as I always play without the music (once I've learnt it, obviously!). I did well (I was expecting to) but won't be taking another grade exam.
I think if you want to have a benchmark and something to aim for then by all means go for it. But as the tradition is about playing with other musicians, that gives you all the benchmark you need - and most of the development opportunities too.
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by Mark Harmer
Re: violinist
music is more fun without exams, they just make you get worked up and stressed about nothing really cause all you get at the end is a piece of paper. Its better to get out there play and make freind s that what music is about. There are too many exams about nowadays any way just have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by Nicky.B
Re: violinist
What Nicky B wrote above simply isn't true as far as the piano goes. If I hadn't stuck with all the piano exams (and the multitude of lessons before them) I wasn't personally experimental enough to have come across scales and arpeggios in keys such as F#minor and Ab and experienced classical music written in said keys (Copland and Bartok spring to mind) which opened my ears not only to other forms of music but the joys of dissonance. Without this experience I wouldn't have discovered jazz or an understanding of what can be done with blues chords and I certainly would not have been able to accompany traditional musicians playing in D when the piano was tuned a semitone lower.
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by Floss the Tethers
Re: violinist
i do enjoy my violin playing and im meant to be doing my grade 2 at easter but im not looking forward to it. my teacher is choosing the peices for me. arghhhhhhhh!!!
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by Kathryn123
Re: violinist
What you need for ITM is enough music theory to understand the nuances of keys and modes, to be able to read tunes if that's your preferred way of learning, and to know when to throw all the classical stuff away and play it properly instead.
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: violinist
I sat grade 3 in my second year of playing, First and last exam I ever did. I did pass with honours though.
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by Joze
Re: violinist
Give it UP. I have no patience with this "grade" business. That was the mentality that ruined classical playing for me.
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by cathrynb
Re: violinist
Forgive my ignorance, please, but my curiosity has gotten the better of me. What are these 'grades' that you're talking about? I've played classical viola for five years, in school and community orchestras, as well as taking classical viola lessons with two different teachers, and I've never come across anything like that. For getting into symphonies, I've done formal auditions, with no mention of 'grades.' Is it a UK thing? Or a public school-taught thing? Enlighten me, please.
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by Bush Q'oran
Re: violinist
It's a British thing. We like torturing ourselves - and afterwards, a nice cup of tea and a sit-down.
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by Mark Harmer
Re: violinist
This is a sticky matter. Maybe it's not always bad? I have never taken music exams. I have practiced scales, arpeggios, sight-reading, & ear training. My piano teacher made all of that great fun (when I was small). Apparently things swing the other direction. I hope you have a good teacher Kathryn123.
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by Random_notes
Re: violinist
Kathryn enjoy your youth. Jeremy hardly ever let's the adults post 2 threads.
# Posted on September 25th 2007 by Random_notes
Re: violinist
Yes, grades and other such formalized competition-style nonsense is what drove me away from classical music as a child...
...and directly into the arms of traditional fiddling! Hallalujah! I've been saved! Thanks obnoxious formalized classical music nonsense!
# Posted on September 25th 2007 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: violinist
I am 74 and have been playing since I was 6. I took private lessons until I was 18 and never had a test. Once I could handle the violin well, we concentrated on concertos. I was able to do 3 movements of Lalo's Symphony Espagn ole during my High Scholl Graduation with the HS orchestra. That is the only test I got - a good performance.
# Posted on September 25th 2007 by asparanay