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My advice would be to not beat yourself up over it. I too am from the uk, i have covered the grade 2 syllabus very quickly and my teacher has suggested not bothering waiting for the next grading, just skip it and work through three and four before taking a grading.... skipping is perfectly reasonable if the pianist shows the satisfactory level of skills....same as if you are happy with your progress and level then you should feel proud and happy to progress even of you had a nightmare grading.... it doesnt excuse the poor enviroment and nightmare piano you used however i wouldnt focus on your results on one day.... more your progress overall. Only grade 6 practical and 5 theory are needed for higher grades anyways .... id definately discuss it with your teacher fella, seems your pretty disapointed with the grading.

Will something terrible happen if you failed this exam?? Can you play less well today than the day before the exam??


Why did you decide to study piano?? Was it to pass exams -- or because something in your soul did not feel fulfilled without music in your life??

I suspect the latter -- so get back in touch with the original reasons you play.

adultpianist,

I'm speaking as a long term pianist who started study as a child, but who would be categorized on the deficient side of the piano talent spectrum. I, too, will never be a concert pianist or a piano professional. My teachers never said to me, "Have you ever thought about a career in music?"

I never had a ear, never had accurate reflexes, never had a knack for memory. And the only reason I can sight read now is that when you don't have an ear or memory but have a whole lot of stubbornness, you eventually learn how to do it, perforce.

But stubbornness isn't the right word. I play the piano because I can't not play the piano.

Having spent a lot of time with varying attention to the piano over the years, I find that now sometimes I -can- play a piece of music that people really enjoy or, every great once in a while, perform a piece so well that even I truly enjoy it. And people will say to me, "I took lessons as a kid, but quit. I wish I hadn't."

This is all to say, "It Gets Better." I'm not necessarily saying, "It Gets Easy." But I can guarantee you that Mindful Study + Time + Stubbornness == Improvement.

In regards to the piano program, it sounds like you were having to perform under very stressful conditions, and that sounds pretty terrible. But let me give you a different way to think about the exam.

If you were a kid with a potential interest in a musical career, I would see getting through the graded curriculum to be a important aspect of getting accepted into some music program somewhere.

Extrapolating from your name by assuming you are an adult, what I see the chief benefit of an exam is quite simply "motivation". You get a set of pieces, a set of tasks to learn, and a deadline. You're wagering a little money to sweeten the pot. If you pass, great. If you don't pass--well, you've probably worked your ass off more than you would have if you didn't if you didn't have the test.

All those hours spent practicing go in the practice bank. You've been building brain connections and reflexes and musical knowledge.

You are a better musician than you would be BECAUSE you set yourself an ambitious goal and BECAUSE it made you practice. And, so you weren't quite up to the challenge and obstacles this time, but there's always next time. Just use the challenge as a motivator to keep studying and playing and have fun at the piano.

I promise you. You WILL improve. It's just mindful practice + time + stubbornness.

Don't let your brain put itself on some sort of arbitrary timetable.

Play the piano because you can't not.

It Gets Better.

Wise words. But for some people it takes longer to grasp something than others. I always feel sorry for kids who are taken to music lessons who are forced to do it because their parents feel it would be good for them to learn. My theory is, if the child is unhappy or wont practice then it is time to say ok stop. It is a differet matter if the child likes it but finds it hard but is willing to put in the hard graft.

Your words are wise as well re: parents forcing their kids...

I am one of those parents who let their kid stop, or rather, forced her to stop. She has the talent and wanted the lessons, but virtually refused to put in the time during the week. After 18 months of miserable arguing and nagging to get her to half-heartedly rush through her pieces and exercises, we finally pulled the plug. It was a hard decision as a parent.

Maybe she will go back to it later in life.

Was there a post on this thread a few minutes ago?