Now a 43 year old man, I have been enjoying piano lessons during the last 1,5 years, all the while trying to understand why oh why I refused to follow up on the various attempts of my parents to provide me with lessons as a child.

After searching for some time for a structured approach to learning and marking progress, I came across the ABRSM exams this past year. Received tutoring and sat the Grade 5 music theory exam in June. Am now trying to decide whether to take the Grade 5 or Grade 6 practical exam in November.

Anyone have experience taking their first ABRSM practical piano exam as an adult? Tips or considerations on how much to stretch yourself in terms of the choice of Grade?

It depends on what standard you can play really as to determine which exam to sit. If you wanted to go for the higher one you could always start learning now and take the exam in the spring of next year rather than pushing for it too soon (if i'm not mistaken the current selection of pieces runs untill the end of 2006 so you should have plenty of time to learn them if you wanted try for the higher grade).What would you say the hardest piece you can play is? This might help in assesing which grade you should go in for - though your decision should not be solely based upon this. You would need to consider your current technical ability, how much time you have to practise and how dedicated you are willing to be among other things.

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I chose to follow ABRSM because I liked the idea of structure, exposure to music I wouldn't have chosen myself, requirement to round out my musical education (theory, aural training, (damn) scales, etc.), and of course the male competitive thing about trying to achieve a certain objectified standard.

Therefore, I want to pass Grade 8 as soon as I am capable. Yet, I must remind myself not to lose sight of the fact that it was the journey of musical development that was supposed to count, not some piece of paper.

So, the idea of possibly passing a higher grade in the Spring is attractive to me; as long as I am building a solid foundation and my level of playing would be worthy of a merit or distinction.

I guess the most difficult pieces I can play fairly well are:

Brahms, Op. 39, Valse Nr. 11
Mozart, Adagio, Sonata KV 330
Chopin, Valse, Op. 34, Nr. 2

These last 6 months I have worked consecutively on programs of pieces for Grades 4 (Bach Polonaise, Kargonov Arabesque, Haughton Freeway), 5 (Kirnberger Carillons, Lyadov Bagatelle, Gillock New Orleans) and 6 (Dussek Allegro, Grieg Einsamer Wanderer, Dello Joio Prayer of Matador) with my (brilliant) piano teacher (no ABRSM experience). These are, for the most part, performance ready (not wholely memorized but play-before-people-proofed).

Have also started working on pieces from 7 without the approval of my teacher (forbidden fruit is the sweetest). These are: Mozart Allemande Suite in C K399, Schriabin Prelude, Op. 11 Nr. 13, Ravel Valse noble et sentimentale Nr. 5). I can play the prelude, the others are works in progress.

My real problem in preparing for the exam lies in the scales, arpeggios, etc. I have not even yet worked my way through the circle of fifths on majors (starting on 2 in b scales confusing me at the moment) nor really started on minors. In contrary motion? In thirds? Diminished 7th arpeggios? You've got to be kidding. How can I make this part interesting? Productive?

I take an 1,5 hour lesson twice monthly and I practice every day 30 minutes to 2 hours. Any advice, tips etc. are appreciated.

If you don't have any background in scales (i'm not sure whether you do) then jumping head first into grade 6 might be quite a shock.

They expect quite alot from you - not only in the amount that you actually have to learn (major legato 4 octaves, minor melodic legato 4 octaves, minor harmonic legato 4 octaves, major scales staccato 4 octaves (not all however, only a selection from a choice of two groups), major and minor scales in contrary motion legato 2 octaves, major scales in thirds staccato hands separately, chromatic scales in similar motion 4 octaves, chromatic scales in contrary motion 2 octaves, arpeggios of major and minor common chords in root position separately and together 4 octaves and finally arpeggios of the diminished seventh chord separately and together 3 octaves.) but the sheer speed you have to play them at. If you buy the scale book and see the minimum tempi markings you might get quite a shock!

And as for making it interesting - you can't really. It's just something that you'll have to grit your teeth at and get through. Try practising them in different rhythms to help the learning process. Sorry but this is about as interesting as it gets!

But it seems like you would be very dedicated so i say go for it. Push yourself the little bit extra. Do the grade 6 and enjoy it.

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I started piano from a beginner at 26 after 18 months I passed my grade5 and theory grade5 Abrsm.I did grade6 practical pieces and grade7 im now working on and im nearly 29.So 3 years from a begginner I can play grade7 Allemande,Chanson de l'escarpolette and now I am bringing the last of the 3 pieces which is For johnny Mehegan up to speed.

Grade 5 I took the exam but grade 6&7 my teacher puts me through the motions of getting them up to 26 marks passable before moving onto grade 8 which I will sit the exam again.

I learn all the 3 pieces the scales easily but I am finding I am struggling with the aural and sight reading.

I am going to start grade 8 from September this year and work on all next year and take the exam in early 2007 spring which is the latest exam for 2005-2006 exam pieces.

Regards,
Daz

Thanks Musical Princess and Daren for your responses!

Musical Princess, your summary of the Grade 6 requirements made me dizzy. Hadn't thought about minimum required tempo. No, I don't have much experience at all with scales, arpeggios, etc. Fortunately I do have the maturity now to understand why and how they will be useful for my technique and coveted mastery of the keyboard. Unfortunately, I really find practicing them to be uninteresting. ABRSM is a good impetus to dig into them. The contract I have with myself now is that no playing or practicing happens each day until I have done my 15 minutes of learning new ones and speeding up/evening up old ones. This helps to get the work done. What do you two do?

Interesting Daren that you find the scales easy vs. the aural & sight reading. It is exactly opposite with me. I love to take new music and try to play it through, half playing and half faking. It is like doing a puzzle in real time with a pulse. Do you often practice sight reading like this?

Congratulations with your speedy progress! I like your choice of Grade 7 pieces. I was planning to find an entry point into the exams and then work from there one by one. Am curious about your program of sitting just 5 & 8 while working on 6 & 7 material with your teacher. Can you provide me with your considerations behind this?

I'm awed by this thread of people studying piano for 1.5ish years and passing grade 5 and beyond practical exams.

Did you take piano as a child? Do you play another instrument?

Sandy, I played the trumpet for 7 years in a concert band as a kid and also sang in choirs. We had a piano at home which I mostly banged on when no one was around & used to study my vocal parts (that's how I picked up all my bad habits -- like pressing hard on the keys, locking up whole sets of muscles, bending & ignoring rythym, rushing tempos, etc. -- that my teacher is slowly trying to extinguish).

Had 3 false starts with piano lessons between ages 7-13, netting out perhaps a total of 6 months of lessons: enough to realize then that I really wanted it... but only if I didn't have to work for it...

After 25 years of only listening to CDs and attending piano concerts found this wasn't enough: I finally decided to buy a piano and work for it.

Good for you! How does piano compare to trumpet?

I'm a total piano beginner. Starting from scratch at 43. I joke with my mom sometimes. "Why, didn't you make me take piano when I was a kid?" I am not from a musical family. My dad thought he could sing

My biggest challenge as an adult beginner is that all (or most) of my friends and family expect miracles! You've been studying 3 years! You MUST be able to play ______ and the list goes on... I recorded a few and gave them to my mom. "Gee they're lovely!! Can you play anything I know!!??"

aaahhhh!! Coming from an very non-musical family adds to the challenge of people realizing how difficult (for me anyway) this really is!!

I did play a instrument prior to learning the piano,which is why my teacher put me onto grade5 after only 18mths.
That instrument was and still is an arranger keyboard.It looks like a piano but much more portable.The arranger taught me how to read the treble cleff ,left hand chord structures and timing.I have been playing the arranger now for 10 years.

Regards,
Daz

I feel a little better!! Been playing 4+ years and am studying grade 4/5 pieces......

I'm a first-timer (at 26, will be 27 end of next month) taking piano exams, too, being the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto. Doing my Grade 4 piano exam. Grade 6 piano is required when I get my clarinet ARCT, but my teacher advised that I do the Grade 4 first, which I do on the 8th of August! Practicing 1 1/2-2 hours a day, then add clarinet (for upcoming performances) add another hour! Started piano at 15, in a group class in high school (a good one, I might add), but wasn't at all serious until the last year (really slacked off on piano for 4-5 years, to focus on clarinet), and especially the last 6 months, which is why my teacher feels I've gotten through 5 levels in a year.

Meri

Hi all,
I'm also a beginner. Do they offer ABRSM exams in the United States? If not, what are some other options i can seek?

Sam

Hello,

Wondering the same thing as Sam. I am an adult beginner, and feel frustrated with my progress after around 2-3 years. I am intriqued at the idea of a structured approach that would help me get to a level of accomplishment. I am currently in Alfred's adult book 3 and dabbling in the Piano Handbook. Is a more structured approach the best way to insure clear progress? Depend on the individual, I suppose. Does it require a level of commitment that many are not prepared to give? I sometimes feel like I'm all over the place with my study. Therefore, the intrigue with something that would help me stay focussed. Of course, I realize that my focus needs to come from myself. Anyway, any thoughts?

thanks
Stan

Sandy,

My dance teacher of many, many years asked me how long I have been taking lessons - I told her about 5 years - and she asked if I was going to give a small recital - if I could play the way I really want to, than maybe. My mother and father were musicians. And what makes it hard at times is that I know what the music should sound like and I also hear that what I play dosen't come close. For me to be able to play or attempt to play mozart Cmajor sonata or Fur Elise is an accomplishment. I agree with you, I don't think our friends understand how difficult this is. I think it's harder than learning to dance. There's a limit to what two feet can do. But we are learning to use 10 fingers doing different things, one hand sometimes faster at the same time the other hand sometimes slower. Sight reading and hoping the hands are in the right place at the right time, counting etc.. It's really a challenge and I enjoy the learning process. Sometimes I wonder how a composer is able to put all those notes on paper and when played make such great music.

I was 60 when I started, this is something I've always wanted to do for myself - not to perform -and it surprised me that my dance teacher (ballet) would ask me if I was going to perform. Enough of all this gab, sometimes I just get going. Thanks for wading through all this.

Niet, did you sit for the exams and how did it go?