Hello PW,

I would like to ask you to take about 20 minutes out of your day and help me grade my ABRSM Grade 1 Performances.
The ABRSM program is based out of the UK and has selected US locations for the exam. The nearest to me is about 5 hours away and with the lower grades, I do not feel it is worth the time and expense to travel. So, I have purchased the materials and prepared on my own as I am self-teaching - why not self-exam. Now you come in, if you wish.

Please watch these two prep videos which will explain the grading process, the exam and give sample recordings to my pieces.
Overall I need a grade of 100 points out of 150 to 'pass' and not every section requires a passing score to pass the exam as a whole. I don't expect a numerical grade - a simple pass or fail would be great!

Exam overview video (3:30):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGxDtZLXi..._oZjVqm4mssq56s

Pieces Reference video (2:30):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beLbYgrWWNE&feature=youtube_gdata_player


The following videos are my exam - recorded in sequence.

Scales (3:14):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlA-G9Bd0...rADOMSQrzSv3olb

Pieces (2:41):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9sz4aW0pvU&feature=mfu_channel&list=UL

Sight Reading and Aural (5:39):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRzLOOUslo4&feature=mfu_channel&list=UL



Thank you again in advance for your time and honest critique.

I have uploaded the videos and I am still shaking - crazy how our nerves get to us, lol. I can only image taking the exam 'for real' in front of a live proctor - the camera was bad enough! I took it "cold" first thing this morning with no warm up since you don't get that chance in a real exam setting. I did watch my video between sections (and moved stuff around on the piano) but all videos were filmed in one sitting. And given the mistakes on the pieces segment, you know I didn't doctor the video. These are first takes unlike the others on my channel.

Thanks again,
NancyZPaino

That was awesome. Im at school now so I will type more later. But, why do you have the notes taped on the piano. That's cheating a bit.

OMG - I totally forgot to remove them. My 5 year old uses the stickers for finger numbering - sorry. They have been there for months and I don't even notice them anymore. I PROMISE I know where the notes on the keyboard without them. Thanks for viewing.

That was cool Nancy, and such a neat idea. I think you did great!

Sam

Nancy, Thanks for posting all the info about ABRSM. I watched all the videos, and think you did marvelous!
Having never taken any exams similar to these, I had no idea what was involved. I give you a giant BRAVA! Also, I think you are really doing great for just a few months! The pieces you played sounded wonderful. Keep up the great work!

Hi Nancy, I'm no expert on exams or these particular requirements but I would definitely say you passed! Nice playing on your pieces too! I Think you are doing amazing so far! You looked so relaxed when you played. I think I heard a couple of extra notes in one of your pieces and possibly some hesitation on your 3rd piece (or maybe that's how it is written). Overall though I would say super Nice job!!

Watching this and some of the related videos, I need to work on my two handed scale and arpeggio speeds.

First my credentials: I am NOT an ABRSM examiner by any means, but I have in my time taken 16 different ABRSM exams[1-8 Piano + 1-8 Viola] and put my daughter through 3 AMEB exams so far (with Grade 1 Piano being one of them) so I'm reasonably familiar with the sorts of comments examiners tend to make. If anything I'm probably a slightly harsh marker. Grade 1 exams are usually marked fairly leniently so you can think of this as a 'worst case' score!


Now - CONGRATULATIONS. Your marks (in my humble opinion):

SCALES: 19/21 - Good strong steady scales with no hesitations or stumbles. Pay more attention to fingering particularly in the left hand as faster more advanced scales will trip you up without the correct fingering.

PIECE1: 26/30 - Solid performance with some expression - could be more expressive particularly in gentler sections
PIECE2: 25/30 - Good rendition, again tone is a little harsh in places and more expressive playing woudl improve the performance.
PIECE3: 25/30 - General mood of the piece is presented well - but some unsurity in places.

SR: 17/21 - Accurate and confident reproduction, could have mmade more of the marked dynamics.
AR: 13/16 - Good ear and correct responses, but tuning of singing was a little flat.

TOTAL: 125/150 - PASS WITH MERIT.

Overall comments: Well prepared program and good solid confident playing. Fingering in scales was unconventional but hsnt caused problems yet. More variation in tone in pieces would produce excellent results. Look carefully at hand position and fingers are often a little too straingt and flat, which will cause dificulty in more advanced faster and complex passages.


(Of course you'll might get a reply from a registered ABRSM examiner on here soon saying everything I've said is complete rubbish).

Well done - go pour yourself a drink and celebrate!

Thanks for your comments and taking the time to listen/view and write. I kind of froze on that third song, not just once, but twice --lol. At least I kept going. Thanks for saying I looked relaxed. I have tried really hard to 'look' that way, but my heart was hammering away the whole time, lol. Seriously, earlier postings of mine drew comments about 'tension' and I am glad that I have made progress in that regard. Thanks again for the comments! How is your exam prep going?

Wow, I thought your playing was quite impressive for such a short amount of time, and self taught, to boot! That was a great idea to do the exams yourself and post it.

As someone not anywhere even close to being a proctor, but not a beginner either, my comments:

I loved how you brought the melody out in the first piece. It was very pretty and more expressive than I would have expected.

The second piece was very good also. The melody in the right hand could have been brought out a little more with softer playing from the left hand, but overall, I really enjoyed it.

You played the last piece fairly flat fingered. I don't think it's a problem yet, but it might be later with faster, more complicated passages and scales, like in B major or C# major.

Also, I know I'm not articulating this very well, but I wonder how much tension is in your wrists and fingers. Sometimes, I see a lot of wrist movement and excessive pressing down on keys with your fingers, rather than a smoother motion. Again, not a major problem now, but on longer, more dynamic pieces, fatigue may become an issue.

I thought you did a wonderful job and I think you passed with flying colors! I hope you continue showing us your progress!

You did better than my grade 1 exam. My left hand gave up on me during a piece and I completed the rest of the piece with only my right hand. Oh the horror... This was during an actual exam too.. Anyway, back to your exam...

You need to curve your fingers more. Both when you play the scales and the three pieces. At the moment it felt like you are tapping on the keys moving only your knuckles. But each joints need to be curved like you are holding a tennis ball. It will give you more control this way.

Also scales need to be a little bit more even. Like at the start of f major left hand was a little uneven. But I'm being very nitpicky on this one

I think you did very well on the rest. I only pointed the above two because I had the same problems and it makes a difference to my playing when they are fixed. Congratulations.Looking forward to hear your Grade 2 exam!

Very interesting. I've been curious about the ABRSM exam process this was an excellent introduction.

I know exactly how you feel with the nerves and the beating heart. I get that way every week at my lessons when I play my prepared pieces! So far I've resisted the urge to bring a recording to my teacher to show her how I 'really' play.

Nicely done and thanks for sharing.

Hi Nancy,
That was fantastic. I really impressed. Definitely a pass!
I was thinking I might do something similar to this. I didn't realize they did testing in the US.
Turns out there is someone in Boston that does it. So, I might look into it.
I also did a search on found that they sell the books at a music store in Boston so I'm going to at least pick up the exam pieces. My scales etc are pretty good but I always felt like I wanted some kind of guide or some way to gauge my progress and I think this will be perfect. The only thing is I don't know if that store had the cd's that go along with the Aural books. I will have to look into that. If not I can just order them off the internet.

Thanks so much for posting thins and for the inspiration. Keep up the good work!

Great work! Especially considering that you're self taught!

I second what others have said about rounding your fingers, this will help tidy things up a lot. Have a look at the shape your finger on the last note of the 2nd piece...yikes! Even with individual notes like this you should try to keep a nice rounded and relaxed finger, playing on the soft padded tip.

I would also say that you would benefit from slowing the pieces down a little bit. In the first and second pieces there are some passages which sound rushed (more so in the 2nd piece) and this can usually be remedied by more slow practice and not speeding up until you're really secure at a slow speed. Also thinking a bit more about accenting more important beats (and relaxing on not so important beats) can help with this.

The 3rd piece is a prime example of what can happen if you go too fast too quick! The tricky bits were played almost half the speed of the easier bits. You want to take the piece back to the speed that you can comfortably play the hardest part of the song and then when you're confident playing the whole way through the piece at that speed, slowly increase the tempo, making sure you only speed it up again once you're 100% comfortable at the newer speed. This should make a big difference!

Most of all, well done! There was some great energy in your playing and I think once these little problems are addressed then your playing will sound fantastic :o)

OP here,

Thanks for all the additional comments! Glad I was able to satisfy some curiosity and inspire people - bonus!
I am working on 'rounding' my fingers as y'all have suggested. I guess I need a clinic because as I consciously keep my fingers rounded I feel ackward like I am clawing up and I have to constantly remind myself to relax, but keep the shape (I find that I collaspe my wrists since my fingers are 'higher' and that is really ugly- lol). Arpeggios are really hard to keep 'curved' fingers. And oh my goodnes what do you with chromatic scales?! I find I am tucking my 4-5 fingers into my palm as I tilt my wrist with those fingers down - is that okay?
Any videos to show me what I should be doing? That would help alot. I thought about posting videos of me doing the Grade 2 scales (still working on minors) so that I don't engrain bad habits, but don't want to ask too much of y'all.
But thanks again for viewing and posting. I figure it'll be several months before I am ready for Grade 2 - still banging my head against the keyboard with Snell 1 Baraoque - lol.
BTW - I ordered my materials on Burt & Company as they give a 20% discount on orders of 10 or more items and free media shipping on 20 or more items. They have the complete Snell and ABRSM libraries.

Post them! People love to give their opinions. Some of them are even helpful.

Thanks notbach, I'll start a new thread and try your patience

Like many others said, base on your videos, I don't think you will have problems passing. I also think you've underestimated your abilities. That could be a pass with merit or distinction. I do have a few suggestions though:

Piece no. 1: good job.

Piece no. 2: the notes can to be more even rhythmically. It can also be more legato. If there are dynamic markings I didn't quite hear much. Sounds like its all forte throughout.

Piece no. 3: need to check the rhythm. It felt like at some points you hesitated? Fingers a bit flat. I think this is because your wrists are too low.

Scales: very fluent! Some scales were in the wrong fingering coming down? Can be played more mf rather than mp. Left hand wrist looks a bit low?

That said, overall I think you will likely to pass with merit.

Good luck!