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 I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37
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OP
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37 |
Hello there! 6 months ago I did grade 1. I started a topic on it (link below). http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?/topic/32/6733.html It seems there was so many kind comments and interest from you that I thought I'd share my grade 2 experiences with you. I sat the exam today. In summary I thought it went fairly well. I did mess up a couple of things (one scale and a couple of false starts on two arpeggios). The pieces were generally ok apart from me hitting some bum notes at the beginning of L.Mozart's Bouree. By following the link below you can read my full account of the exam and view some videos of me playing the pieces (also recorded today). I'd be keen to know what people think, and also very interested to hear any one else's experiences, especially if they have done any of the pieces I did. http://drgaz.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-just-did-piano-grade-2.html Cheers, DrGaz
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 172
Full Member
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Full Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 172 |
Congratulations! I have the utmost admiration for everyone that follows through with the exam repertoire and is willing to participate in exams themselves. Great accomplishment!
Out of curiosity, are you planning to purse the rest of the exam sequence? Grades 3, 4, etc?
Do or do not, there is no try.
CURRENT PIECES Beethoven Sonata Op.49 No.2 Fur Elise Chopin Waltz Op.69 No.2 Chopin Nocturne Op.9 No.2 Schumann Op.15 No.1 (About Strange Lands and People) Schumann Op.15 No.7 (Traumerei)
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,534
4000 Post Club Member
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4000 Post Club Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,534 |
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37
Full Member
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OP
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37 |
Thanks for your nice comments! Yes I'm definitely going for all the rest of the grades. I'd like to take it as far as I can. I think I will take a break for the next few months because lessons get a bit rigid if it's all grade prep. Therefore I'm looking forward to being taught some "non-exam" stuff for a little while.
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,301
1000 Post Club Member
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1000 Post Club Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,301 |
Congratulations! I envy you, because graded exams force you to be consistent in your practice. You can play B harmonic both handed, I can't - even though I can play pieces in this key without major problems. My scales are getting better though - I'm still not into minors, but it will happen. M.
Mateusz Papiernik https://maticomp.net"One man can make a difference" - Wilton Knight Kawai CN21 (digital), Henryk Yamayuri Kawai NX-40 (grand)
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5
Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5 |
Originally posted by DrGaz: Yes I'm definitely going for all the rest of the grades. I'd like to take it as far as I can. I think I will take a break for the next few months because lessons get a bit rigid if it's all grade prep. Therefore I'm looking forward to being taught some "non-exam" stuff for a little while. DrGaz, I think you have done very well, I applaud your determination. I have considered taking graded exams in the past and would appreciate your views: 1. Has the practice put into these pieces given you the experience and ability to play similar pieces of this level? 2. Apart from your examination pieces, have you the time to play anything else other than these?
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37
Full Member
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OP
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37 |
Originally posted by PermissiveTwit: DrGaz, I think you have done very well, I applaud your determination. I have considered taking graded exams in the past and would appreciate your views:
1. Has the practice put into these pieces given you the experience and ability to play similar pieces of this level? 2. Apart from your examination pieces, have you the time to play anything else other than these? Hi here are my answers.. 1. To be honest with all the preparation for this grade in such a short time-frame I haven't really looked at any similar pieces of this level. I hope to have the time to do all that now. 2. Yes - lots of stuff. I like to come up with my own arrangements of tunes I like (there are one or two things on my youtube account as examples). I also like to get books of easy stuff from the library and use it for practice even if it's a sight-reading exercise. Generally I can't keep my hands off the piano and do a lot of informal bashing alongside working on the grade stuff.
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5
Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5 |
I don't mean to sound rude, so please don't get me wrong. What I really want to know is, has the level is study and work put into doing the grades furthered your piano ability in general?
The reason I ask is, I know of a few Grade 8 pianist who can play their exam pieces and struggle to play anything else.
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37
Full Member
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OP
Full Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37 |
Originally posted by PermissiveTwit: I don't mean to sound rude, so please don't get me wrong. What I really want to know is, has the level is study and work put into doing the grades furthered your piano ability in general? Yes - well I believe that doing grade 1 and 2 has been a good solid basis for learning piano, and I believe it has helped in general. Originally posted by PermissiveTwit: The reason I ask is, I know of a few Grade 8 pianist who can play their exam pieces and struggle to play anything else. I'm amazed to hear this. Is it because they rushed the grades leaving no time for non-grade stuff? That is something I want to avoid which is why I am taking a break from them for a while
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5
Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5 |
Originally posted by DrGaz: Yes - well I believe that doing grade 1 and 2 has been a good solid basis for learning piano, and I believe it has helped in general.
DrGaz, well thats all that matters - well done again!
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,358
1000 Post Club Member
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1000 Post Club Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,358 |
DrGaz, I liked reading about your experiences with the exams. And I enjoyed listening to your playing. I give you so much credit for doing it. Seems the exams give you good structure. Keep it up 
“The doubters said, "Man cannot fly," The doers said, "Maybe, but we'll try," And finally soared in the morning glow while non-believers watched from below.†― Bruce Lee
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37
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OP
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Posts: 37 |
Originally posted by Kymber: DrGaz, I liked reading about your experiences with the exams. And I enjoyed listening to your playing.
I give you so much credit for doing it. Seems the exams give you good structure.
Keep it up Thanks!!
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37
Full Member
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OP
Full Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37 |
My piano teacher just rang me to tell me I got a distinction (130 marks), which I'm really pleased about!
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 684
500 Post Club Member
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500 Post Club Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 684 |
DrGaz, that is a wonderful achievement - you should be proud of yourself.
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37
Full Member
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OP
Full Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37 |
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37
Full Member
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37 |
Yayy. just got grade 3 distinction!
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,336
3000 Post Club Member
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3000 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,336 |
Congratulations! That's great news.
You feel you're making progress!
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37
Full Member
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OP
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37 |
Congratulations! That's great news.
You feel you're making progress! Thanks very much. Yes I feel like I'm making progress. I hear that the learning curve steepens after grade 3. I'm not planning on doing another grade for at least 2 years. Preparing for grades gets a bit tedious after a while! Looking forward to doing lots of other things for a while now.
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 23
Full Member
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Full Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 23 |
Congratulations! I am also taking the exams and its quite fulfilling, though I agree that it can get tedious and even somewhat overwhelming too at times.
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 Re: I did Grade 2 today!!!!!!
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 169
Full Member
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Full Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 169 |
Congrats DrGaz! Keep up the good work. You're off to a great start.
Regards from a fellow ABRSM taker in the USA. Slowly preparing for Grade 6 practical and theory.
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