The Piano Place - Piano Exams

Piano Exams

Piano Exams (or Juries, depending on the part of the world you live in) are often not the most fun things to do. But they providd you with a standard to which you can compare yourself, and gives you goals that you can work toward. They are meant to be a learning experience, in that it's a chance for you to hear someone else's opinion.

Keep in mind that everybody is different -- what works for one person might not work for another. It's best to find your own ways. Also, not every music exam system is the same. Personally I am familiar with the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, which is most popular in Canada. I don't know how other systems work, so you'll have to adapt my tips to what suits you.

The number 1 rule here is, again, Practice!!! Just like in a performance, skill and confidence are the most important in a successful exam, and practicing will help you achieve that.

If you know what order you are going to play your pieces, make sure that you know the first and last ones the best. The first is to give them a good impression of you, and last is to let them keep the good impression. Of course the middle ones are important too, but keep that in mind.

If your exam involves playing technique (scales, chords, arpeggios, etc.), know them well. In my exams they worth a lot and they also often comes first.

Try to tell yourself that it's no big deal, even if it is. Chances are, if you are going to take more exams, this one wouldn't matter. See if this works for you. I found that it relaxes me. But don't let this trick sacrifice your determination.

Try to forget about the judge or examiner that's sitting there and listening to you. Most of the time you can't even see them so that shouldn't be too hard. Pretend that it's a performance. Your goal is not to get it over with but to do the best you can and impress your audience. Let the music carry you away.

Don't worry too much about making mistakes -- just play. Often in the higher grades, technique is not as important as phrasing, dynamics, and expression. If you make one or two small mistakes in an otherwise beautifully expressed piece, the examiner won't take them into account.

If your exam involves ear test (clapping rhythm, hearing intervals, etc), here are some tips:

    -If you have perfect pitch, then consider yourself very lucky -- not many people do and ear test is probably easy for you. For the rest of you, practicing ear test is probably the best strategy. Get someone, a family member or a friend, to test you on the items such as melody playback and interval recognition. Only after you hear the sounds and get used to them can they become a part of you.

    -When doing rhythm tests, listen carefully, and don't rush. Internalize the rhythm.

    -Here's another tip from my piano teacher: if your ear test require you to say your response out loud (such as naming intervals), don't answer as if you're asking a question (which means, don't put a question mark after each answer). The examiners will think that you're confident and knows what you're doing, even if you don't.

For sight reading:

    -The best way to get better in sight reading is to practice it. Use sight reading books if you can, or otherwise use pieces that are about one or two grades lower than yours. One sight reading exercise a day should be enough. If you feel that they're get easy, progress to more difficult exercises.

    -Keep in mind that when you sight read, rhythm is just as important as notes. If you miss a few notes, keep going and don't loose the beat. Try not to go back and correct wrong notes all the time. It's better than getting all the notes but with no rhythm attached.

    -Remember that sight reading is very important. It's useful when, for example, you're suddenly asked to accompany a choir or soloist (instrumental or vocal), perhaps to fill in for someone, and you don't get a chance to practice beforehand (see my Piano Accompaniment page for tips). When you are in the higher grades, this can become common, so be sure that your sight reading skills are up for it.

After your exam is finished, relax and enjoy yourself a little, and get ready for your next grade. Don't worry too much about the mark that you get. Keep in mind that piano performance is essentially an artistic pursuit, and attempts to judge it is always a little subjective. Think of it as a fresh start for something better.

Exams are probably not as often as recitals, so it might take longer to get used to them. The best way is to know what you did every time, learn from your mistakes and improve on the next one. Remember that each exam is a stepping stone on your way to become a better pianist.