I got sidetracked. I haven’t stopped playing (though my performance in the orchestra’s summer concert wasn’t my finest hour) but the summer’s events did shove the blog aside for a long time. But now that the customary surge of September enthusiasm has kicked in I’m back in the saddle. Years back, a new uniform and sharpened pencils brought with them the hope of homework completed and submitted on time, and of being a bit less bad at sport. The aspirations have changed but I haven’t lost that annual burst of energy and drive. And I do love a goal. So, at the grand old age of 34, I’m thinking of working towards my Grade 8 viola.
I have absolutely no idea how long this will take or how far off that level I am (I took my grade 7 a staggering 19 years ago). And I’ve been variously told that music exams are ‘for children’, ‘pointless unless you’re at school’ and ‘stressful’. It’s true that no future employer or institution that I apply to will give a monkeys what instrument I play. I may curse myself months hence when I’m sat in a dingy school hall sick with nerves and surrounded by jittery teenagers. But the prospect of playing alone in front of an examiner, and the potential shame of admitting to failing a music exam as an adult might be just what I need to ratchet things up a notch.
What I would love to know is, does anyone else do this? A quick google search turned up a few brief references to over-18s being able to enter themselves in these exams but otherwise nada. Have you taken a music exam as an adult? Or considered working towards one? If so, I’d love to hear from you.
Me, I sat my Grade 4 and 5 piano 2-3 years and scraped past both. I should have done a lot better but I fell apart in both- bloody nerves.
I’m working towards my Grade 4 theory, then will sit Grade 5 and then think about sitting Grade 6 practical.
Why? I really don’t know- Just so I can say I did, I guess! And to keep ahead of my kids ( 10 year old is catching up fast- grade 3 theory and grade 4 practical!)
Excellent – so it can be done. Do you have a teacher who helps you to prepare for it? Theory is another hurdle I haven’t given much thought to. I think I did my grade 5 theory in 1991 so I’ll probably be back to square one in that respect. How long do you expect it to take you to prepare for grade 6?
Oh yes, I have a quite old-fashioned, very patient teacher.
Very helpful for the aural test parts especially as I am so so crap at those.
I’ve kept up with my scales/ arpeggios so I’m hoping 6 months or so- have to get through this bloody theory first!
that is exactly what I need – an old-fashioned, patient teacher (but not so patient that she doesn’t crack the whip a bit if I don’t learn my scales)
I haven’t decided to sit an exam since I was 18, but like you I have returned to my instrument (the cello) after many years away and am now having monthly lessons again to make me play. I have really loved reading your blog and find it inspiring. I think whatever motivates you to play in these busy lives of ours is what counts. What a great achievement to say you are grade 8! I am sure it will be fulfilling a dream for you. A worthwhile challenge.
thanks for the encouragement, naomi – I think I may in reality be quite a way off grade 8 but it seems daft to retake a grade and gives me something to aim for
Here in the US we don’t have an exam system (that I know of), but if we did, I might try to work my way through it. I did just finish preparing for my first-ever audition (for a community orchestra), and it was nerve-wracking and stressful but my teacher said it would be good for me. And I passed.
Good to see you blogging again, by the way.
thanks, Joe P. An orchestra audition, now that sounds properly scary. well done!
I took up the cello as an adult and have done a few exams. It’s a sort of proof to myself that I’m making progress. I often meet other adult players who are horrified at the mention of exams. I don’t get too nervous about them myself – I think I’m used to it as I did lots on piano and flute when I was a child.
exactly, it’s the proof of progress I’m after. But for me conquering the nerves will be a big part of the challenge.