Piano grading and lessons...

Kaz2904

Hi there, bit of a funny one for you. Hope someone can advise me?
DD started piano lessons 2 years ago at the beginning of year 4. She seemed to have a natural ability for playihng although less so with the practice . She did her first year and passed the test which her piano teacher said was the beginners level prior to the work for Grade 1. In year 5 she started her work towards Graade 1. Her teacher had her booked in for the exam in June or July but DD broke her arm quite badly at the end of April. Of the 7 weeks she was in full cast, she probably only managed to attend 3 lessons due to # clinic appointments. She then missed a further couple of lessons due to consultant appointments and follow ups. Obviously due to the time missed, she was not going to be at grade 1 standard. Whilst she was in plaster, her teacher did Right handed work with her. When she was out of plaster, she was started on basics and scales which did a fantastic job of building up her muscle tone again after the break. She has needed a fair while for recovery time and her arm is still weak and a bit bent but she is back up to her previous standard piano wise- with the added bonus of actually practising now as she has realisedd how good it is for her arm and having some music she loves.
Her teacher had said that she should be put in for her Grade 1 soon, possibly after Christmas. Having asked DD about this a few times (so I could budget for the exam) she has come bacck today and said she won't be able to do it just after Christmas. Apparently, her teacher said to her on Tuesday that she won't even be able to do it this summer as all of the spaces have been booked for other students. So now she won't be able to be graded until 2 years after she was initially planned to as she's been told she will be done in the summer of 2014.
DD is a bit gutted by this (as am I). I fully understand the delay of 1 year and explained this to DD all along saying that they may only hold exams once a year and that she was no way going to be ready for this summer as her arm was too weak.

Does anyone know if what we are being told can be correct? Surely, there must be a way of getting her examined somewhere in the summer of 2013? Otherwise, how do child prodigy's do it? If we need to do some research or go to a private piano teacher, we can consider it. She is with the peripatetic teachers through the council at the moment and has her lessons at school. Would/ should this make any difference?

Sorry for such a lengthy post, if I have missed anything or you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
It's such a shame that we can't contact her current music teacher

tyllwyd

It does seem strange to me that the teacher would say that exams are fully booked six months ahead. If it was me, I think I'd probably ask if she can forget about Grade 1, and just go straight on to studying for Grade 2. Otherwise, she's going to be stuck doing Grade 1 pieces forever, and probably lose interest completely.

heretolearn_2

http://gb.abrsm.org/en/exam-booking/dates/

Ths is the organisation that runs the exams. According to this page, there are 3 exam sessions a year, and they can also make arrangements for an examiner to visit you on other dates of the year.

So no, I don't see why she should wait. It seems that she is being restricted by the school's own schedule rather than the examiners. I'd give them a call and see what is possible.

AlwaysAllie

It's a long time since I had anything to do with piano exams and I am talking only from experience of those with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (which tend to be the most popular examining body).............I doubt you can even enter yet for summer 2013 so don't know how it can be full. My only explanation is your teacher has a set number of places at a set examination centre and has already allocated them in his/her head - I suggest you contact the teacher direct.

This may also help http://gb.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/piano/

AA

AlwaysAllie

heretolearn wrote: »

http://gb.abrsm.org/en/exam-booking/dates/

Ths is the organisation that runs the exams. According to this page, there are 3 exam sessions a year, and they can also make arrangements for an examiner to visit you on other dates of the year.

So no, I don't see why she should wait. It seems that she is being restricted by the school's own schedule rather than the examiners. I'd give them a call and see what is possible.

Think we posted at the same time

Caroline_a

Why not get her a private tutor? Then you would get a true indication of level of talent (schools sometimes tend to skew talent recognition in things, small pool, big fish stuff) and she can go at her own pace.

mrcow

ABRSM - I booked my son for his ABRSM Grade 1 exam myself.
His teacher just didn't seem interested in getting him through his exams (which is a mistake IMO).

I registered on their site and just booked it. They are organised and wrote to me telling me the date/time.

You don't need a piano teacher to book it. And you don't need to be a piano teacher to book it.

Let him practise with her and take it in the Easter session.

mrcow

And yes, the above poster is right, the summer dates won't even be open for booking yet!

ViolaLass

She doesn't have to do Grade 1 - I did alternate grades when I was little.

mrcow

If it's Trinity Guildhall, the process is the same. You don't need to be a teacher to book an exam. You just need to register with them (self taught people can take exams).

Also - ABRSM do have books which help with scales, sight reading etc and CDs to help with technique etc. I found them very helpful.

katglasgow

I would also suggest that you only sit alternate grades it will save a fortune I did this all the way up to grade 8.