[Music ♫] ABRSM Exam but I'm No Pianist

*Blows dusts away*

오랜만이야~  

Its been some time since I've care to sit and update my blog since I got really busy with my final year project and then the upcoming piano examination which are probably just excuses I'm giving myself *whoops* Plus, I've just realize I have loads of backdated post to complete if I'm gonna intend to keep this blog as my personal timeline journal as well as to share my experiences. Need to learn how to keep a good time management to be efficient all the time already!

Hopefully I'd be able to find more time for blogging ^^

____________________________________________________________________________

Exam pieces by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM)

The least ordinary event in my usually lazy Saturday is the Piano ABRSM Examination. To say that I'm not nervous or feeling sick from the inside is downright a lie. As time draws nearer the effect got so bad to the extend I'm having body aches due to all the stress from practicing day and night plus a little insomniac. It didn't get any better with the fact that I'm not getting much lessons from my music teacher due to our schedule clash and each day pass by with me practicing blindly + I really HATE scales really REALLY! These things that made my life miserable...!

Bits from Sonata in B by Soler

Bits from Minuet and Trio by Weber

Bits from Intermezzo in E flat by Brahms

Anyhow, these above are bits of the pieces I choose to play and they are my favorite parts too. In the ABRSM Examination, its been divided into sections namely Exam pieces, Scales, Sight-Reading and Aural. Early preparation is allowed for the pieces and scales while the other two sections are of spontaneous basis. The syllabus of the examination pieces will usually last for a term of 2 years divided into 3 sections and you'd have to pick a piece from each section since they represent different period of music. Scales on the other hand is usually compulsory for all sections. Sight-reading will usually test on your ability to prepare (in a scary 30seconds) and play a short piece of music that should include tempo, dynamics and song character. Finally, aural will usually test on singing, listening, tempo and music understanding. Sounds pretty tough right?

Its definitely a YES for me because I'm no music genius nor am I majoring in piano. Learning Yamaha Electone since young makes piano a challenge for me since the piano keys are harder and there's so much more to just note reading. You have to learn how to control your dynamics by hand, playing up to 5 notes at one time with one hand and gawd that hard piano keys, speed and ornamentation is a total huge obstacle for me and what more with pieces of different period: Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th Century to cover. For me who started out late, there isn't much time to be exposed to all these music genres yet alone to master in a few. Yet, its ironic to those who knows me as a Piano Teacher >_< 

Nerve-wreaking smile before the exams: Teacher gets nervous too~ 

My thoughts: 

The last round I took ABRSM Examinations is like what, 8 years ago?! But since I got it started, I shouldn't give up halfway and do decide to finish well. I took me almost a year plus to get prepared which is a long-term effort (with lotsa breaks in between as I'm always too busy with university or being lazy) but the examination only lasts for 30 minutes max! Moreover, its like a one-shot thing. No space for regret or turning back time. If a mistake is made you've kind of ruins your chances to get good grades which applies to me very much regretfully. Unlike in written examinations where you can crack your head and think before answering, its a No-No for practical exams. So instead of feeling like a whole load of burden is being shed off after what seem like the longest yet shortest 25 minutes of my life, the load multiplied incredibly. Sigh~ I guess I could only hope for the best. What's done is done... reality is such cruel that you can't turn back time.

Prawn Mee and Apple Lemon to comfort myself after my exams

Food is best when one is feeling down or needs motivation right? Had this in a nearby cafe in the Cosway building. Big thank you to those who cheered me on, my uncle for driving me and my aunt for the lunch treat.

나요,