 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: andge
Date: 2002-05-27 11:13
Hi.
Where I live, the ABRSM exams are very popular. My teacher has been talking with me about taking a Grade 8 clarinet exam next year, but I am somewhat undecided about it. Is is really worth all the effort and time in practicing? From my understanding of the exam, I will also need to work this summer to pass the Grade 5 theory exam in addition to the clarinet exam. My teacher and parents think its a good idea to get some type of certification before I go to college, but I would like to know if it is possible to handle the load in addition to the course load of a high school senior.
If I do take the exam, I would like to know what pieces I should select from the catagories and how to prepare for the exam.
Thanks.
Andge
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Author: Rob bell
Date: 2002-05-27 17:20
Hi i live in the uk and am actually doing the exam (grade 8) next month, i suppose it is useful but most UK music colleges aren't interested in exam grades, its how you can show your potential in a audition, they want to see if you have what they want to work with for the next for years.
Regarding the theory, for the ABRSM you do need to pass the grade 5 certificate of music theory to enter for the Grade 8 exam.
With regards to pieces you can go to
http://www.abrsm.ac.uk/asp/clarinet.asp?exam=Clarinet%20GRADE%208 for the syllabus.
I am playing the Malcolm Arnold, Weber Concertino and the Chris Allen Study.
Hope this helps,
Rob
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Author: eilidh
Date: 2002-05-27 22:20
I found the most difficult bit was getting all the scales and arpeggios off by heart, it took me about six months of doing them almost daily to learn them all and to be sure I could play them well enough and fast enough and also tongued (staccato and legato tonguing)
I played the first movement of the Brahms Sonata NO 2, fughetta from five bagatelles and the third of the Stravinsky pieces. I think to be honest it was the scale practice that improved my playing more than anything as I could probably have played the pieces well before I sat my grade 8 exam, I suppose grade exams are useful as a sort of benchmark, but many people pass grade exams who cannot for example play well in chamber groups or perform adequately for audition purposes, in my opinion, but pass grade exams simply by playing the pieces for months to the exclusion of other work and practice.
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-05-27 22:31
We, too have grade exams (in Australia) - thank goodness my days of doing them are well over.
As a matter of discipline (assuming you're like most young players who just like to practice their pieces not their technical stuff) I'd suggest you do the exam.
The whole point of studying scales and arpeggios is NOT so you can pass this component of your examination but to "arm" you with a sound, fluid technique. Once you play pieces with similar patterns of notes (scales) no matter what the key, you'll not have to learn how to play it - your brain will put it onto automatic. Go for it, and remember, if you're not prepared you can always pull out. Far better to pull out than to score a C.
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Author: nzdonald
Date: 2002-05-27 22:55
kia ora
once you have a college degree no one cares what "imperial" exams you have passed except for crusty old Piano teachers (usually in some "registered music teachers" organisation somewhere and wielding power out of proportion to their talent).
However i think the advice from Diz is good- what better way to prepare for a university audition! these exams are almost unheard of in the US, where they have a lot of very good players at all levels, however they also have lots of little "competitions"- auditions for seat placement, all state trials etc and i think this does more or less the same job (but is probably cheaper).
donald
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2002-05-28 00:58
All-State auditions in the US are almost the same thing, except the scales are a joke (one octave, any speed you want, no arpeggios or anything). You only have to play one complete piece, three scales, sight-reading and no theory. Your playing is summarized in one brutal number score. Are your exams expensive as nzdonald suggested? My audition cost $20 plus $35 for the accompanist. I have All-County and youth orchestra auditions as well, but no seating auditions.
A lot of good players don't bother with All-State. I think it's a good way to learn a piece really well (even though my score was one point too low for getting into All-State I can play the Debussy Premiere Rhapsodie well).
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Author: Stephanie
Date: 2002-05-28 21:35
Actually, the scales requirements in Alabama are different. You have to play and pass at least 7, 2 octaves, with arpeggios...but you won't make all state really unless you play all 14 (there are 2 minor scales); you're score won't be high enough. Everyone is required to do the chromatic from low E to altissimo G. But other than that, we just have 3 fairly complicated exercies from the Klose book and a sightreading piece. Mostly, I do all state because it gives me something to work towards, ya know, to practice on, since I don't have a teacher. And colleges like it when you do stuff like that. Besides, I think auditioning for All State has helped me improve a great deal. And All State is an awesome experience. Uhhh, but yeah, I'm rambling. Anywayz, I think that All State auditions can be seen as an equivalent to the exam...right?
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2002-05-29 01:13
Sorry, I should have said that I'm in New York. I wish I were in a small, easy state sometimes.
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Author: gemmaelizabeth
Date: 2002-05-29 11:46
Em, I am from the UK Rob, and I study at a music conservatoire and I think you will find that the ABRSM exams DO matter. The requirements that they ask of you are, ( from the Scots which I am) Highers in English and Music, a standard grade language and Grade 8 in your principal study as well as grade 5 in subsidary study!! Now don't get me wrong if you haven't done them and go in there and are amazing I don't doubt for one second that they would turn you away for not having Grade 8....Thats given the fact that they get as far as the audition. If you dont have the requirments they may turn you away!! When I got a place I got an unconditional ( meaning I had a place and that was that) because I had all the requirements. had I not had say, my Higher english, I would have been given a conditional ( where you have to pass the said exam or lose the place) acceptance and had I not passed, i would have lost my place....and i would've thought Grade 8 in the instrumnet you are applying to study would be FAR more important than English??? I don't know i could be wrong?
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Author: Charles Munden
Date: 2002-05-29 13:22
Hey there, well Virginias requirments are, 1 prepared piece, 12 major scales, 3 octaves, quater note=120 chromatic from low e to c7 ( I think its the highest c I know how to play, we also play out of the Klose book. I played the Weber Concertino, and the Stravinsky. We also have sightreading the banmd will perform, it is a hard audition, but I think the greatest part of practicing is doing the scales and arrpegios, because once you get those reactions in your brain, you can handle most any major run in any piece with no "5 note drill" practice.I think they are very farmiliar to the exam, minus the theory test, otherwise I would have never made all-state, but thats my opinion.
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