Grade 4 piano...!!?

Question

Hi, I have my grade 4 piano examination on thursday, in the morning and I am so scared!

I always get nervous at things like this and grades are the worst, in my opinion. Anyone who has done grade examinations before, could you give me some advice on how to stay calm and remember my pieces and scales?

I think I know my scales and I know 2 of my pieces well, but if I am really nervous I'm worried that I won't be able to play the third one, because I have to really concentrate on that one as I find it really difficult.

Thank you so much.

Answer 1

As a judge of such things, I find myself always wishing the performers could know . . . I'm only human!  Just like them, I, too, went through the same terrors of recitals and such, and I understand what they're going through.  It is impossible to emphasize enough the NORMALCY of these people.  While it is natural to see them as grand kings and queens, pressing judgement upon you, and able to ruin your life, they are really all merely grown up little boys and girls.

One refreshing thing to see when you are judging a competition or overseeing an exam, is to have the student look at you and smile before sitting down to play.  Maybe just a sweet, shy smile, but that is endearing.  Makes a human connection between the teacher and the student.

Technically, I'd like to suggest that while you practice all three pieces and your scales all week long, do STOP on Thursday.  Don't go through them even once.  Not even in the morning!  Let your performance in the examination be your first run-through of that day.  If you mess up, you mess up.  If you do well, wonderful!

Bare in mind that they will be aware of the level of difficulty of the last piece.  You should definitely give extra attention to that one in the next couple of days.  How about this: merely run through the others and your scales each day, but spend most of your time and attention on the last piece.  You probably have already been told this, but concentrate the most on the measures that trip you up.  Work them over and over, and then blend them in with the measure preceding and the measure immediately following them.  

And this is of utmost importance, although so many performers overlook it!  Make very sure that you eat a high protein diet (eggs, bacon, etc.--whatever you can get with protein and not a bunch of empty carbs) the morning of your examination.  It will help your memory and keep away the brain fog which sugary things can produce.  I'd even go so far as to suggest that you eat properly--getting veggies, no sweets, etc.--each day up until then.  I think you'll be amazed with the results!

I have to add one more thing--and I am sorry for the length of this!  But don't forget the importance of BLUFFING.  Part of performing is PRETENDING like you're not scared.  You do it enough, and then it really happens . . . the fear begins to fade.  And make sure of this:  have the last line of the most difficult piece memorized absolutely forwards and backwards.  This way, even if you mess up, you can always end the piece graceullly!  Make sure you can at any time move right to that last line, in an emergency.  Know it so well, you can get up and play it in your sleep, so to speak!  To where you can go immediately to it, from any part of the piece.  And play it WELL.  Then go backwards and add the second to the last line, etc.  Making an even longer wonderful, well-practiced ending!  You get my point.

Bless you, sweetheart, as you play.  Believe me when I say, one day you will look back on this and smile.  And then you'll be SO NICE to all the young people who are one day petrified to play for YOU.  :-)