As a piano teacher myself, who is due to take a diploma exam tomorrow, I can't begin to comprehend the guts this took to upload! If ever there was a sign of a natural teacher, it is someone whose mind tells them to use an experience like this to help other people in their own journeys. Thank you. You're an inspiration to me as a teacher.
I'm really intrigued by all this. I'm just an adult beginner student, and imagine myself sitting a Grade 1 exam in three years, perched on a tiny chair next to a bunch of brilliant 8 year olds. :) I like your open attitude, Allysia. And I admire all the other folks sharing their hard-won achievements. Nice community! OK now time to practice.
There is no shame. Its a learning curve. You are a delight to listen to and watch. Don't put your self down your tutorials are marvellous. Keep on keeping on. Keep playing with what you have learned and experienced. You are a great role model and inspiration😊Thank you for showing this
Having completed my ARCT exam years ago, and please don't be offended, I got the feeling that you didn't have a teacher to guide you on your grade 10 exam (or your teacher wasn't a very good one) such that you didn't have a good grasp of what the proper interpretation and stylistic requirements of the pieces should be. Like what the examiner said - within the intention of the composer (sorry forgot the exact words here). For example, pieces like Bach's preludes and fugues are not meant to have rubato in it. You have to appreciate the background - that there was no piano at the time and the pieces were played on the harpsichord/clavichord or organ which affects the quality of the notes you're supposed to produce (no to very little pedal, the plucking sound etc.) and that some music was almost church like (Bach wrote for the church), to name a few things. So "by the book" like you said. And no matter in what period if the music is written such that you need to hold the note for so long, you need to hold it for that long and just can't let it go. :S I didn't know this after my grade 10 exam - until I studied ARCT under a very good teacher - that there is actually an correct/acceptable playingstyle/interpretation based on years of knowledge and studying by the institutions. Even if you can play all the notes, if you didn't do it the right way, this is where you lose marks. A lot of them. This is also not something you can do on your own without years of studying - that's why people do masters and PhDs on music, and why people like myself, who are students and amateur, rely on a good teacher. And I actually find learning that way very enjoyable - my teacher would go through some history with me about style and then go though the music phrase by phrase to let me know what I should be emphasizing and how much. It makes a world of a difference.
I am so impressed that you opened up and shared your shame. That takes a lot of guts but I am sure that by doing this you have provided some great advice and help for those preparing for a high level exam. I encourage you to keep going and go for that ARCT. it will make you an even better teacher. Failure/Shame can be looked at as a positive thing because it can provide one an opportunity to learn and progress.
As you keep on with your music, you'll experiment and play around with interpretation, and best of all, when you're not doing an exam, you can let yourself be free to experiment.
pianoTV There are many people who have an ARCT but they don't do anything with it after their exams are over. Their certificates hang on the wall but they sometimes stop performing completely because in their minds, they are "done." You don't have the ARCT, however, you are using your skills to teach the world about music, and that's something to be very proud of!
Hey! I'm also a piano teacher in Toronto working towards my ARCT in Pedagogy. I am currently on the intermediate level. I love your channel! I just wanted to say, I get you here! I did my grade 10 two years ago also as an adult because I did pop and originals all through my 20's and returned to classical when I started teaching 7 years ago. Dude, I took 3 years to work on my grade 10, and I performed at open miss every week for 1.5 years before going in to the exam. I also played at retirement homes, played on the public piano at Indigo and Loblaws, and put on my own recitals for friends and family, because I knew I would fail if I didn't practice performing a billion times to work out my nerves. I brainwashed myself with affirmations for the month leading in. I thought I was going to die from a heart attack on the subway going to my exam and was also shaking the whole way through. I ended up with 85% but thats because I took 3 years to get used to playing these pieces while terrified in many situations. Anyway, I totally relate and you are awesome to share this! The fear is real!!!! xo
I would give you top marks for your analysis of the exam results. You're a great speaker and could have a career in television, radio, etc, certainly as a commentator. I think it was also a great service to share your experience with others so that they avoid certain pitfalls and know what to expect. That was very generous of you!
Your video is anything but "shameful", it takes a lot of honesty and guts to share your failures (well, almost failure!) and a great spirit to try to use that as a way of helping others with their exams. I must plead ignorance, what are these exams for? Are they part of a performance BA or BFA?
They aren't part of a BA/BFA - RCM exams are their own entity. I know lots of university students who also complete their RCM credentials (they'll have, say, a performance degree and their ARCT from the RCM). I did RCM exams as a kid (it's a standard procedure as a piano student), and have been working on finishing them as an adult. From my perspective, it's much more flexible than getting a university degree (can work at my own pace and at my own times), but the credentials are just as valid when you're a piano teacher. If it was 10 years ago I might have gotten a degree, but now that I'm nearly 30, I just don't have the time!
pianoTV Thank you for sharing your experience I was kicked out from RCM when I was 20 because I told someone I wanted to become an engineer. After a few years, I did go to college and became an engineer as I had wished. But I never took piano lessons again. I took cello lessons instead with a great younger teacher much later in my life when I got a job and could afford it in CA. But I am still much more comfortable to play piano peices that I had learned when I was a teenager.
watching this after my piano exam which I have a feeling I failed. I feel super embarrassed even though it was just me and the examiner. Hopefully this won’t make me full as bad! I’ll comment my results when I get them! Update: I passed with a 72! I had expected way worse, I’m so happy woohoo!!!!
Thank you for sharing. Nervousness can certainly be a huge factor. I recommend taking the bulletproof musician online course. It's excellent! I've been teaching for 20 years, but struggle with performance anxiety so I decided to start with the RCM level 4 test to gain confidence. I just finished level 6 & eventually will get up to level 10!
Thank you for sharing your experience! I’m also an adult learner, preparing for level 9 RCM exam and eventually will do level 10 as well. Im grateful that you share your experience, now I know what to look out for and be mentally prepared myself!❤
I really appreciated the openness and honesty you showed in this video. Grade 10 RCM is demanding and you shouldn't be ashamed of your results. I think it's great that you shared this so that other musicians like myself can get a sense of what to watch out for. I used to have a tendency to jump into playing difficult pieces without focusing on learning the building blocks. I am a (mostly) self taught pianist and I'd like to improve my sight reading skills and technique. Not really into exams but I should learn how to play properly.
I went from Level 8 to Level 10 and it's been very hard! Even with 2 hours of practice per day I have not seen improvement and am really nervous for my exam in August, especially since I've only had less than a year and a half to prepare. But your videos made me feel better and put me in the mindset that I CAN DO THIS. I'm only twelve and this exam will be really hard to pass, but hopefully I make it through.
I started a beginner course about 20 years ago and at the end-of-year concert I insisted on playing from memory a piece I knew well. After the first few bars my mind went totally blank. I started again and the same thing happened. Embarrassed was not the word. I gave up lessons and was convinced that I am not a performer. I’m now in my 60s and in our 4th covid lockdown, I bought an electronic keyboard. Almost starting over again but am loving it so much. Working on Allysia’s Teachable module and slowly it’s sinking in. I regret the wasted years of just tinkering at my old piano that I no longer have.
Belated thanks for making this video! It's fascinating to see examples of performance exam commentary. I greatly appreciate the personal perspective you bring to pianoTV. It makes the material more useful, grounded, and entertaining. I'm looking forward to binging more of the pianoTV back catalog-and maybe someday taking an RCM exam.
Thank you for being so generous with your audience. This is so useful on a couple levels. We all have set backs sometimes, and the way you dealt with it is so smart and mature. I did grade 6 years ago. I don’t even remember my score but the test itself was not a great experience. Like you, I was too nervous. I’ve decided that I will not do another test unless I can be confident and comfortable playing the pieces. Thank you for all the technical tips too.
Don't worry Lisa! Very few people ever get to the 10 level...You can be a competent and expressive pianist without those tests....On the other hand, you did learn a lot! Kudos to you for sharing...you help us all by your honesty and fresh outlook...Great channel...Thanks so much!!!
History 1- December 2016 Level 10 technicals,etudes and ear training(split)- April 2017 Harmony 2- May 2017 History 2- August 2017 Level 10 repertoire- sometime in 2018 or 2019
Oh man can relate!! I was 19 when I did my Gr 10 and I had to go by the 2008 syllabus requirements and they had increased the amount of technic and ear requirements. They also required at least 70% in each category or 75% overall. Normally I'd have been OK with this if everything hadn't been so underprepared, which in turn lowered my confidence for the first time ever. Suffice to say I broke down the day before my exam, stopped practicing and had a lot to drink (so many regrets to this day). Fortunately I was the first person to perform and my examiner was really nice so my anxiety went down, which in turn experienced an OK performance. Overall I ended up passing each category with a 73% avg. To this day this exam was the hardest one I've ever done, not even my music exams at university were this hard. I even waited 6 years until I did my ARCT which also took a lot out of me (but that's a whole other story). Overall I don't regret these experiences as it taught me many valuable lessons. Biggest being: 1) DON'T neglect technique EVER!!! 2) Get a very competent teacher. I decided to not go back to my teacher and waited about a year to find a good one as my confidence was at an all time low and was experiencing arm and shoulder pain whenever I played my old Gr 10 pieces. My teacher ended up addressing more than just my pain but my confidence level as well. I'm not saying that a good teacher is a miracle worker but at the very least they can provide a different perspective on almost everything that you've been doing. 3) Priotize practicing. It's so obvious yet when working or school becomes a priority we always put practicing to the bottom of the list, which then becomes a chore. I had to remind myself that I got only one shot at this performance so whenever I can practice I had to try doing it, even if it meant giving up my social life.
You are a natural teacher. Love this. I failed at my swimming exam when I was 10, yet became a really strong swimmer and had no fear of swimming in the ocean later. I bombed 2 important math tests while acing a really hard one the previous day in differential equations. My mind froze up the next day. That freaked me out so bad, I dropped out of college yet managed to get a software development jobs which provided a nice nest egg at retirement. And I excelled in all my computer jobs during my career. I turned failure into assets. Test anxiety is a real thing, and at the time, the counselors were not very useful at helping me.
thanks alesia for your bold dissection of grades10 results.i have always wanted to send an appreciation mail for the last one year.but now i appreciate for your openness and making students learn from others failures.i am your student for the last one year and i bought all the books you suggested for grade 1 and i am doing my practice.i always remember you in my practice. just let not failures overcast its shadows over the mountain of success.after ten years from now may be we will meet to get tips in passing rcm if i intend to take it. ia m doing abrsm grade 1 and i have a long way to go.cheer up .you have lots to rejoice in this world.you are a great teacher.i am sorry you did not get what you wished.
Aww thanks for the lovely comment! :) I was a little bummed out when I first got my marks back, but it doesn't bother me now. It was a good learning experience!
RCM exams are no joke and even passing is a huge victory. Thanks for sharing. My husband always reminds me that any exam that the "final" is the only mark that counts, is such a hurdle! I had the same leaping through exams a bit randomly in my early grades. Grade 9 to 10 is a HUGE gap. So discouraging to get that lower mark. For some exams, you may be able to retake only a small portion of it - I had to retake my technique portion and was so glad I did, as it made my ARCT way more possible.
I'm not from the US so I don't know how there RCM exams are judged, but I don't think your marks were low because you were 'too creative'. It does take complete mastery of the piece before you can start playing around with the tempos and actually deviating from the text on the page. For example there is an amazing video on youtube of Daniel Barenboim explaining Rubato. It is so incredibly nuanced and thought through, just slowing down and speeding up is not at all the same. William turner used to spit on his paintings, but that doesn't mean every 'amateur' will be praised for doing the same.
Don't feel ashamed! I tried the ARCT Performers exam a few years ago and missed passing by about 6 marks. I don't really remember the comments but I think there were similar issues to what they wrote on yours. I was proud of my achievement of playing some 50 minutes of music from memory but the failure helped me realize where and what my weaknesses are/were. I don't know if I will attempt it again (they are so expensive!) but continue to work on the fundamentals and keep improving. Its brave of you to come forward and present this!
6 marks - so close! I know quite a few who have failed the ARCT performance, so you are in good company. :) You're right, they get insanely expensive - but it's cool that you gave it a go, and you probably have some great music in your repertoire now!
Just loved to watch it today. My teacher was complaining earlier about me being extra creative when playing, so i really know how u must've felt like. Thanks for sharing it :3
No wonder I struggle with Claire de lune! You're playing it as a grade 10 piece.. I was trying to learn it while grade 5. Just can not do the runs after the initial soft start.
better luck next time. you're brave and a humble person for doing a video about your test and score analysis. with this positive attitude, you'll go far in your career. good luck.
Thanks for sharing. It was great to read everyone's comments. I'm a teacher and I heard about RCM from one of my students. My journey began at Level 4. I tested for Level 4, 5, and 6 in one year. I actually received First Class Honors for all three of them. This became my goal for a grade before going to the next level. Level 7 took me one year, with a grade of Honors and then First Class Honors. Level 8 took 2 years. Yes, I took the test 4 times - three grades of Honors and then finally my First Class Honors. Level 9, I started to study with a very good teacher and it only took me 1 year. One test grade receiving Honors and one with First Class Honors. Now I'm working on preparing for my Level 10. I'm not ready yet and because of your comments, I think I will wait until I'm more prepared. I hope you take it again and go forward. I'm planning to split mine so I can focus a little more on one half at a time. So much work but I understand the adult life! Tough to find time to practice. I'm 61 and I have been working on this for about 7 years now. I'll chime in again when I'm ready for my Level 10. :)
@@Yuu12345 Yes I just took the Level 10 test at the end of August! Happy to say that I received Honors, but just decided today - that I'm going to do it again!! First Class Honors is my goal! Will be awhile before doing it again. I'm picking out three new pieces and one of them is 10 pages long. Yikes!!
@@ChristianPianoMusic Well done! I am in high school, and I will be taking the RCM 10 exam in April or May. My goal is First Class Honours. Distinction would be even better but I don't need to get it :)
@@Yuu12345 Wow! I can't wait to hear how you do. Keep on practicing and I'm sure you will reach First Class Honors for Level 10!! Distinction would be sweet!! Enjoy and thank-you for your kind words.
Baroque and classical arent supposed to be rubato, specially baroque. You should always play what it says in the book for it cause institutions say thats the way. classical its a biit more free but still very little changes should be done, phrase following is really important here. Romantic is the one that should be rubato, like the comment said, you can rubato, but always without affecting the main melody. About the debussy, they were not saying that you should stay by the book, they just pointed that you should make the intro slower since thats the feel that the piece gives, like a constant accelerando
I can relate, i just did my level 10 a week ago. I was nervous and couldn't think straight, and basically only my pieces and etudes were good. The funny thing was, my other exams including theory were all above 85.
Hi there, great video. I completed my GR8 RCM about 30 years ago and am just picking up from there this year with a very talented teacher in Toronto. I appreciate hearing your examination experience, and I'm sure it will benefit many people. Like you this is not my full time job, so it can be a challenge to make the time to keep up on practice. Also, I appreciate you sharing how far ahead you have planned your examinations. When i was young it was 6-8 months of practice on a particular grade before attempting the examination. I think a year is more realistic, esp for those with other full time vocations. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your progress. Theory or practical exams are both difficult in their own ways. You did very well in your theory exams and it is so encouraging to see you work so hard for these exams. Personally, I find practical exams to be stressful because they can be very subjective and take a lot of nerves and lots of practice to accomplish a high score.
This is truly great and very helpful! Thanks so much for sharing. My son is working towards his RCM grade 9 exam and he can sure benefit from your experience (as a test taker). He once got a comment from the examiner for a Chopin's waltz (part of his RCM grade 5 exam): "... Rubato effects were interesting. The pedalling suggestions in the book are worth following in order to maintain clarity". Don't give up. I have no doubt you'll pass with flying colors the next time, if you decide to re-take the exam, now that you know exactly what you need to work on. If any, I'm sure this experience only makes you a better piano performer/teacher.
Wow this was INCREDIBLY helpful. Thank you SO SO much for being willing to share this. I, too, took my Gr 10 piano exam in a bit of a rush in order to get a limited time discount on it (in a nut shell, I failed my Gr. 9 exam because the examiner at the time apparently was determined to fail absolutely everyone that year, so as an apology from RCM they offered everyone who failed a FREE exam if taken within the next 1.5 years... so OBVIOUSLY my parents, teacher and myself all decided I should go for it) But, as you said, it was not quite enough time, and though I was a full time piano student at the time and didn't have adult life to deal with, I ended up with a "pass", along with an "insufficient to proceed", which has haunted me for 20 years. Now that I've hopefully gotten over it, I'm finally ready to move forward with retaking my Gr. 10, although I assume it will take probably 3 years to prepare for at this point. Either way, I really really appreciate you being so open about this. It will definitely help me prepare my pieces. Also, you are SUPER relatable. Thank you.
It was so nice of you to share your experiences at RCM. I also did a few exams with the RCM and my experiences were pretty good. The only difference was that my piano teacher did push me on exams. I almost failed too, but did surprisingly good. It was very interesting.
Thanks for sharing!! It is so nice to know that the adjudicators aren't a fan of tons of rubato. I'm a music minor in college and am thinking about taking the flute level 10, performers, and teachers exams in the next few years. I already have flute/beginning piano students of my own and figured it would be a good certification to have since my college degrees will be in Psychology and Special Education when I'm done!
Love your channel thank you so much for sharing your experience! I just finished my level eight exam and I’m thrilled to see I got an 87! Only three points from first class honors with distinction! Boy would I have liked to have gotten that but oh well didn’t quite cut it my technique is what brought me down I worked hard on it but it’s always been a challenge for me. God first class honors with distinction on my theory. I was a nervous wreck and so ready to get this exam over I was sure I had failed! Is exams make you crazy for sure but I still do them because music is everything in my life! I just had to have shoulder replacement surgery so I hope once I heal from that I’ll be able to get back on the horse and ride for my level nine exam!
Thanks for sharing. I think you were very brave in attempting your Grade 10 RCM without having a piano teacher. In my opinion, a qualified piano teacher would have caught many of the things the examiner criticized (use of rubato, dynamics, not holding notes down for their full count, etc.) Also, having had a teacher (1) who'd been through the experience and (2) prepared other students for the grade 10 exam and, therefore, knew what was expected, might have given you more confidence while playing (you said that your hands were shaking badly).
+Philo Math Honestly I don't love the metronome. So when I use it, it's generally for a pretty small part of my practice session, like when I'm actively trying to speed something up or make something more even. If I practice a song for 30 minutes, I might spend 5 - 10 minutes with the metronome, at most. This is how I keep it from getting too robotic!
Professional tip: Eat bananas! They contain relaxing enzymes that help with your mental preparation. Before competitions you can literally see bananas lying around everywhere. P.S. Did you just call pieces "songs?" How dare you!
When I was young, I failed at a lot of performances of my hobbies. I was always shaking like I was freezing cold, and this impacted most anything that required my hands. Later in life, I discovered there that this was due to high anxiety. I believe a doctor can prescribe a Beta blocker to aid with this, or other prescriptions. Just FYI.
I hope you reconsider and pursue an A.R.C.T. I have no regrets..having failed the ARCT performance the first time, I succeeded the second attempt. Although I seldom now play classical music, RCM gave me the tools I needed to become a good musician. They just didn't tell me how to use them. I had to figure that out on my own.
What you mention here about famous performers playing pieces very fast is a big pet peeve of mine - it seems to be a common trend today for skilled pianists to play pieces much faster than intended to show off their technical prowess, often losing the desired feeling of the music. Some pieces are just written to be played slowly or moderately, yet there's definitely a subsection of musicians who frown upon slowing down.
I have done a lot of exams in my life and the point is that what is important is not to be creative but to play according to what the RCM teachers expect to hear (even if that is not what you like). I also do not think that there is a right way and what was considered as the proper way some years ago may change. The BWV 856 prelude is given at 88 dotted quarter by Czerny and 66 by Kirkpatrick ! Taking example on what the professional performers do is not a very good idea because for one their purpose is to play for an audience and they are recognized as knowledgeable players (but sometimes criticized also in their choice like Gould). The point being when you pass an exam is to get the exam, it is important to know what would be the expectations of the evaluator and play like they would expect you to. One way is to get the advice of somebody that worked or is working as an evaluator to prepare yourself. Last point : there is no shame here; we all would like to play better than what we do but unfortunately we will never play like Arrau or Horowitz. Sometime I hear extremely talented players really butcher a piece of music though they have all the technical skills, so there is always room for improvement. Maybe you can try to separate what is the part that is due to dogmatic point of view from the evaluator and what could be somehow true and which may require some additional work.
very helpful! I started doing exactly what you did and listening to recordings of interpretations especially for the Bach and trying to imitate. Though many are at a faster tempo than what is written for suggested tempo in the RCM repertoire book. I was thinking of going faster and even adding some trills but will now stick to doing it by the book as you said. Also I noticed a recording where someone did the recording notes staccatto instead of legato. I think RCM wants legato though for the specific piece I'm doing. Will not stray too far from what's written then. Nevertheless I think interpretations of Bach seem to have two schools of thought. One is more free with a little rubato to emphasize key changes and tonicization and one is more strictly in rhythm. I think Bach interpretation is highly personal as well. Everyone seems to have an opinion on how to perform Bach. People seem to think that a Prelude is slightly more rubato and free (and probably a little slower) since it's a form that was more for the lutes improvisation and tuning and not a dance form. I also encourage you to go for your ARCT. I'm sure there are other grade 10 pieces that you could learn too. Right now I have grade 10 viola but doing grade 6 piano as a requirement and planning on doing my ARCT next year.
Isn't it funny how variable Bach can be? And yeah, a by-the-book interpretation will almost definitely go over better than a Glenn Gould style approach. :) Thanks for the comment, and good luck with exams!
Hi! I'm just discovering your channel. You're doing really cool stuff here, and it looks like tons of people are learning piano here. That's HUGE!! There's a video on TH-cam where Barenboim is conducting a masterclass on playing Beethoven, and he has Lang Lang play through the first movement of the Appassionata for analysis. Barenboim picks apart the performance as only he can, including taking issue with Lang Lang's varying tempi within certain sections, saying things like "At this point, I miss the pulse you originally set". It's not clear from the video whether Lang Lang was there as an expert or as a student, but I think he was already pretty well known by then. No real point here, just thought you might find it interesting. I'm subscribing here, even though I sort of play already. (Maybe I'll get some video ideas for my channel.) :)
When I did my Grade 9 RCM, I was also told a lot by the examiner that I needed to either have a more steady tempo, or that I changed it too much just like you did. I also found that they get a lot fussier about dynamics and by sticking by exactly what's written in the book in front of you. I'm working on my Grade 10 now, so let's hope it goes a lot better than my Grade 9!!
grade 10 RCM piano is certainly not for the faint of heart, takes a lot of work and dedication, you can give yourself a huge pat on the back, regardless. The problem you experience, I must be frank, I think is because of skipping grades. Everybody says it's fine, even the exam boards; I say it's not, especially for gr 10. It's fine until gr 4 or 5, if that. The first two pieces I ever learned at the piano, by myself, was Mozart's Turkish Rondo and Bach's 1st Invention. People let me straight into late intermediate courses, they all said I was grade 5 ABRSM, so I could sit grade 6 classes. I did, and after that I decided to start doing ALL the work I had not done. I refused to call myself a grade 5 or 6 pianist as all these experts were saying. So I think I made a very similar mistake to yours. On the equally realistic side, an 'almost failed' gr 10 pianist is still a remarkable achievement, might translate as a very confident gr 7 or 8 pianist, which is still a lot. That's still a pro pianist, it simply means one can learn anything at those grades, easily enough. The piano is a very tough nut to crack, more so than ANY other instruments. Other instruments might still be hard, but the piano is boss when it comes to that. Exams are always an exciting challenge. Also, Bach is always harder than anything else, even when it looks easier. He was a freak of nature. Do your work and enjoy the journey. The other great thing is: you can always have a rematch! Isn't that great? :)
i have to say thanks for comforting me that i'll make it out of the exam room alive, although its the ear test clapback and playback i honestly suck at. im pretty sure i'll get about 0, and i think thats actually going to be true. im level 8 and i couldnt even do level 3 clapback/ playback so what chance do i have.... and oof my teacher keeps emphasizing RUBATO RUBATO especially for my worst piece my etude no. 7
There are some people you can't satisfy. You technically got through it, but they nailed you on creativity and saw that as a flaw. They were probably very nice to you too, and you didn't think anything was wrong... until you read their comments. I commend your upbeat attitude. I would have flipped out. So next time you might get a person who will say, "Not enough emotion, no feel, etc..." -- in which case I would find out beforehand what is expected artistically from the piece.
I thought I bombed my grade 10, because I pretty much had to start over all my pieces! Luckily, I guess the examiner saw over my memory failure and I actually got an 85 ☺️ just know, for anyone who’s about to take your exam: your examiner doesn’t want you to fail, and they’re not dumb either! A little flaw in memory or a small mistake won’t affect your mark if you’re generally prepared.
Omg!!!I have the same problem with Bach.I can play his prelude and fugue no 6 in d minor wtc2.I made the same mistake i listen to many youtube videos.I think i should slow down and focus on the detail and tempo(Because I love Chopin and romantic pieces with tons of rubato) .I think im gonna start with a few other easier prelude and fugues just to get the baroque feel then step over to this one.
My Conservatory harmony test, unlike my class mates,was not to analyze mozart and beethoven sonatas,but was to play.Yes,play.Professors told me: play whatever you like! They never found any ministerial testing necessary for me. It will be in my bio
I just had a piano recital with my old teacher (aunt) cause I'm doing my grade 8 in three days I played sooo bad that she had to remind everyone that she wasn't the one who prepared me :( my memory failed me a couple of times but there's no time to get better do u think they'll fail me if I have some mistakes I don't recover from as well
Did you have split exams back then? Because now, we can choose if we want to separate our grade 10 exam into repertoire for one and everything else for another. I think that would of been better for both mental and physical preparation. Anyway, great video!
Thanks for the video, it’s so refreshing to find someone willing to share their success and shortfalls in order to help others benefit from your experience. In my eyes it projects strength not weakness. As far as piano...I have only really been learning (very inconsistently) the past year and I get pulled up all the time for the same reasons, varied tempo etc....I specialise in rubato lol. One thing I find frustrating is the concept to regurgitate the so called exact score. Music is interrupted by us as individuals and how is it expected to evolve if you cannot put a degree of individual colour into a piece? Unless someone actually plays the piece on the exact same instrument as the author each performance will sound different simply due to the instruments having variation. I guess it’s finding a balance of preserving the past and building upon its foundations.
hey! i took my 10 rcm last june too! i also didnt give myself enough time to prepare... but at least i passed.... but not enough to go onto arct. thanks for your videos! im doing my history 1 exam in a week ;)
Looks like we both did similarly then! A mark in the 60s, not quite enough to move forward. I just saw this comment now, so hopefully your history exam went great - those ones I find the most fun! :)
The use of rubato is unfortunate but I see why they commented on it from their perspective. Having a strict tempo and pulse is a simple way to demonstrate fluency in a piece. So for exam purposes, I think more students should be extremely cautious when fluctuating the tempo unless the score calls for it. It just becomes hard for an examiner to know when someone is changing the tempo for artistic purposes vs. when someone just can't play certain passages at the same speed.
I almost botched my grade 10 exam too. My pieces and studies were great and I even performed the contemporary piece by memory when I wasn't prepared enough to perform it by memory. I even marked it as unmemorized when giving the preparation sheet to the examiner. But it was my scales that were horrible. I was woefully unprepared and they were payed extra slowly. Ear training and sight reading were fine. I think my overall mark was 76%, which is easily my lowest exam mark. Pieces: Bach: Prelude and Fugue in D Major, BWV 850 Haydn: Piano Sonata in B Minor, Hob. XVI:32 Chopin: Waltz in E Minor, Op. posthumous Manuel de Falla: Danse du meunier (The Miller's Dance) Harry Somers: Strangeness of Heart Studies: Loeschhorn: Etude in E Minor, Op. 67, No. 5 Rachmaninoff: Etude-tableau, Op. 33, No. 8
I took the RCM Grade 10 same time as you! I likewise (almost) failed the practical exam with a 62, but it was more because I had a small timeframe to catch the RCM, and my teacher planned for me to meet the bare minimum because I had no plans to go higher. I still have yet to do theory, and unfortunately in this case, I'm NOT a theory and history nerd. I've practiced through the years with little theory lessons, so I need to be able to learn what you know in less than a year D:
Good luck! I did my history/harmony with less than a year of prep as well. The main thing is being organized and working through epic amounts of practice tests. In the few months leading up to each exam, I was probably studying 2 hours a day (more when it came closer to test time). Of course, my goal was to get as close to 100% as possible, so you wouldn't necessarily work quite as hard if you just wanted a passing grade.
Did you use the RCM 2008 piano syllabus when you did your exam in 2015, or did you use the 2015 syllabus? I'm curious to know because the 2008 syllabus required more for technique (in every key for scales, chords, etc.), and the 2015 syllabus requires only specific keys. Also, I saw a comment that you'd posted in reply to another comment that you didn't seek much help from a teacher. Did you completely self-teach yourself the entire level 10 requirements from the syllabus? If so, that's pretty impressive! Did you see a teacher maybe once a month or every couple of months, or did you completely self-teach yourself?
Just came across your channel - this video has brought back soooo many bad memories... :) I did my RCM10 many years ago, barely hit 75 required to take ARCT, but ARCT turned out much better. So many of your points are very true, they are sticklers for tempo and dynamics as written on the page more than freedom of expression. I got nailed for trying to lightly pedal Octave legato on a Mozart, and dude wasn't impressed with my interpretation of 20:6 on a Chopin Nocturne. Not sure why these exams have to be so rough because it can really hurt people's feelings and sometimes does more to discourage... Are you going for ARCT?
Pretty cool you showing all this stuff, where I live we don't have grading system, I always thought it only went up to Grade 8 and after all it was U, nice to know they go higher.
As a piano teacher myself, who is due to take a diploma exam tomorrow, I can't begin to comprehend the guts this took to upload! If ever there was a sign of a natural teacher, it is someone whose mind tells them to use an experience like this to help other people in their own journeys. Thank you. You're an inspiration to me as a teacher.
I'm really intrigued by all this. I'm just an adult beginner student, and imagine myself sitting a Grade 1 exam in three years, perched on a tiny chair next to a bunch of brilliant 8 year olds. :) I like your open attitude, Allysia. And I admire all the other folks sharing their hard-won achievements. Nice community! OK now time to practice.
There is no shame. Its a learning curve. You are a delight to listen to and watch. Don't put your self down your tutorials are marvellous. Keep on keeping on. Keep playing with what you have learned and experienced. You are a great role model and inspiration😊Thank you for showing this
Having completed my ARCT exam years ago, and please don't be offended, I got the feeling that you didn't have a teacher to guide you on your grade 10 exam (or your teacher wasn't a very good one) such that you didn't have a good grasp of what the proper interpretation and stylistic requirements of the pieces should be. Like what the examiner said - within the intention of the composer (sorry forgot the exact words here). For example, pieces like Bach's preludes and fugues are not meant to have rubato in it. You have to appreciate the background - that there was no piano at the time and the pieces were played on the harpsichord/clavichord or organ which affects the quality of the notes you're supposed to produce (no to very little pedal, the plucking sound etc.) and that some music was almost church like (Bach wrote for the church), to name a few things. So "by the book" like you said. And no matter in what period if the music is written such that you need to hold the note for so long, you need to hold it for that long and just can't let it go. :S I didn't know this after my grade 10 exam - until I studied ARCT under a very good teacher - that there is actually an correct/acceptable playingstyle/interpretation based on years of knowledge and studying by the institutions. Even if you can play all the notes, if you didn't do it the right way, this is where you lose marks. A lot of them. This is also not something you can do on your own without years of studying - that's why people do masters and PhDs on music, and why people like myself, who are
students and amateur, rely on a good teacher. And I actually find learning that way very enjoyable - my teacher would go through some history with me about style and then go though the music phrase by phrase to let me know what I should be emphasizing and how much. It makes a world of a difference.
That. Is. Long...
Well stated and very accurate and true
I am so impressed that you opened up and shared your shame. That takes a lot of guts but I am sure that by doing this you have provided some great advice and help for those preparing for a high level exam. I encourage you to keep going and go for that ARCT. it will make you an even better teacher. Failure/Shame can be looked at as a positive thing because it can provide one an opportunity to learn and progress.
Thanks so much for the encouragement! It's definitely on my radar to give it another go, once I spend some more time developing skills.
As you keep on with your music, you'll experiment and play around with interpretation, and best of all, when you're not doing an exam, you can let yourself be free to experiment.
pianoTV There are many people who have an ARCT but they don't do anything with it after their exams are over. Their certificates hang on the wall but they sometimes stop performing completely because in their minds, they are "done." You don't have the ARCT, however, you are using your skills to teach the world about music, and that's something to be very proud of!
Hey! I'm also a piano teacher in Toronto working towards my ARCT in Pedagogy. I am currently on the intermediate level. I love your channel! I just wanted to say, I get you here! I did my grade 10 two years ago also as an adult because I did pop and originals all through my 20's and returned to classical when I started teaching 7 years ago. Dude, I took 3 years to work on my grade 10, and I performed at open miss every week for 1.5 years before going in to the exam. I also played at retirement homes, played on the public piano at Indigo and Loblaws, and put on my own recitals for friends and family, because I knew I would fail if I didn't practice performing a billion times to work out my nerves. I brainwashed myself with affirmations for the month leading in. I thought I was going to die from a heart attack on the subway going to my exam and was also shaking the whole way through. I ended up with 85% but thats because I took 3 years to get used to playing these pieces while terrified in many situations. Anyway, I totally relate and you are awesome to share this! The fear is real!!!! xo
I would give you top marks for your analysis of the exam results. You're a great speaker and could have a career in television, radio, etc, certainly as a commentator. I think it was also a great service to share your experience with others so that they avoid certain pitfalls and know what to expect. That was very generous of you!
Your comment is also very generous, thanks for the kind words. :)
Your video is anything but "shameful", it takes a lot of honesty and guts to share your failures (well, almost failure!) and a great spirit to try to use that as a way of helping others with their exams. I must plead ignorance, what are these exams for? Are they part of a performance BA or BFA?
They aren't part of a BA/BFA - RCM exams are their own entity. I know lots of university students who also complete their RCM credentials (they'll have, say, a performance degree and their ARCT from the RCM).
I did RCM exams as a kid (it's a standard procedure as a piano student), and have been working on finishing them as an adult. From my perspective, it's much more flexible than getting a university degree (can work at my own pace and at my own times), but the credentials are just as valid when you're a piano teacher. If it was 10 years ago I might have gotten a degree, but now that I'm nearly 30, I just don't have the time!
pianoTV Thank you for sharing your experience I was kicked out from RCM when I was 20 because I told someone I wanted to become an engineer. After a few years, I did go to college and became an engineer as I had wished. But I never took piano lessons again. I took cello lessons instead with a great younger teacher much later in my life when I got a job and could afford it in CA. But I am still much more comfortable to play piano peices that I had learned when I was a teenager.
pianoTV
If you are like me having never tested, but at Level 5, would they start me at level five or back at level 1?
For violin, 8-9 is a big jump, 9 and 10 are practically synonymous for most pieces, but 10-ARCT is a huge jump.
No one likes violin piano gang
@@西宮硝子-k8l Although I know too little of the violin to speak about my own preferences. I do not think violin is any worse than piano
@@西宮硝子-k8l I am doing level 9 violin and artc piano, trust me they are no difference lol-
watching this after my piano exam which I have a feeling I failed. I feel super embarrassed even though it was just me and the examiner. Hopefully this won’t make me full as bad! I’ll comment my results when I get them!
Update: I passed with a 72! I had expected way worse, I’m so happy woohoo!!!!
ahhhhhhhhhhh i just did my level 10 piano exam and i think i didnt do well either :///
aaaa im doing the exam tomorrow
@@sarshlyx good luck 😊😊
I passed my exam surprisingly with a 77
go practice 😂😂😂
@@vii2674 thank you! oh good job passing, i think i messed up some of my songs haha
@@sarshlyx its ok i messed up a few of my song too 😅😅😅 but i messed up my technique tests the most 🥶🥶🥶
hope you get a good mark :D
Thank you for sharing. Nervousness can certainly be a huge factor. I recommend taking the bulletproof musician online course. It's excellent!
I've been teaching for 20 years, but struggle with performance anxiety so I decided to start with the RCM level 4 test to gain confidence. I just finished level 6 & eventually will get up to level 10!
Thank you for sharing your experience! I’m also an adult learner, preparing for level 9 RCM exam and eventually will do level 10 as well. Im grateful that you share your experience, now I know what to look out for and be mentally prepared myself!❤
I really appreciated the openness and honesty you showed in this video. Grade 10 RCM is demanding and you shouldn't be ashamed of your results. I think it's great that you shared this so that other musicians like myself can get a sense of what to watch out for. I used to have a tendency to jump into playing difficult pieces without focusing on learning the building blocks. I am a (mostly) self taught pianist and I'd like to improve my sight reading skills and technique. Not really into exams but I should learn how to play properly.
I went from Level 8 to Level 10 and it's been very hard! Even with 2 hours of practice per day I have not seen improvement and am really nervous for my exam in August, especially since I've only had less than a year and a half to prepare. But your videos made me feel better and put me in the mindset that I CAN DO THIS. I'm only twelve and this exam will be really hard to pass, but hopefully I make it through.
I admire your humility and generosity.
I started a beginner course about 20 years ago and at the end-of-year concert I insisted on playing from memory a piece I knew well. After the first few bars my mind went totally blank. I started again and the same thing happened. Embarrassed was not the word. I gave up lessons and was convinced that I am not a performer. I’m now in my 60s and in our 4th covid lockdown, I bought an electronic keyboard. Almost starting over again but am loving it so much. Working on Allysia’s Teachable module and slowly it’s sinking in. I regret the wasted years of just tinkering at my old piano that I no longer have.
Belated thanks for making this video! It's fascinating to see examples of performance exam commentary. I greatly appreciate the personal perspective you bring to pianoTV. It makes the material more useful, grounded, and entertaining. I'm looking forward to binging more of the pianoTV back catalog-and maybe someday taking an RCM exam.
Your results were actually typed? When I took my RCM exams, all the comments were handwritten, and those RCM examiners write worse than doctors do.
they really do
they type them now bc the writing is always so rushed and they want the students to actually read it properly now lol
So true
I was thinking this exact thing lol. I can't read my grade 9 results for the life of me
Failure is the best teacher. Good job.
Don't quit, do it again. Go for it. Mastery level!!!
Thank you for being so generous with your audience. This is so useful on a couple levels. We all have set backs sometimes, and the way you dealt with it is so smart and mature. I did grade 6 years ago. I don’t even remember my score but the test itself was not a great experience. Like you, I was too nervous. I’ve decided that I will not do another test unless I can be confident and comfortable playing the pieces. Thank you for all the technical tips too.
Don't worry Lisa! Very few people ever get to the 10 level...You can be a competent and expressive pianist without those tests....On the other hand, you did learn a lot! Kudos to you for sharing...you help us all by your honesty and fresh outlook...Great channel...Thanks so much!!!
about to take my level 10 exam the coming april in 2017. Thanks for sharing your experience. Learned some tips to use next year:D
Good luck, it's a big one!
The Angst Of Composing me too
+Ellaina Ding I'm doing the first half of my split exam in April! how about yourself?
I'm taking level 10 too
History 1- December 2016
Level 10 technicals,etudes and ear training(split)- April 2017
Harmony 2- May 2017
History 2- August 2017
Level 10 repertoire- sometime in 2018 or 2019
Oh man can relate!! I was 19 when I did my Gr 10 and I had to go by the 2008 syllabus requirements and they had increased the amount of technic and ear requirements. They also required at least 70% in each category or 75% overall. Normally I'd have been OK with this if everything hadn't been so underprepared, which in turn lowered my confidence for the first time ever. Suffice to say I broke down the day before my exam, stopped practicing and had a lot to drink (so many regrets to this day). Fortunately I was the first person to perform and my examiner was really nice so my anxiety went down, which in turn experienced an OK performance. Overall I ended up passing each category with a 73% avg. To this day this exam was the hardest one I've ever done, not even my music exams at university were this hard. I even waited 6 years until I did my ARCT which also took a lot out of me (but that's a whole other story).
Overall I don't regret these experiences as it taught me many valuable lessons. Biggest being:
1) DON'T neglect technique EVER!!!
2) Get a very competent teacher. I decided to not go back to my teacher and waited about a year to find a good one as my confidence was at an all time low and was experiencing arm and shoulder pain whenever I played my old Gr 10 pieces. My teacher ended up addressing more than just my pain but my confidence level as well. I'm not saying that a good teacher is a miracle worker but at the very least they can provide a different perspective on almost everything that you've been doing.
3) Priotize practicing. It's so obvious yet when working or school becomes a priority we always put practicing to the bottom of the list, which then becomes a chore. I had to remind myself that I got only one shot at this performance so whenever I can practice I had to try doing it, even if it meant giving up my social life.
You are a natural teacher. Love this. I failed at my swimming exam when I was 10, yet became a really strong swimmer and had no fear of swimming in the ocean later. I bombed 2 important math tests while acing a really hard one the previous day in differential equations. My mind froze up the next day. That freaked me out so bad, I dropped out of college yet managed to get a software development jobs which provided a nice nest egg at retirement. And I excelled in all my computer jobs during my career. I turned failure into assets. Test anxiety is a real thing, and at the time, the counselors were not very useful at helping me.
LOL Thank you so much for your courage to be candid in front of the world. You Rock!!!
thanks alesia for your bold dissection of grades10 results.i have always wanted to send an appreciation mail for the last one year.but now i appreciate for your openness and making students learn from others failures.i am your student for the last one year and i bought all the books you suggested for grade 1 and i am doing my practice.i always remember you in my practice.
just let not failures overcast its shadows over the mountain of success.after ten years from now may be we will meet to get tips in passing rcm if i intend to take it. ia m doing abrsm grade 1 and i have a long way to go.cheer up .you have lots to rejoice in this world.you are a great teacher.i am sorry you did not get what you wished.
Aww thanks for the lovely comment! :) I was a little bummed out when I first got my marks back, but it doesn't bother me now. It was a good learning experience!
RCM exams are no joke and even passing is a huge victory. Thanks for sharing. My husband always reminds me that any exam that the "final" is the only mark that counts, is such a hurdle! I had the same leaping through exams a bit randomly in my early grades. Grade 9 to 10 is a HUGE gap. So discouraging to get that lower mark. For some exams, you may be able to retake only a small portion of it - I had to retake my technique portion and was so glad I did, as it made my ARCT way more possible.
Thanks for the humble honesty. Makes me feel better about my personal piano
obstacles.
I'm not from the US so I don't know how there RCM exams are judged, but I don't think your marks were low because you were 'too creative'. It does take complete mastery of the piece before you can start playing around with the tempos and actually deviating from the text on the page. For example there is an amazing video on youtube of Daniel Barenboim explaining Rubato. It is so incredibly nuanced and thought through, just slowing down and speeding up is not at all the same. William turner used to spit on his paintings, but that doesn't mean every 'amateur' will be praised for doing the same.
She is from Canada we don't have RCM exams in the US to my knowledge.
Devin Huang J.M.W. Turner (the W stands for William) was a British landscape painter from the late 18th-early 19th century
Could you please link the video of Barenboim explaining rubato? thank you
Don't feel ashamed! I tried the ARCT Performers exam a few years ago and missed passing by about 6 marks. I don't really remember the comments but I think there were similar issues to what they wrote on yours. I was proud of my achievement of playing some 50 minutes of music from memory but the failure helped me realize where and what my weaknesses are/were. I don't know if I will attempt it again (they are so expensive!) but continue to work on the fundamentals and keep improving. Its brave of you to come forward and present this!
6 marks - so close! I know quite a few who have failed the ARCT performance, so you are in good company. :) You're right, they get insanely expensive - but it's cool that you gave it a go, and you probably have some great music in your repertoire now!
Just loved to watch it today. My teacher was complaining earlier about me being extra creative when playing, so i really know how u must've felt like. Thanks for sharing it :3
No wonder I struggle with Claire de lune! You're playing it as a grade 10 piece.. I was trying to learn it while grade 5. Just can not do the runs after the initial soft start.
better luck next time.
you're brave and a humble person for doing a video about your test and score analysis.
with this positive attitude, you'll go far in your career.
good luck.
+Adam Momo Well that's nice of you to say. :) And there will be a next time....eventually!
Thanks for sharing. It was great to read everyone's comments. I'm a teacher and I heard about RCM from one of my students. My journey began at Level 4. I tested for Level 4, 5, and 6 in one year. I actually received First Class Honors for all three of them. This became my goal for a grade before going to the next level. Level 7 took me one year, with a grade of Honors and then First Class Honors. Level 8 took 2 years. Yes, I took the test 4 times - three grades of Honors and then finally my First Class Honors. Level 9, I started to study with a very good teacher and it only took me 1 year. One test grade receiving Honors and one with First Class Honors. Now I'm working on preparing for my Level 10. I'm not ready yet and because of your comments, I think I will wait until I'm more prepared. I hope you take it again and go forward. I'm planning to split mine so I can focus a little more on one half at a time. So much work but I understand the adult life! Tough to find time to practice. I'm 61 and I have been working on this for about 7 years now. I'll chime in again when I'm ready for my Level 10. :)
Did you do your exam?
@@Yuu12345 Yes I just took the Level 10 test at the end of August! Happy to say that I received Honors, but just decided today - that I'm going to do it again!! First Class Honors is my goal! Will be awhile before doing it again. I'm picking out three new pieces and one of them is 10 pages long. Yikes!!
@@ChristianPianoMusic Well done! I am in high school, and I will be taking the RCM 10 exam in April or May. My goal is First Class Honours. Distinction would be even better but I don't need to get it :)
@@Yuu12345 Wow! I can't wait to hear how you do. Keep on practicing and I'm sure you will reach First Class Honors for Level 10!! Distinction would be sweet!! Enjoy and thank-you for your kind words.
Thank you for sharing!
Great attitude to a perceived 'failure'. You turned it around into an liberating and useful learning experience. Massive Kudos!
Thanks :)
Baroque and classical arent supposed to be rubato, specially baroque. You should always play what it says in the book for it cause institutions say thats the way. classical its a biit more free but still very little changes should be done, phrase following is really important here. Romantic is the one that should be rubato, like the comment said, you can rubato, but always without affecting the main melody. About the debussy, they were not saying that you should stay by the book, they just pointed that you should make the intro slower since thats the feel that the piece gives, like a constant accelerando
baroque is a subcategory of classical, I think you mean baroque and romantic.
I can relate, i just did my level 10 a week ago. I was nervous and couldn't think straight, and basically only my pieces and etudes were good. The funny thing was, my other exams including theory were all above 85.
Hi there, great video. I completed my GR8 RCM about 30 years ago and am just picking up from there this year with a very talented teacher in Toronto. I appreciate hearing your examination experience, and I'm sure it will benefit many people. Like you this is not my full time job, so it can be a challenge to make the time to keep up on practice. Also, I appreciate you sharing how far ahead you have planned your examinations. When i was young it was 6-8 months of practice on a particular grade before attempting the examination. I think a year is more realistic, esp for those with other full time vocations. Thank you!
Thanks for your comment! I love Toronto and miss living there. Good luck with your lessons and possible exam prep!
Thank you for sharing your progress. Theory or practical exams are both difficult in their own ways. You did very well in your theory exams and it is so encouraging to see you work so hard for these exams. Personally, I find practical exams to be stressful because they can be very subjective and take a lot of nerves and lots of practice to accomplish a high score.
This is truly great and very helpful! Thanks so much for sharing. My son is working towards his RCM grade 9 exam and he can sure benefit from your experience (as a test taker). He once got a comment from the examiner for a Chopin's waltz (part of his RCM grade 5 exam): "... Rubato effects were interesting. The pedalling suggestions in the book are worth following in order to maintain clarity". Don't give up. I have no doubt you'll pass with flying colors the next time, if you decide to re-take the exam, now that you know exactly what you need to work on. If any, I'm sure this experience only makes you a better piano performer/teacher.
Thank you for your courage to be honest.
You are so sweet and human... I want to hug you ☺
The Liebestraum piece is SOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!
Wow this was INCREDIBLY helpful. Thank you SO SO much for being willing to share this. I, too, took my Gr 10 piano exam in a bit of a rush in order to get a limited time discount on it (in a nut shell, I failed my Gr. 9 exam because the examiner at the time apparently was determined to fail absolutely everyone that year, so as an apology from RCM they offered everyone who failed a FREE exam if taken within the next 1.5 years... so OBVIOUSLY my parents, teacher and myself all decided I should go for it) But, as you said, it was not quite enough time, and though I was a full time piano student at the time and didn't have adult life to deal with, I ended up with a "pass", along with an "insufficient to proceed", which has haunted me for 20 years. Now that I've hopefully gotten over it, I'm finally ready to move forward with retaking my Gr. 10, although I assume it will take probably 3 years to prepare for at this point. Either way, I really really appreciate you being so open about this. It will definitely help me prepare my pieces. Also, you are SUPER relatable. Thank you.
Wow, I can't believe there was actually an examiner who really just likes to fail people...
Examiner be like: My journey is complete.
After the examiner reads this: NO
It was so nice of you to share your experiences at RCM. I also did a few exams with the RCM and my experiences were pretty good. The only difference was that my piano teacher did push me on exams. I almost failed too, but did surprisingly good. It was very interesting.
Thanks for sharing!! It is so nice to know that the adjudicators aren't a fan of tons of rubato. I'm a music minor in college and am thinking about taking the flute level 10, performers, and teachers exams in the next few years. I already have flute/beginning piano students of my own and figured it would be a good certification to have since my college degrees will be in Psychology and Special Education when I'm done!
What a great video ! Thank you
Love your channel thank you so much for sharing your experience! I just finished my level eight exam and I’m thrilled to see I got an 87! Only three points from first class honors with distinction! Boy would I have liked to have gotten that but oh well didn’t quite cut it my technique is what brought me down I worked hard on it but it’s always been a challenge for me. God first class honors with distinction on my theory. I was a nervous wreck and so ready to get this exam over I was sure I had failed! Is exams make you crazy for sure but I still do them because music is everything in my life! I just had to have shoulder replacement surgery so I hope once I heal from that I’ll be able to get back on the horse and ride for my level nine exam!
Thanks for sharing. I think you were very brave in attempting your Grade 10 RCM without having a piano teacher. In my opinion, a qualified piano teacher would have caught many of the things the examiner criticized (use of rubato, dynamics, not holding notes down for their full count, etc.) Also, having had a teacher (1) who'd been through the experience and (2) prepared other students for the grade 10 exam and, therefore, knew what was expected, might have given you more confidence while playing (you said that your hands were shaking badly).
I have an rcm exam at the end of the month and I'm super nervous. this is actually really helpful, thank you.
Another great video! Thank you.
Thank you for sharing this!
It's hard for me to keep track of tempo. I don't like to use a metronome, I feel like a machine by doing so. Can you give me some tips? ^^
+Philo Math Honestly I don't love the metronome. So when I use it, it's generally for a pretty small part of my practice session, like when I'm actively trying to speed something up or make something more even. If I practice a song for 30 minutes, I might spend 5 - 10 minutes with the metronome, at most. This is how I keep it from getting too robotic!
+pianoTV Thank you. ^^
Yes, get a metronome and learn how to use it. And get a good teacher with a background in performance.
You need to get it reliable and accurate first. Only then can you truly play with feeling. The metronome is a friend.
Professional tip: Eat bananas! They contain relaxing enzymes that help with your mental preparation. Before competitions you can literally see bananas lying around everywhere.
P.S. Did you just call pieces "songs?" How dare you!
iCST haha classic classical musicians like me
"Before competitions you can literally see bananas lying around everywhere." Don't know why but I found this comment hilarious!
When I was young, I failed at a lot of performances of my hobbies. I was always shaking like I was freezing cold, and this impacted most anything that required my hands. Later in life, I discovered there that this was due to high anxiety. I believe a doctor can prescribe a Beta blocker to aid with this, or other prescriptions. Just FYI.
Surprisingly honest. Very helpful
It was really interesting, thank for that!
"Some effective use of rubato, but its inflexions need to be more sublte and less exaggerated" Way too much passionate person :p
I hope you reconsider and pursue an A.R.C.T. I have no regrets..having failed the ARCT performance the first time, I succeeded the second attempt. Although I seldom now play classical music, RCM gave me the tools I needed to become a good musician. They just didn't tell me how to use them. I had to figure that out on my own.
:Grade 10 is very difficult
Ling ling: Scoff Scoff
So humble woww thanks for your video awesome
Now im panicking more about my RCM exam ;-;.
bruh this is way in the future but how’d it go? :)
What you mention here about famous performers playing pieces very fast is a big pet peeve of mine - it seems to be a common trend today for skilled pianists to play pieces much faster than intended to show off their technical prowess, often losing the desired feeling of the music. Some pieces are just written to be played slowly or moderately, yet there's definitely a subsection of musicians who frown upon slowing down.
I have done a lot of exams in my life and the point is that what is important is not to be creative but to play according to what the RCM teachers expect to hear (even if that is not what you like). I also do not think that there is a right way and what was considered as the proper way some years ago may change. The BWV 856 prelude is given at 88 dotted quarter by Czerny and 66 by Kirkpatrick ! Taking example on what the professional performers do is not a very good idea because for one their purpose is to play for an audience and they are recognized as knowledgeable players (but sometimes criticized also in their choice like Gould). The point being when you pass an exam is to get the exam, it is important to know what would be the expectations of the evaluator and play like they would expect you to. One way is to get the advice of somebody that worked or is working as an evaluator to prepare yourself. Last point : there is no shame here; we all would like to play better than what we do but unfortunately we will never play like Arrau or Horowitz. Sometime I hear extremely talented players really butcher a piece of music though they have all the technical skills, so there is always room for improvement. Maybe you can try to separate what is the part that is due to dogmatic point of view from the evaluator and what could be somehow true and which may require some additional work.
Nice video, thanks for sharing! :)
very helpful! I started doing exactly what you did and listening to recordings of interpretations especially for the Bach and trying to imitate. Though many are at a faster tempo than what is written for suggested tempo in the RCM repertoire book. I was thinking of going faster and even adding some trills but will now stick to doing it by the book as you said. Also I noticed a recording where someone did the recording notes staccatto instead of legato. I think RCM wants legato though for the specific piece I'm doing. Will not stray too far from what's written then. Nevertheless I think interpretations of Bach seem to have two schools of thought. One is more free with a little rubato to emphasize key changes and tonicization and one is more strictly in rhythm. I think Bach interpretation is highly personal as well. Everyone seems to have an opinion on how to perform Bach. People seem to think that a Prelude is slightly more rubato and free (and probably a little slower) since it's a form that was more for the lutes improvisation and tuning and not a dance form. I also encourage you to go for your ARCT. I'm sure there are other grade 10 pieces that you could learn too. Right now I have grade 10 viola but doing grade 6 piano as a requirement and planning on doing my ARCT next year.
Isn't it funny how variable Bach can be? And yeah, a by-the-book interpretation will almost definitely go over better than a Glenn Gould style approach. :) Thanks for the comment, and good luck with exams!
She actually did really good!
You take this very well!
That's only because I didn't make this video right after I got my exam results... :)
Ah, that makes sense :) I just did level 1!
Dynamics remain my Achilles heel. That and sight reading in general.
You play wonderfully. Boom! Plus, you're a hoot.
Thank you. I’m preparing my grade 8 exam. Finger crossed 🤞
Hi! I'm just discovering your channel. You're doing really cool stuff here, and it looks like tons of people are learning piano here. That's HUGE!!
There's a video on TH-cam where Barenboim is conducting a masterclass on playing Beethoven, and he has Lang Lang play through the first movement of the Appassionata for analysis. Barenboim picks apart the performance as only he can, including taking issue with Lang Lang's varying tempi within certain sections, saying things like "At this point, I miss the pulse you originally set". It's not clear from the video whether Lang Lang was there as an expert or as a student, but I think he was already pretty well known by then. No real point here, just thought you might find it interesting.
I'm subscribing here, even though I sort of play already. (Maybe I'll get some video ideas for my channel.) :)
This is awesome, I have to go hunt that down! I love that Lang Lang was Barenboim's temporary student!
When I did my Grade 9 RCM, I was also told a lot by the examiner that I needed to either have a more steady tempo, or that I changed it too much just like you did. I also found that they get a lot fussier about dynamics and by sticking by exactly what's written in the book in front of you.
I'm working on my Grade 10 now, so let's hope it goes a lot better than my Grade 9!!
grade 10 RCM piano is certainly not for the faint of heart, takes a lot of work and dedication, you can give yourself a huge pat on the back, regardless. The problem you experience, I must be frank, I think is because of skipping grades. Everybody says it's fine, even the exam boards; I say it's not, especially for gr 10. It's fine until gr 4 or 5, if that. The first two pieces I ever learned at the piano, by myself, was Mozart's Turkish Rondo and Bach's 1st Invention. People let me straight into late intermediate courses, they all said I was grade 5 ABRSM, so I could sit grade 6 classes. I did, and after that I decided to start doing ALL the work I had not done. I refused to call myself a grade 5 or 6 pianist as all these experts were saying. So I think I made a very similar mistake to yours. On the equally realistic side, an 'almost failed' gr 10 pianist is still a remarkable achievement, might translate as a very confident gr 7 or 8 pianist, which is still a lot. That's still a pro pianist, it simply means one can learn anything at those grades, easily enough. The piano is a very tough nut to crack, more so than ANY other instruments. Other instruments might still be hard, but the piano is boss when it comes to that. Exams are always an exciting challenge. Also, Bach is always harder than anything else, even when it looks easier. He was a freak of nature. Do your work and enjoy the journey. The other great thing is: you can always have a rematch! Isn't that great? :)
What type of questions did they ask in The RCM level 9 and 10 Music History exams?
i have to say thanks for comforting me that i'll make it out of the exam room alive, although its the ear test clapback and playback i honestly suck at. im pretty sure i'll get about 0, and i think thats actually going to be true. im level 8 and i couldnt even do level 3 clapback/ playback so what chance do i have....
and oof my teacher keeps emphasizing RUBATO RUBATO especially for my worst piece my etude no. 7
There are some people you can't satisfy. You technically got through it, but they nailed you on creativity and saw that as a flaw. They were probably very nice to you too, and you didn't think anything was wrong... until you read their comments. I commend your upbeat attitude. I would have flipped out. So next time you might get a person who will say, "Not enough emotion, no feel, etc..." -- in which case I would find out beforehand what is expected artistically from the piece.
I thought I bombed my grade 10, because I pretty much had to start over all my pieces! Luckily, I guess the examiner saw over my memory failure and I actually got an 85 ☺️ just know, for anyone who’s about to take your exam: your examiner doesn’t want you to fail, and they’re not dumb either! A little flaw in memory or a small mistake won’t affect your mark if you’re generally prepared.
Did you end up redoing it Allysia?
Omg!!!I have the same problem with Bach.I can play his prelude and fugue no 6 in d minor wtc2.I made the same mistake i listen to many youtube videos.I think i should slow down and focus on the detail and tempo(Because I love Chopin and romantic pieces with tons of rubato) .I think im gonna start with a few other easier prelude and fugues just to get the baroque feel then step over to this one.
That's more or less what I've been doing!
Hi Could you make a video of the grade 10 (2015) ear training.... I feel it becomes harder after the changes...Thank you.
you're grade 10, I'm grade 1 and I can't even do that perfectly :D
Sang Dang it’s ok, you will get there eventually
Well? How did it go? Are you still learning how to play the piano?
My Conservatory harmony test, unlike my class mates,was not to analyze mozart and beethoven sonatas,but was to play.Yes,play.Professors told me: play whatever you like! They never found any ministerial testing necessary for me. It will be in my bio
thanks so much for sharing!
I just had a piano recital with my old teacher (aunt) cause I'm doing my grade 8 in three days I played sooo bad that she had to remind everyone that she wasn't the one who prepared me :( my memory failed me a couple of times but there's no time to get better do u think they'll fail me if I have some mistakes I don't recover from as well
Did you have split exams back then? Because now, we can choose if we want to separate our grade 10 exam into repertoire for one and everything else for another. I think that would of been better for both mental and physical preparation. Anyway, great video!
Thanks for the video, it’s so refreshing to find someone willing to share their success and shortfalls in order to help others benefit from your experience. In my eyes it projects strength not weakness. As far as piano...I have only really been learning (very inconsistently) the past year and I get pulled up all the time for the same reasons, varied tempo etc....I specialise in rubato lol. One thing I find frustrating is the concept to regurgitate the so called exact score. Music is interrupted by us as individuals and how is it expected to evolve if you cannot put a degree of individual colour into a piece? Unless someone actually plays the piece on the exact same instrument as the author each performance will sound different simply due to the instruments having variation. I guess it’s finding a balance of preserving the past and building upon its foundations.
hey! i took my 10 rcm last june too! i also didnt give myself enough time to prepare... but at least i passed.... but not enough to go onto arct. thanks for your videos! im doing my history 1 exam in a week ;)
Looks like we both did similarly then! A mark in the 60s, not quite enough to move forward. I just saw this comment now, so hopefully your history exam went great - those ones I find the most fun! :)
+pianoTV thank you! it went very well!
Dude you got a 97 precent on your history 2? that is better than I could ever have done. Be proud of yourself.
The use of rubato is unfortunate but I see why they commented on it from their perspective. Having a strict tempo and pulse is a simple way to demonstrate fluency in a piece. So for exam purposes, I think more students should be extremely cautious when fluctuating the tempo unless the score calls for it. It just becomes hard for an examiner to know when someone is changing the tempo for artistic purposes vs. when someone just can't play certain passages at the same speed.
I completed my ARCT with an 86 but I got low 60's on my theory hahaha!
BTW you just gained a new subscriber!
Im taking mine in like 3 weeks. Any tips for an arct exam? Im feeling nervous!!!
@@kevinkuan4090 you know you can edit a comment right?
I almost botched my grade 10 exam too. My pieces and studies were great and I even performed the contemporary piece by memory when I wasn't prepared enough to perform it by memory. I even marked it as unmemorized when giving the preparation sheet to the examiner. But it was my scales that were horrible. I was woefully unprepared and they were payed extra slowly. Ear training and sight reading were fine. I think my overall mark was 76%, which is easily my lowest exam mark.
Pieces:
Bach: Prelude and Fugue in D Major, BWV 850
Haydn: Piano Sonata in B Minor, Hob. XVI:32
Chopin: Waltz in E Minor, Op. posthumous
Manuel de Falla: Danse du meunier (The Miller's Dance)
Harry Somers: Strangeness of Heart
Studies:
Loeschhorn: Etude in E Minor, Op. 67, No. 5
Rachmaninoff: Etude-tableau, Op. 33, No. 8
I took the RCM Grade 10 same time as you! I likewise (almost) failed the practical exam with a 62, but it was more because I had a small timeframe to catch the RCM, and my teacher planned for me to meet the bare minimum because I had no plans to go higher. I still have yet to do theory, and unfortunately in this case, I'm NOT a theory and history nerd. I've practiced through the years with little theory lessons, so I need to be able to learn what you know in less than a year D:
Good luck! I did my history/harmony with less than a year of prep as well. The main thing is being organized and working through epic amounts of practice tests. In the few months leading up to each exam, I was probably studying 2 hours a day (more when it came closer to test time). Of course, my goal was to get as close to 100% as possible, so you wouldn't necessarily work quite as hard if you just wanted a passing grade.
pianoTV I'd preferably aim to do as well as I could. It still hurts seeing a low score even if it's the intention. Thank you for the advice!
Did you use the RCM 2008 piano syllabus when you did your exam in 2015, or did you use the 2015 syllabus? I'm curious to know because the 2008 syllabus required more for technique (in every key for scales, chords, etc.), and the 2015 syllabus requires only specific keys. Also, I saw a comment that you'd posted in reply to another comment that you didn't seek much help from a teacher. Did you completely self-teach yourself the entire level 10 requirements from the syllabus? If so, that's pretty impressive! Did you see a teacher maybe once a month or every couple of months, or did you completely self-teach yourself?
You mean you're over 19 years old!?! I like your channel.
Just came across your channel - this video has brought back soooo many bad memories... :)
I did my RCM10 many years ago, barely hit 75 required to take ARCT, but ARCT turned out much better. So many of your points are very true, they are sticklers for tempo and dynamics as written on the page more than freedom of expression. I got nailed for trying to lightly pedal Octave legato on a Mozart, and dude wasn't impressed with my interpretation of 20:6 on a Chopin Nocturne. Not sure why these exams have to be so rough because it can really hurt people's feelings and sometimes does more to discourage...
Are you going for ARCT?
Pretty cool you showing all this stuff, where I live we don't have grading system, I always thought it only went up to Grade 8 and after all it was U, nice to know they go higher.
Oh really? Here the RCM is very commonplace, even non-musicians have heard of musical grades. I sometimes forget it isn't so widespread!
Great atitude..
Once, I got 95 points for my exam!