Is your teacher giving you a piano exam for the first time and you're very nervous?The article will help you prepare for the test.
Step 1: You know what to expect.
Do you know what the exam contains?Scales and arpeggios, aural tests, general knowledge, and sight reading are some of the exams that include playing pieces with or without music.
Step 2: Take time to check the syllabus, and ask your teacher how the test will be administered.
Step 3: Prepare for the exam on your own, but spend a lot of time in your lesson.
Step 4: Listen to and understand what you're playing.
Step 5: Scales are used for practice.
Scales are difficult to memorize.Don't learn them in chronological order.
Step 6: Take a practice exam with your teacher.
Step 7: For the last two weeks, don't leave sight and aural practice unattended.
Ask your teacher to practice this for ten minutes at the end of each lesson.It is a good idea to start this early because you may be more worried about your pieces.Sight reading is easy once you get used to it.Try out the piece both handed and remember the key signatures and beats in the 30 seconds the examiner gives.If you know your notes, aural is easy.They will ask you to say the notes, clap the rhythm, sing the piece and also two features of a piece.You need to learn the musical words to succeed in Aural.
Step 8: The way you practice is how you will play it.
Step 9: The lines and spaces of each clef should be memorised.
Don't look at the keys to learn to play.
Step 10: If you have time for a short practice run, look at the key signature and clefs and play the piece if you make a mistake.
Even if the time they set you is 30 seconds, many examiners give you enough time to play the piece through.You can play the piece twice without stopping.You will have two rehearsals if you play it for the real time.
Step 11: If you can't do it quickly, play it slowly.
Quality of your playing is what the examiner is looking for.
Step 12: You will be given two lines to look at.
The time signature and key signature are important.Get the beat in your head.If you want, you can tap with your foot.Get a feel for what it might sound like by looking over the lines.You can say the notes in your head as you play them.Keep going if you make a mistake.
Step 13: It's time to practice!
You should keep playing your pieces.Try to play the pieces twice through while you're practicing.
Step 14: Listen to the music and just look at it.
Step 15: If you want to play with hands together, practice hands separately until they are comfortable.
The pieces should be given to you well in advance and you will have plenty of time to prepare.Practice the pieces until they're in your head.You can play the song with your fingers on a desk or table.You are all set if you can tap right through.You still need to practice it if you stop or forget.Add dynamics once you have the notes down.You can infer the dynamics if you have the feeling of the song.
Step 16: Most people like to play the scales and arpeggios before the exam to limber their fingers.
Step 17: If the option is given to you in the exam, you have to make a decision.
Most people like to start with a technically demanding piece and end with their favourite.
Step 18: Take a quiz on the signatures of each scale.
Chances are you will be given a list of scales for your exam, and the examiner will pick a couple at random for you to play.
Step 19: With your eyes closed, hold the scales hands apart, staccato and legato.
You know the scales inside out if you mix it up.Knowing which key your fourth finger goes on is one of the most important parts of playing a scale.Everything else will fall into place if the fourth finger is on the correct key.It is possible to say the fingering in your head as you play, for example "1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5".The other hand usually falls into place if you concentrate on the hand that requires most work.Scales and arpeggios are dependent on fingering.
Step 20: In lower grade exams, you will be asked to clap to the beat, name the time signature, and differentiate between the same piece when played twice.
When clapping the beat, clap hard on a strong beat and softly on the weak beat.
Step 21: Think where you clapped for the strong beat if you're asked to give the meter of the piece.
It is in triple time if you clapped "strong-weak- weak".dual time is implied by the word strong-weak.
Step 22: Think about each beat and see if the metre is simple or compound.
compound time is the number of shorter notes in each beat.Simple time is when there are usually two or more of them.
Step 23: Understand the basics of time signatures.
These include 2, 3, 4 and 5.The lower number indicates what each beat is, such as a minim; 4 a crotchet; 8 a quaver and so on.The number is higher if there are three quavers in the bar.
Step 24: Understand how time signatures work.
The dates are 6/8, 9/2, 12/8 and 12/16.A complex time signature is a mixture of simple and compound time.There are many ways to split the beat.Complex time can be fitted into more usual time signatures such as 4/4, for example by the main beats being two crotchets, then a crotchet.
Step 25: There are some time signatures that can be used.
There are three quavers in a bar.There is one beat in a bar, which can be divided into three quavers.
Step 26: It is important to learn the terminology accurately.
After the administrator plays a piece, you might be asked a series of questions.You should study the syllabus for your exam.Was the piece played at the beginning?Was the middle section staccato or legato?Was there a ritardando at the end?Was there arescendo at the end?You need to learn all the terminology for this.