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8 Essential Keys for Successful Exam Preparation Darlene Irwin

Exams…the very thought can strike fear into the hearts of many a student! But they can also be an important part of the musical journey. Successful exam preparation is a HUGE part of what we do as teachers. I often say that passing an exam is like opening a musical door. As a student completes an exam, he passes through that door and enters a whole new level of music. 

There are many wonderful Conservatory systems offering graded exams for students. I use the Royal Conservatory of Music Examination (RCM) for my students. It’s a great way for them to logically and systematically pass through the various levels. This past year, 9 of my students completed their piano exams, ranging from Grade 1 to 8.  All marks were 84% or higher. Several were 90% or higher including two Grade 7's with 92%. My Grade 8 played his exam just 2 weeks ago. He received 91%!

I would like to share with you some ideas that have helped me prepare my students for exams.

(Note....I'm giving away FREE mock exam charts at the end of this blog post).

 

KEY #1    BE READY

 

Are You Prepared for the Next Level?

  • Moving too quickly through early grades can lead to discouragement later on. 
  • Students need to have the technical facility and sight reading skills before they start taking exams. This can take two to three years for a beginner.
  • Each student is different. Sometimes it's good to do a junior exam so that students become familiar with the process. Other times, it's better to wait until they are older and more mature. Some students need a certain grade for a school credit.
  • Exams are not for everyone. Some students enjoy doing recitals or master classes. Others prefer competitions. The most important thing is that they learn to love music. Find out what they like. Encourage them to do lots of different styles of music, including duets and trios. 

 KEY #2    GIVE IT TIME

Long-term Planning is Critical

  • Once a student is ready, it can takes 6-8 months to prepare for a junior exam (Pre Gd 1 - Grd 3). Intermediate exams may take an entire year. Senior exams usually take longer.
  • All of this depends on how hard they work, how quickly they learn and how busy they are with family, school and other activities.
  • Last-minute preparation leads to frustration for both the student and the teacher.
  • An effective learning technique that I use is....have students learn and memorize their exam pieces early in the year, put them away for a time and don't play them, then bring them back and perfect them.
  • Have them play other pieces at the same time. That way, they don't get tired of their exam pieces.
  • Technique, Sight Reading and Ear Training are worth over 30 marks on an RCM exam AND they can't be crammed. Work consistently on these areas throughout the year. 

KEY #3     PICK PIECES CAREFULLY

Strategic Piece Selection

  • Try picking pieces that are in the syllabus but not in the current books. Students love to feel that they are doing something unique. It’s also refreshing for an examiner to hear something totally different.
  • In the RCM system, you can replace one study with a Popular selection OR a ‘Teacher’s Own Choice’ (Grade 3 and up). 
  • Pick pieces that will highlight the student's strengths. 
  • Here are some interesting and varied pieces that my students have chosen recently. All of these pieces work well for exams.
Grade 1March of the Terrible Trolls (Linda Namath) List B (Canadian Composer)
Grade 2Land of the Silver Birch (Nancy Telfer) List C (Canadian Composer)
Grade 3Shark (Teresa Richart) Study - Teacher’s Own Choice (Canadian Composer) from 'At Sea'
Grade 4Muskoka Autumn (Frances Balodis) Study - Teacher’s choice (Canadian Composer)
Grade 5Moonless Night (Richard Faith) List C
Grade 6Winter Scene (Boris Berlin) List C (Canadian Composer)
Grade 7Arctic Moon (Wynn-Anne Rossi) List C
Grade 8Country Sentimental (Christopher Norton) Study - Popular Selection
Grade 9Monarchs (Martha Duncan) List D (Canadian Composer) from 'Isla Vista Suite'

 

KEY #4     MEMORIZE IN SECTIONS

Don't Practice Until You Get it Right, Practice Until You Can't Get it Wrong. 

Here's my Theory....there are 3 levels of memory for pieces

  1. You can play it at home, but it is still shaky at your lesson.
  2. You can play it at your lesson, but it is not yet ready for performance.
  3. You can play it for anyone because you know it inside out.
  • Divide pieces into logical sections according to form and phrasing. Label them A, B, C etc.
  • Learn and memorize pieces Hands Separately (HS)  and Hands Together (HT) in sections.
  • Be able to start at any section - RH, LH or HT (Safely nets throughout piece).
  • Keep going in performance….jump to the next section if you must but NEVER go back.
  • Practice 'jumping' while playing....student starts their piece, teacher calls out a section and the student must jump to that section and keep going!
  • See our handy Sight Reading Memory and Performance Cards for lots of great ideas on Memorizing and Performance.

KEY #5    PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE

 

The Importance of Performance Practice

  • Perform each piece at least once in a master class or recital before the exam.
  • Do a video of each piece before the exam. It's a great memory check because it simulates the exam experience.
  • Have a special Exam Master Class about 3 weeks before exams.
  • Have each student perform their pieces, one after the other, as a concert group. There usually isn't time for studies.

Have a 'Scale-a-Thon' at the end of the class....here's how it works:

  • Each student receives a small plastic bag.
  • You will need the 'Scale Charts' or technique books for each grade and a bowl of M&M’s.
  • Call a student’s name and a scale or triad from their grade.
  • Students take turns running to the piano and playing their technique for each other.
  • If they do it well, they can put an M&M in their bag. The goal is to get as many M&M's as possible.
  • Before the class, students work harder on their technique knowing they are going to be playing them for others.
  • After the class, the younger students work harder to improve because they've heard what the older students can do.

KEY #6     MAINTENANCE PRACTICE

Maintaining a Piece is Like Mountain Climbing

  • Students sometimes struggle to keep fast-paced pieces at performance level.
  • Having a piece ready for performance is like making it to the top of the mountain. However,  if you are not careful, it will start to slide down the other side! Jelly Fingers set in!
  • Get out the musical ropes and pull that piece back up to the top of the mountain. What are the ropes, you ask? Why, the metronome, of course....he should be your best friend.
  • Slow practice is really fast practice in slow motion.
  • You need to control the music....you can't let the music control you!! 
  • All fast pieces should have a maintenance speed. You can practice it up to speed as well...but only if you have paid the price with slow metronome practice.
  • The fast speed should be a little under the suggested metronome speed. Adrenaline will take care of the rest! If a student has practiced slowly with the metronome, he should be able to control his piece in performance. 

See my blog post on Maintenance Practice for more ideas.

KEY #7     ORDER MATTERS

Plan the Order of the Exam Carefully

In the RCM exam system, a student is allowed to chose the order of the exam (i.e. doing pieces or technique & studies first, order of studies, order of pieces).

Here is my preferred order for an exam: 

  • Start with technique. It should be well prepared...I have my students play their technique at the speeds of the next grade.
  • Doing technique first gives them a chance to try the piano, settle into the exam, and warm up their fingers.
  • Studies will be next. They do not NEED to be memorized, but they should be anyway. Having the music as a 'security blanket' will take away the pressure of 'having' to memorize studies. 
  • Choose the order of songs so that they start and end with their strongest pieces. Alternate fast and slow songs for interest and variety.
  • Ear Training and Sight Reading are always done last.

 KEY #8     MOCK EXAMS WORK

Mock Exams - An Essential Part of Exam Training

  • Do mock exams on the last 3 lessons before an exam. Students feel much more comfortable with the whole exam process by the third mock.
  • Pretend to be the examiner. Run through the entire exam exactly as it will be done on their exam day.....minimal cordial talking only, have them wait quietly while you write, no comments or feedback from examiner, only written comments. The first time that they experience this can be very unnerving.
  • I use the graded Mock Exam Sheets (for sale on this website). They are fillable PDF files. I can write in them for the mock exam, save them and then e-mail the sheet to the student at the end of the exam. Each Mock Exam Sheet comes with a handy Percentage Calculation Chart.
  • I do give them marks on their mock exam. I explain to them beforehand that I are not their examiner, that this is just one moment in time and that their mark can certainly change on the day of their exam. I usually mark harder than the examiner. I just want to make sure that they are in first-class territory (80%).
  • You can ask your students to print their mock exam sheets and tape them into their Organizer for future reference.

A practical piano exam is made up of many different components….Technique, Studies, Pieces, Ear Training and Sight Reading. Preparing for a piano exam requires that all of these things peak at the same time. I like to compare an exam to a musical box….we add each of these prepared elements to the box one at a time until the box is full. Then and only then is the student is ready for their exam. Good luck preparing your students for their music exams.

 ♥︎ Remember - Great Music Comes From the Heart ♥︎

 

Photo credit: Alice's Door Knob, 7-2012

 

 

 

 

 


Discovering Musical Gems Darlene Irwin

One of the biggest challenges for a teacher can be finding appropriate pieces that students love to play! I’m always looking for interesting, well written music that captures their imagination but also contains sound pedagogical ideas. Finding such a piece is like finding a hidden treasure.

These past few weeks my students have been busy preparing for their first master class and for the Christmas recital. I teach many different levels, ranging from beginners to advanced. Several students are working towards specific goals such as recitals, exams or evaluations.

We currently live in a rural area and all of my students celebrate Christmas. Because of that, most of them have picked a Christmas song for the recital. However, this was not always the case. When I lived in a large city, I had a more multi-cultural program, reflecting the various ethnic backgrounds of my students.

Master classes and recitals are great because students have an opportunity to share their musical gems with others while building confidence at the same time. It’s important to broaden their musical horizons by having them experience all different styles and types of music, from the Classics to Modern to Pop and Jazz. It's also important that we, as teachers, avoid getting stuck in a ‘musical rut’ by always teaching the same material. 

Every year I try to find something new and fresh to share with my students. It makes them feel special because they are playing something unique. They especially enjoy descriptive pieces that paint vivid musical picture.

Regular Pieces

Here are some of the wonderful musical gems that my students have worked on this fall. A few are regular graded pieces, others are Christmas songs, some are pieces that I have taught before and some I am teaching for the first time. 

Elementary (Pre-Grade 1 - Grade 2)

 

Starfish At N
ight (Anne Crosby) from 'Freddie the Frog'
-  very simple and yet very beautiful 
-  have students write a story and draw a picture
-  great piece to introduce descriptive playing to a younger student

Pagodas in the Purple Mist (Faber & Faber) from 'Piano Adventures Performance' 2B
great piece for teaching the pentatonic scale
-  I played the duet with my student while her sisters improvised on a xylophone





To Fly Like an Eagle (Anne Crosby) from 'Freddie the Frog'
-  evokes picture of a magnificent eagle soaring high above the majestic mountains
-  patterns, counting, pedal, phrasing

The Wind (Chee-Hwa Tan) from 'A Child's Garden of Verses'
- another wonderfully descriptive piece
- broken triads, smooth peddling between hands, dynamic contrasts
- can you imitate the wind as it ebbs and flows? Think of a windy, stormy winter night!
- one of my favourite books, based on poems by Robert Louis Stevenson

Intermediate (Grade 3 - 5)


The Stormy Sea (Anne Crosby) from 'In My Dreams'
-  very dramatic piece, fun to play
-  alternating arpeggios, peddling, dynamic changes, 6/8 time

Bedbug Blues (Christopher Norton) from 'Connections' level 4
-  can play with a cool, jazzy audio track (download on the Connections website)
- the password to obtain the audio track is on the inside cover of the book
-  imagine the lazy bedbugs laying around waiting for their next meal!!
- teaches counting and rhythm (swung eighths), listening and staying with the beat

Blue Iris (Teresa Richert) from 'Petals for Piano' (scroll down page on Teresa's website)
- click here to listen to this piece (from the website)
- all pieces based on provincial flowers of Canada
- Blue Iris is the flower of Quebec
- can you visualize a field of beautiful flowers moving gently in the breeze?
- left hand ostinato, melodic projection, fluid flowing lines
- check out Red Leaf Pianoworks for more exciting new piano repertoire

Intermediate/Early Advanced (Grades 6 - 8)


- very descriptive piece with modern notation
- always a student favourite
- many changes of dynamics and mood
-  dream-like story about a castle, bats and wolves in the dark mist

The Irish Washerwoman (arr. by Phillip Keveren) from 'The Celtic Collection'
- great collection of clever and creative arrangements of Irish folk tunes
- fun but challenging piece in 6/8 time
- lots of clef, tempo and key changes, very rhythmic and lively

Star Gazing (Alexina Louie) from 'Star Light, Star Bright'
-  Grade 8 exam piece (RCM Syllabus), uses some modern notation
-  chord clusters and rapid repeated notes to create a shimmering effect
-  lots of dynamic changes and patterns
-  very ethereal, beautiful sound picture

Christmas Arrangements

My students love playing creative arrangements of familiar tunes.
These types of arrangements can sometimes be challenging to find, but they are well worth learning.

Elementary (Pre-Grade 1 - Grade 2)


Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Faber & Faber) from 'Piano Adventures Christmas' 3A
- easy arrangement of a classic song by Tchaikovsky
- relay the history of the piece and explain the use of the celesta

Mary Did you Know? (arr. Dennis Alexander) from 'Christmas Hits'
- Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Course level 2 
- beautiful arrangement of this song
- gentle syncopation, chord patterns, melodic projection and balance

Intermediate (Grade 3 - 5)


Away in the Manger (arr. Jerry Ray) from 'Simply Christmas'
- this book contains lots of beautifully simple and elegant arrangements
- clever use of Brahms' Lullaby throughout
- balance, phrasing and rubato

Go Tell it on the Mountain (arr. Martha Mier) from 'Christmas Jazz, Rags and Blues' book 2
- well-written fun, jazzy arrangements of Christmas favourites
- syncopated rhythms and jazz harmonies

O Little Town of Bethlehem (arr Melody Bober) from 'Christmas Encores' book 1
- beautiful, inspiring and interesting arrangements
-book 2 is also a favourite
- gentle syncopation, melodic projection, tricky scale passages

Intermediate/Early Advanced (Grades 6 - 8)


We Three Kings in the style of Liszt (arr. Carol Klose) from 'Bach Around the Christmas Tree'
- classic carols written in the styles of some of the great composers
- creative, fun way to introduce styles and time periods of different composers
- second volume is called 'More Bach Around the Christmas Tree'

The First Noel (arr. Phillip Keveren) from 'A Celtic Christmas'
- this book is truly a hidden gem
- wonderful arrangements of familiar and not-so-familiar carols
- fresh approach using Celtic rhythms and colour

I Saw Three Ships (arr. Phillip Keveren) from 'A Celtic Christmas'
- fun romp in 6/8 time
- changes of time and key signatures

Duets - Early & Late Intermediate


Silent Night (arr. Melody Bober) from 'Christmas Memories for Two' book 1

O Come All Ye Faithful (arr. Melody Bober) from 'Christmas Memories for Two' book 1

Angels from the Realms of Glory (arr. Melody Bober) from 'Christmas Memories for Two'  Book 3
- 3 wonderful volumes in this series
- lovely arrangements, great for recital programs



Our first master class of this year was a HUGE success. Everyone loved sharing their special songs and hearing new and interesting pieces. After each performance, I asked them what they liked about the piece. Here are some of their varied and insightful comments....I loved the dreaminess of that piece, I closed my eyes and imagined that I was flying over the mountains, I loved the sounds of the different chords, I could clearly hear 2 voices in the right hand, it sounded very dramatic, the balance was GREAT, I LOVED the story!

Don’t be afraid to try something different. My students love playing imaginative and descriptive pieces. They also enjoy playing creative arrangements of old favourites. Have fun exploring some of these musical gems with your students. 

**Feel free to share your Musical Gems in the comments below.**

♥︎ Remember - Great Music Comes From the Heart ♥︎


Another Successful Master Class Darlene Irwin

Musical Update:

My students were so excited to perform in our Master Class this past Monday evening. Everyone agreed that this was the best one yet! They had fun sharing their music with each other. This class was our annual pajama party.

 

The students who performed were at many different levels. A few were beginners. Three had just finished their piano exams (two Grade 7's and one Grade 8) and quite a few participated in the O.R.M.T.A. evaluation day. One student is preparing for University auditions and another has just finished that process. Some performed from memory, especially those who have an upcoming performance. Others took the music up with them and then didn't even look at it. They just didn't feel comfortable performing without the score.

I asked some of my students what they liked about Master Classes. Here are some of their comments:

  • The best thing about Master Classes is the food! I also like to listen to different songs. I guess you could say that I like everything about them! (10 year old girl, Pre-Grade 1 level)
  • I love master classes because it makes performing fun. There is no stress at all. It's like Nike.....you just do it! (17 year old boy, Grade 10 level)
  • I really like the food!! And I love when people play different and unusual pieces. I also really like the pajama parties because it makes music fun. (13 year old girl, Grade 5 level).
  • I think that Master Classes are more fun than recitals. I like getting to know the other students. I also really like hearing what they are playing. (12 year old boy, Grade 8 level)
  • I get to hear lots of different songs. I really like hearing the older kids play. I also like hearings songs that I've already done. That way, I know I'm getting better! (10 year old boy, Grade 1 level)

Remember, when planning a studio master class, less is more! In this class, the pieces were not too long, everyone had the opportunity to play something and the class ended on time. The class was about 60 minutes long, which left about 30 minutes for socializing, The students especially enjoyed the snacks! Parents take turns providing refreshments for each class.

A fun time was had by all and we're already starting to pick pieces for our next Master Class in May!

 


Making Master Classes Fun and Effective Darlene Irwin

Master classes are a great way to help students to feel more comfortable performing in a relaxed and informal setting.

My students have been very busy over the last few weeks preparing for our next master class this coming Monday. See below for the chart that I will be using for this master class. There is also a free download of the Excel file that I use for organizing my master classes.

Typically, a master class is a group class where students come together to play for each other and their teacher. It's a wonderful way to foster a sense of community among students in a studio. Students are able to associate with others who share their love of music. Many times I've had a student come for a lesson after a master class asking to play a piece that they have heard some one else play! It also gives younger students a chance to feel comfortable performing in front of others before playing in a larger recital.

A master class is also a great way for a teacher to assess the performance readiness of a piece. It gives students a chance to 'test' their memory. This is especially helpful if they are preparing for exams, festival classes or auditions. I usually have 3 regular master classes a year—one in the fall, one in the winter and one in the spring. This is over and above the two more formal recitals we hold during the year.

Here are some ideas for a successful master class: 

  • Don't make the class too long. My master classes are usually around 90 minutes. This gives about an hour for performances and teacher comments with some time left at the end of the class for the students to socialize. It's a good idea to mix up the longer songs and the shorter songs... don't save all the longs pieces for last!
  • It's always important to have refreshments at the end. The parents can take turns bringing snacks for the students.
  • One piece per student is probably enough. Try not to have too many long songs, especially if there are younger students in the class. I try to have the students perform a variety of music,  including some popular selections.
  • Students can work on 'The 12 Points of Performance'. These points are found on the back of our Sight Reading Cards and at the front of The Student Music Organizer. Students can practice what to do from the time they stand up to perform until they sit back down. These points really help students maintain focus throughout a performance.
  • I don't make memorization mandatory, but I do encourage it. Then they can choose to try it from memory or not. Many times, they do not even look at the score! This way, they don't have to play from memory until they are feeling ready to do so.
  • Make sure you start and end on time. Parents especially appreciate this!
  • Parents are generally not invited to attend. A master class should be more informal than a recital. That way the students feel as if this is their special time with the teacher.
  • Make the class fun by having a theme night. The photo above shows one of my fall master classes. We had Musical Costume Party!  Students could dress in black and white to match the piano keys or they could dress in a costume to match their piece!
  • In the winter, you could have a musical pyjama party. The younger students really like to bring their stuffed animals as an audience!
  • I like to have a class on 'Music Monday' (held on the first Monday in May). This is an official event in Canada, where it started 10 years ago. There are now similar events in the US, Australia, Britain and Hungary. Students are encouraged to "fill the skies with music". This year, Music Monday is scheduled for May 5th. You can even register your master class as an official event on the Music Monday website. My students love to feel as if they are a part of this amazing event!
  • Extra Master Classes can be scheduled during the year for students doing exams. That way, they have an opportunity to play their pieces as a concert group. I also have them play some of their technique... we have a Scale-a-thon. I call a student's name and a scale or chord and they have to run up to the piano and play it! The reward for playing well is an M&M. By the end of the game, they have a bag full!

Master classes can be a fun and effective way to help students share the joy of music.