I'm taking this exam for level 6 piano at Cal Poly in two weeks. It's going to be my first time and I've been preparing since September. Does anyone know if it's going to be hard or how harshly the evaluators grade? I have this problem with my fingers sometimes like they just feel heavy and lazy and it's difficult for me to carry scales on sixteenth notes. How do I take care of that? And is there a way for me to remember pieces better cuz my brain just goes blank and my fingers usually do all the work by themselves. I'm afraid that I will just forget in the middle of the song from nervousness just like I did at my piano recital.
2007-02-19 07:47:01 · 6 answers · asked by Cynderelli 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Standards & Testing
I've taken CM 4 times, and hopefully this year will be my last! Anyway, the memory problem, I have that too. My fingers just work and when I mess up, I don't know where I am. But just relax. I completely blanked on two of my level 9 pieces last year, and had to skip a few measures of those songs. I still passed, and barely didn't make honors. Just remember to have a lot of starting places, so that when you screw up and blank out, you'll have those starting places you remember to go back and play. If you can't go back, just move on to later in the piece where you do know the notes. CM may sound very hard, but just relax. The evaluators aren't entirely cruel and mean. They are usually nice people. If you have little screw ups, you can still pass with a good evaluation. And when you hear them writing a lot, don't think it's a bad thing! They could be writing a lot of good comments.Theory testing isn't that hard either. Just make sure you know everything in your theory book and you should be just fine. For the sixteenth notes, just keep practicing scales going up and down and moving your fingers. Start slowly then get faster and faster. I think just practicing scales can help you with the sixteenth notes. I hope this answers you question and good luck!
2007-02-22 14:29:33 · answer #1 · answered by čŖåŻęĤ! 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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Has anyone ever taken the Certificate of Merit exam for piano?
I'm taking this exam for level 6 piano at Cal Poly in two weeks. It's going to be my first time and I've been preparing since September. Does anyone know if it's going to be hard or how harshly the evaluators grade? I have this problem with my fingers sometimes like they just feel...
2015-08-13 21:04:40 · answer #2 · answered by Obadiah 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
whoever this person is, this is my tip. I just took the California Certificate of Merit piano test for level seven and it was the first time I have ever gotten tested on this too. I just freak out be for the exam and then sort of enjoy after I'm done. It was actually sort of fun! About your blank mind and wobbly hands is that you should PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! good Luck on your exam, you'll totally be fine if you practice! If you practice enough you will obviously do good. Practice makes perfect!
2007-02-26 15:15:24 · answer #3 · answered by emily 1 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Hello, fellow pianist! Finally a question about something I really know about. I have never taken that exam, but I have gone through some pretty tough auditions in my time. Don't be nervous! You are in your element and your finesse will come through for you. But with those scales, try doing rhythmic exercises in the 16ths . Instead of 1eana2eana3eana4eana steady beats, vary the rhythms at be creative for your practice. Be careful not to dot any notes where you are likely to mess up when your fingers feel heavy. Have fun with that for a while and then go back to the straight 16th note runs. I try to go 4 octaves both ways from quarter notes one octave to the 16th notes and 4. Also with the memorization, one of my former teachers taught me to work backward from the last measure one line at a time until I had worked all the way to the beginning. I though he was insane, but I tried it and it really did help me remember better. It also gives you a stronger point to go to if you do happen to forget in the middle. You can just go on to a point nearer the end of the piece and play it on out. Take time before you play in public to sit alone quietly and do some deep breathing exercises, this will calm you and help you to center. Use the bright lights on stage to your benefit. You really can't see anyone sitting out there anyway, so just tell yourself you are the only one there and then just go in, sit down, and play your heart out. Sing from your soul out through your fingertips and there you go! It's all over with and you were fabulous! You can do it! Wish I could just be there to listen! Best of performances to you on the exam.
2007-02-19 08:16:41 · answer #4 · answered by froggsfriend 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I haven't taken it yet, are you in the Macomb County area? It shouldn't be to hard and you should expect the knowledge your grade is suspossed to be at. I would suggest that you google some general test on your grade and just try those, that way you know what you might see on it. I would also say that you should get down to math if you're not to icy in that range.
2016-03-18 06:53:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
C M Piano
2016-09-29 21:35:51 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋