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Saxophone beginners Why am I doing this?

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Kerry said:
I messed up the exam! 🙁 I felt really positive and had the nerves under control, played everything perfectly in the warm up room but messed the exam up, could kick myself.

I even felt ok as I went in the exam room but the examiner was very "old school", formal and unfriendly and that made me feel uneasy. No welcome, no smile, no conversation, just a nod and "play your first piece as soon as you're ready" He only spoke to tell me what to do next and the atmosphere was frosty.

I started off ok with first piece but then my fingers slipped during the solo and it sounded dreadful, I kept going but was getting increasingly nervous. By the time I got to my second piece my hands were really clammy and my fingers were slipping all over the place, I messed up in several places I have never messed up before. Miraculously I played the third piece quite well but not up to my usual standard. Did better on the scales but slipped there a couple of times also and think I might have played one scale straight instead of swing. Did terrible in aural tests as was a nervous wreck by then, sight reading not much better and usually I'm not a bad sight reader.

I'm really mad with myself as I could have done so much better, can't blame the examiner as it was me that messed up but he could have made me feel more at ease. I'm fed up because I worked so hard and couldn't have done any more to prepare for it.
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I simply do not understand why an examiner in, what for the candidate is, a stressful situation would adopt this negative attitude. A few relaxing words, a smile could hardly be regarded as inappropriate! Still I suppose it demonstrates his superiority! As has been said you are still as good as player as you were before the exam so don't worry about it.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!
 
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Thanks everyone, I am the first to admit that I have improved in leaps and bounds during the process of working for the exam so it hasn't been in vain.
I really feel for another of my tutors students, a really sweet 10 year old girl who has all the hallmarks of becoming a fabulous player and absolutely loves it. She got a distinction in her grade 1 with a friendly examiner but came out of her grade 2 looking shell-shocked, I hope its not put her off.
 
I had lunch with a LCM rep who told me that ABRCM examiners are told to be very stuffy - not speaking much etc. The trinity and LCM examiners were very nice and friendly, and made me feel at ease - especially the LCM, where viva voce is part of the exam.

So don't let a bad exam experience put you off, or loose sight of the long term..
 
fibracell said:
I had lunch with a LCM rep who told me that ABRCM examiners are told to be very stuffy - not speaking much etc. The trinity and LCM examiners were very nice and friendly, and made me feel at ease - especially the LCM, where viva voce is part of the exam.

So don't let a bad exam experience put you off, or loose sight of the long term..
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Thanks, have wondered about LCM as there is a good and varied choice of pieces I like but other than yourself haven't heard of anyone taking LCM before, don't think its a popular choice round our way. Have also heard good things about trinity.
 
I did G7 G8 trinity jazz sax, and DipLCM and ALCM jazz sax diplomas. The jazz grades are all very similar, but I think the LCM grades might be a tad more difficult than Trinity.
ABRCM only do jazz sax to G5, and is really about classical playing. Some ABRCM folks have a snobby attitude to Trinity and LCM exams too. Both websites have all the info you need.
 
forgot to mention - the reason for doing LCM diplomas, was that you can use backing tracks (BIAB) for your pieces. Otherwise, for me, I would have had to pay guys to travel to the Leeds exam center to do the Trinity diplomas. An expense and hassle I didn't want.
 
Really sorry to hear this. Put it behind you. I nearly failed my best subject, chemistry O level, getting a 5 instead of the expected 1 or 2. Reason was that one of the invigilators kept walking past me and he had leather soled shoes on with steel tips. Didn't stop me getting a B at A level a couple of years later.
 
Definately agee about the experience making you a better player. I'm sure it has.

I do think this examiner created an unfriendly atmosphere though. This is a bit old school and there is no excuse for it in this day and age really. Just a bit off.

You might be surprised at how well you did when you get your results back though. My kids take a lot of music exams and they often come out dejected and dwell on the stuff they got wrong not on what they did right!

My wife took grade 1 cello a few years ago just to see what it is the kids go through in these exams. She had a similar experience to you. Got very nervous and had a very bad time of it. She did pass though and i'm sure you will too!
 
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Nick Wyver said:
In 26 years teaching - 1.
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I have no experience in this area but find that amazing. I find it hard to believe that each and every student always meets the required standard and find myself being driven to the conclusion that the exams are not credible!

Hopefully someone, with more knowledge than I, will enlighten me and restore my faith in the exam process!
 

Similar threads... or are they? Maybe not but they could be worth reading anyway 😀

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