ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAM WORKSHOP SUMMARY

Part III: Exam Tips & Advice for Students

Hello all!

Here is my final post summarizing the amazing workshop I attended a few weeks ago, put on by the Royal Conservatory of Music and presented by two of their fantastic Examiners. This post includes the advice, tips and recommendations from those two presenting Examiners on what to expect in your exam and how best to prepare. Let's start with a basic breakdown of the exam components and how much each section is worth:

Repertoire - 56%
Studies - 12%
Technique - 12% (Scales, arpeggios and other technical exercises)
Ear Tests - 10%
Sight Reading - 10%

The first recommendation the Examiners gave is to know the exam requirements and you have prepared the correct number of studies, chosen your repertoire pieces from the correct lists, and prepared your scales and arpeggios with the correct articulation patterns. They are not able to give you full marks if these requirements are not met and sadly, they quite frequently come across students who perform well, but have not prepared all the necessary elements. 

Next they listed the basic technical and musical elements that they look for when marking an exam. 

Technical Elements
- Accuracy (Notes and Rhythms)
- Tempo
- Fluency and Consistency
- Dynamics and Articulation- Memory Work (If Required)

Musical Elements
- Tone Quality
- Shape of Phrasing
- Personal Expression
- Stylistic Interpretation
- Awareness of Structure

Another element they look for is less easy to put into words. They listen for the "it" of the piece. Is the main concept communicated? Do you understand what the music is trying to say?

For more advice and general tips from the Examiners, here is a quick list:

• Treat the Examiner like an audience member. If you prepare for the exam as a performance, you will be able to create a more musical, personal spark that allows them to see you as a musician and not just a student during a test.
  
• Manage your recovery. Mistakes are to be expected during any exam, but the way you move on after a mistake occurs really shows the Examiner your skills as a performer.
• Play Technical Requirements like MUSIC. It may seem silly to say, but how often do we forget that our scales, arpeggios and other technical exercises are actually pieces of music and should be treated as such with phrasing, melodic shape, good tone and expression. The students who use musical elements during their technical exercises stand out far above those who treat scales as just boring drills and are far more pleasing to listen to during an exam.
• Remember your Intonation. Given the technology we have today with electronic tuners that can be used right outside the exam room, Examiners feel that even beginning students should have good intonation during their exam. Always check your pitch before entering an exam and make sure to tune with the piano before performing your accompanied pieces.
• Be prepared for Not-Your-Teacher. The Examiner has no idea how you prepared for this exam nor what is the best way to ask you for certain components. Sometimes this can throw students who are so used to the way their private teachers ask for scales or describe Ear Training exercises. Practice a different approach by having people other than your teacher test you on your material. 
• Show Stylistic Contrast. The reason Examiners ask for pieces from two different lists is they are looking to see if you are able to perform in a variety of styles. Make sure to emphasize the different styles of your pieces and studies by using rhythm, articulation and melodic expression so the Examiner can tell that you know the difference between an upbeat, aggressive march and a slow, lyrical, legato etude. 
• Be aware of presentation. As long as you are performing well, Examiners may ignore things like clothing choices or posture. However, if poor posture is affecting your tone or technique, it may be commented on in your Examiner feedback. An appropriate clothing choice shows the Examiner that you take the exam seriously and are professional. Sweatpants and hoodies may suggest a lack of respect and could lose you the half mark the Examiner is debating giving you.

Next, the Examiners wanted to give new students and impression of what an exam will be like. After months of preparation, the quick 15 minutes can seem rushed, cold and unfriendly. The Examiners will try and keep things pleasant but will keep their comments neutral and short mainly to allow the students some time to think. Due to the short time of the examination, they may be writing or typing throughout your performance and may continue after you've finished. Do not expect comments other than a short "thank you" before they ask you to begin your next piece. Again, your best bet is to pretend the Examiner is just another member of the audience so they can appreciate your performance that much more. 

Lastly, the presenting Examiners gave four basic tips to prepare yourself for a successful exam:

1. Create a Timeline. Know when you want to have certain elements of your material prepared.
2. Focus on all Components. Sometimes, students can ignore Ear Training or Technical Exercises during their preparation, only to then lose 10-22% on their Exams.
3. Practice Performing. Everyone gets nervous and the only way to prepare for this is to practice your performance for others and practice being nervous! No one around to listen to you? Sometimes I practice being nervous by doing 20 Jumping Jacks to get my heart rate going before performing so I know what I will feel like when I'm nervous in an exam.
4. Prepare the Order of Materials. Make sure you know what order you'd like to play your requirements in. A lot of students prefer doing their accompanied pieces first so their pianist is in the room to support them for the beginning of the exam. 

And that is it! That is a lot of information so if you are a student preparing for an exam, make sure to leave lots of time to think about all these ideas before your examination date. Any other questions? Have some feedback or advice to add? Leave a message for me in the "add comment" section on this blog!

Good luck to all exam students and I look forward to working with you towards this exciting goal.

Amanda