Examinations
I am often asked whether or not I am happy to put students in for exams. My answer is always yes, where appropriate. Exams are not for everybody, and nor do they need to be; a good deal of time can be wasted in just jumping from one exam to another, and this is something I never encourage. The idea of an exam every year rules out so much "real" music-making, in the effort to learn 3 pieces and a set of scales. Many of my students do take piano and music theory exams, but they all do other things (as in ensemble playing, composition, accompaniment, different types of pieces) as well, so it is more usual skip some exams and enjoy music-making in the large gap between.
Where exams are appropriate, I greatly prefer the Music Teachers Board (MTB) exams. This is a well-respected, fully-accredited examination board which has been running successfully for some years now and many people are using it in preference to the older examining boards. MTB exams are all taken online....we record the examination either in my music room or remotely in the student's home. There is no set exam day; entries can be sent in whenever it is convenient. This eliminates the "balancing act" of having performances ready "in time, but not too early" for the exam date. It also means that the candidate doesn't have to miss work or school, in order to take their exam.
Exams can be Regular or Performance. In the Regular exams, three pieces are performed, along with scales and arpeggios, sight reading, and aural tests.
Performance exams are exactly as their title suggests - there are no scales, sight-reading or aural tests, but extra pieces have to be performed, and the student's performance qualities are taken into consideration. In choosing the type of examination, I take the student's strengths into consideration, and choose appropriately.
Where exams are appropriate, I greatly prefer the Music Teachers Board (MTB) exams. This is a well-respected, fully-accredited examination board which has been running successfully for some years now and many people are using it in preference to the older examining boards. MTB exams are all taken online....we record the examination either in my music room or remotely in the student's home. There is no set exam day; entries can be sent in whenever it is convenient. This eliminates the "balancing act" of having performances ready "in time, but not too early" for the exam date. It also means that the candidate doesn't have to miss work or school, in order to take their exam.
Exams can be Regular or Performance. In the Regular exams, three pieces are performed, along with scales and arpeggios, sight reading, and aural tests.
Performance exams are exactly as their title suggests - there are no scales, sight-reading or aural tests, but extra pieces have to be performed, and the student's performance qualities are taken into consideration. In choosing the type of examination, I take the student's strengths into consideration, and choose appropriately.
Maidstone Music Festival
Maidstone Music Festival is, as usual on the last weekend of November. This year, as last year, it will be online only. Whether or not to take part is entirely up to each student, but most people did take part last year and found it very beneficial. There are classes for all levels and abilities; there is also the choice of being competitive or non-competitive. All performances will be adjudicated by James Kirby, a very experienced adjudicator. There is a fee to enter, but it is much lower than the fee of entering an examination. Please see the website of Maidstone Music Festival for more details. www.maidstonemusicfestival.org.uk
I shall be talking to everyone about the festival as soon as term 1 starts, so that everyone can be ready in plenty of time. Taking part is not mandatory and it is perfectly OK to say "no" if you don't want to do it.
I shall be talking to everyone about the festival as soon as term 1 starts, so that everyone can be ready in plenty of time. Taking part is not mandatory and it is perfectly OK to say "no" if you don't want to do it.
Pupils' concert
It has been a very long time since our last pupils' concert; Covid certainly put a stop to that! But I am really hoping to be able to have one before Christmas. It will all depend on whether or not I can hire a premises. I would very much like it to be in Barming school as usual.
