There are many things to be scared about - but piano examiners should not be one of them.
Having been an adjudicator and piano examiner myself, I can tell you that sometimes, WE are the ones who are nervous for your child, the performer! And we are very much as human as you - in fact, ALL of us know exactly what your child or student might be going through as they perform their pieces for us.
Here are some tips for your young performers.
Share these with them, so that they will find their exam experience memorable and affirming.
It Starts with a Greeting Remind your students to greet the examiner heartily once they enter the exam room.
As an examiner, I can't tell you how happy I am to receive genuine and enthusiastic greetings from performers.
It sets the tone for a wonderful session - both for the performer and for the examiner.
A "Good Morning, Sir" or "Good day, M'am" is all it takes to take the tension out of the room.
Listen Carefully The examiner will give instructions throughout the piano exam.
He or she might be reading from a standard "script" called a rubrik.
This is a standardized instruction sheet from which the examiner conveys specific instructions to the performer.
Advise your young performer to listen carefully - especially when it comes to the technical requirements (scales, broken chords).
Sometimes, what is called for is a "B MAJOR SCALE" - and what the pianist hears is "D MAJOR SCALE".
If your child needs to clarify what has been asked of him/her, you need only to ask the examiner politely: "Could you repeat that please?" The examiner will be more than glad to repeat the instruction.
The Uncomfortable Silence Remember, examiners are constantly writing - and noting comments on the score sheet.
At times, after a student finishes playing a piece, the examiner continues to finish up with his/her comments on the score sheet - and there is this inevitable (and somewhat uncomfortable) silence.
Advise your student to wait patiently, perhaps mentally preparing for the next piece to be performed.
The student may turn toward where the examiner is seated, and glance to see whether the examiner is ready to listen to the next piece.
Most of the time, the examiner will verbally let the student know that he is ready to listen to the next piece.
Other times, the examiner will just nod at the student to begin.
Whatever the case, don't be uncomfortable with the silence.
Just use this time to mentally prepare for the next piece to be performed Gratitude Remind your young musician to thank the examiner after the exam session is over.
While a simple 'thank you' is sufficient, it always makes a good impression when I hear: "Thank you for taking time to listen to me today...
" "Thank you for being my examiner today.
Have a good rest of your day!" So, remind your students that examiners aren't monsters.
They are talented human beings eager to affirm the good that your child is doing!
Having been an adjudicator and piano examiner myself, I can tell you that sometimes, WE are the ones who are nervous for your child, the performer! And we are very much as human as you - in fact, ALL of us know exactly what your child or student might be going through as they perform their pieces for us.
Here are some tips for your young performers.
Share these with them, so that they will find their exam experience memorable and affirming.
It Starts with a Greeting Remind your students to greet the examiner heartily once they enter the exam room.
As an examiner, I can't tell you how happy I am to receive genuine and enthusiastic greetings from performers.
It sets the tone for a wonderful session - both for the performer and for the examiner.
A "Good Morning, Sir" or "Good day, M'am" is all it takes to take the tension out of the room.
Listen Carefully The examiner will give instructions throughout the piano exam.
He or she might be reading from a standard "script" called a rubrik.
This is a standardized instruction sheet from which the examiner conveys specific instructions to the performer.
Advise your young performer to listen carefully - especially when it comes to the technical requirements (scales, broken chords).
Sometimes, what is called for is a "B MAJOR SCALE" - and what the pianist hears is "D MAJOR SCALE".
If your child needs to clarify what has been asked of him/her, you need only to ask the examiner politely: "Could you repeat that please?" The examiner will be more than glad to repeat the instruction.
The Uncomfortable Silence Remember, examiners are constantly writing - and noting comments on the score sheet.
At times, after a student finishes playing a piece, the examiner continues to finish up with his/her comments on the score sheet - and there is this inevitable (and somewhat uncomfortable) silence.
Advise your student to wait patiently, perhaps mentally preparing for the next piece to be performed.
The student may turn toward where the examiner is seated, and glance to see whether the examiner is ready to listen to the next piece.
Most of the time, the examiner will verbally let the student know that he is ready to listen to the next piece.
Other times, the examiner will just nod at the student to begin.
Whatever the case, don't be uncomfortable with the silence.
Just use this time to mentally prepare for the next piece to be performed Gratitude Remind your young musician to thank the examiner after the exam session is over.
While a simple 'thank you' is sufficient, it always makes a good impression when I hear: "Thank you for taking time to listen to me today...
" "Thank you for being my examiner today.
Have a good rest of your day!" So, remind your students that examiners aren't monsters.
They are talented human beings eager to affirm the good that your child is doing!