Hi all ~ I haven't been here for long......

Anyway...

I will have my first violin exam (G5) in September, and I'm already scared now!! I think I could play quite well when I practice alone, but my hands keep shaking and I just couldn't concentrate with my playing when others are looking at me! I am afraid that I will mess up with my playing in the exam...

There is a young girl in my school (she's only 14) who is a brilliant violin player! She has already achieved LRSM and FTCL in violin!!! I asked her about the exam tips and she said that you should just pretend they aren't anyone else! But I don't think I can do it...

Any tips for me? I really want to do well in my first violin exam!

hi musicforever!

just relax and don't panic! make sure you are well prepared, so you know all your scales etc..
in the exam try to pretend the examiner isnt there and you are just performing to yourself in your bedroom or something!

this young girl sounds a really talented player but don't worry what she has got concentrate on your exam!

hope this helps

Nat

Wow LRSM at 14 is pretty brilliant for someone at a normal school...I think the most important thing in an exam is to appear confident - if you go in thinking you deserve a distinction and nothing less, then you could well end up with one - don't be timid

Dave

hi...i also have a friend who achieved LRSM when she's only 13(it's real)
i think everyone would be nervous in the first violin exam. it's impossible for you to relax or try to relax. i think you should practise until you can play the pieces without reading the score (as familiar as you can). so you wouldn't make too many mistakes even if you're nervous

Thank you very much for all of your replies!

Hm... actually, I can play all the pieces from memory, but I would feel very uncomfortable to play when others are watching at me (even my teacher!). I tried to get someone to hear me the other day, and I made lots of mistakes when I knew that sb was there!...

Yes! That girl is quite exceptional. Actually, she achieved the LRSM when she's 13 too. She's now 14 and she's going on with the FRSM early next year (also the Piano DipABRSM next year! Wow!!).

Many people in my school asked her about the tips for learning the violin well. She said that

1.) We should not be lazy to practice. Practice should be done everyday.

2.) We should think when we play (not just routine playing).

3.) We should try to put ourselves into the music (be in tuned with the music that we play).

4.) We should try to express sth through playing, just like talking/ communicating with others.

Sounds difficult!! Hope that I can do it one day!

My friend has FRSM and she's a 15 year old cellist

Well I used to get very nervous last time, until I failed a couple of exams... that made me think... what's the point.. just play normally.. at least it can't get any worse. LoL!
But seriously, a really good pianist once told me that pretend that those people don't know anything.. and that works for me.

Thanks for your advice~

I want my exam to come as soon as possible now, so that I don't have to practise those songs anymore!! (I find them boring now...)

The only advice I can give is to practise and to try not to panic (i always panic b4 exams and it can really affect ur marks).

I have only ever done one exam where I didn't panic and I did much better in it... so DON'T PANIC...