Is anyone thinking of taking Grade One Piano this time round?? I think I will be. What have you chosen to play.
Mine are A. Menuet by Krieger. B. Melody by Kohler. C. Skedaddle.
Skedaddle isn't easy as it is swung which I have never done on the flute. I found the timing for Menuet much easier. Anyway, in Skedaddle, I have found myself "keeping time" with my head Kind of nodding with a slight sway. Barry says there is more than a passing resemblance to "Animal" from The Muppets
I mean, do I really look like Animal???
Beverley.

It was a dog that played the piano in the Muppets Show. Animal was the drummer. I used to plan my teaching timetable around the Muppets. It was the high spot of my week. I think that a little body movement is fine in a piece like that as long as you don't go too mad. Don't forget that facial expression is just as important for a pianist as for a singer. (And in answer to another post Bev old bean, the last time I was in a pub was in Leeds, being led astray by Lidd and Rusty Bucket. )

Was it the dog?? What was the dog called??
Sorry about the other post Petra. Very naughty of me.
No other Grade 1 people then??? AWwwwwwwwwwwww. I'm on my own
Will try not to dance while I'm playing, but it's difficult when it's swung/jazzy.bluesy.
Does the examiner look at your face when you are playing
Bev.

Hi Bev,
I am doing grade 2 but have learnt almost all pieces for grade one earlier in the year, all of them except Moebius (could not stand it).
I sure hope you don't 'have to' make facial expressions, if I ever make them it's because they are occuring 'naturally' but would NEVER put on a face on purpose just because I'm 'expected' to
I tend to 'swing' around when I play the violin, but that comes naturally to me when I really know the piece well and enjoy it, I also do it when I play scales as I LOVE scales. I don't really do it when I play the piano yet, I don't think piano playing comes naturally to me as the violin does.
Anyway Bev, I'd like to see your dancing when you are playing the piano
Can't remember what the dog was called yet.....

Rowlf - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowlf_the_Dog
I've always loved him. I have a little plastic model of him from out of a ceral packet, it's got © 1977 on the bottom so I was only a year old!! My friend bought me a model of Rowlf a few Christmases ago, it has him in an evening suit with tails and it comes with a grand piano too. My husband decided I was totally mad when I bought on eBay a little stuffed toy of Rowlf - from a McDonalds happy meal

The rock band was Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Teeth_and...Electric_Mayhem
Dr. Teeth played piano in this band (Rowlf played the piano solo and in the orchestra pit).

I think I usually sway to the music when I'm playing jazz/swing pieces. At first it used to bother me but I started a thread on it (Moving to the music in exams, is it frowned upon) and the general view was that some movement was alright. It might depend on whether the examiner thinks you are using your head as an aid to keeping time, or whether s/he thinks you are nodding it because you're "going with the flow" ... and I *think* they'd be able to tell the difference. I can't remember how much I moved to my swing piece in my G3 exam, but I'm sure I must have swayed cos I normally do, and I got 27 with the comment "rhythms were well marked" so it obviously didn't go against me. Do have a look at the link though because it's quite helpful

I think that some use of facial expression and body language is important when you perform on any instrument. Not overdone of course, but I would rather see a jolly piece, for example, played by a performer wearing a smile rather than a wet fish face, open mouthed with concentration!

All noted and taken into consideration.
Love From ROWLF