Have any of you ever needed to take a doctor's note to your exam? I have had wrist problems for about 7 months now, and thus my practise has been hindered. I don't live in England, but I am taking my exam there, and I was told that if you were ill during your A-levels (for example) you could send in a doctor's note and you would be put under special consideration. Is such a thing possible with ABRSM, and if so, how does one go about doing it?

Hi Leia

I doubt if you can claim anything here. In reality, your playing is either good enough for a diploma or it is not. It is difficult to see how you can be awarded marks for a standard of playing the examiners cannot hear. Still, I am not the AB, so why not email them and ask?

How's the Beethoven Finale going?

Good luck

Steve

Yeah, I didn't think that it would be much help, anyway. I don't think my playing has suffered, because I have worked *around* it (stopping when necessary, breaking my practise up into slots instead of doing it all at once, etc.) and I believe that this year I have practised more than I have ever before. I passed Grade 8 with about 20-30 minutes of playing each day, and this year I have been doing 2 hours on busy school days, and up to 6 hours on other days. So I think I am well-prepared! I feel very good about my recital - something I have never felt before an exam.

The Beethoven 3rd movement is SO much better, mostly thanks to your advice! Since asking for help, I used your "change the rhythm" advice for almost the whole piece (wherever I could implement it!) almost every day. Of course I did the slow practise as well, and one time through at my performance tempo. Every afternoon I go through my whole recital, and record myself; then listen to it and make notes on my music for improvements.

Yesterday was one week before my exam. I have decided to stop the intensive practise so that I don't get worn out, and every day I am doing slow practise in the morning, and the recital in the afternoon. I don't have to go through bits anymore because most of the notes are solid (and the ones that are not are just slips, never happening in the same place). I am making many people listen to me, and they all say that it sounds like the 3rd movement has dramatically improved. And *I* feel good about it, which is what matters. As long as I keep my cool and don't get nervous before the exam, I am sure I will be able to play it to the best of my ability (and that's all I want to do. I don't care about pass/fail. I just want to play the best I possibly can!)

Thanks for asking! Sorry I rambled on so much. It's about time for my morning practise, so off I go!

Sounds like you're having a (relatively) relaxed final week - good on you! Getting used to playing to people will be very useful for the nerves I'm sure.

Re the Doctor's note, suspect that they're really only of use for things that impact the actual day of the exam, and in that case they're more a way of getting your exam fee back if you're unable to take it because of illness. Anything chronic their attitude will probably be along the lines of "you chose to go ahead anyway".

It's wonderful that you're feeling so good about your recital - all the best - knock 'em out!

If you are going to get a doctor's note, then it would be better to get one now and send it off because (well AQA anyway) are a bit picky about what they give special consideration to and it looks better as well!. A lad in my GCSE music class broke his collarbone and couldn't practice for 6 months so applied for special consideration for his music practical. But because the bone doctor (don't know the real word sorry!) took him off his list 3 weeks before his exam, his application got rejected and AQA told him he had 3 weeks to practice

I got a note a while back for my G5 theory and even though it was last minute (coz I only started getting problems last minute) ABRSM sorted it out and were really good about it. That was theory though I don't know what they're like about practicals.

Good luck!

All that is brilliant news, Leia. It sounds as though things have come together beautifully.

As Fen said, knock 'em out.

Steve