I have a little catching up from the week or so and will post those blogs shortly but today was the day that fellow GOATee Pat did her grade 1 violin exam. I was at the same school as GOAT organiser and herder Thanea this morning and mentioned that I was leaving early that day to accompany Pat. She immediately delved into her purse and thrust a donation in my hand to give to Pat for her MSF total asking me to wish her all the best! We know of at least four others from Cambridge Wind Band who are taking grade 1 on their new instruments and Pat is the first of the CWB to take the exam.
I parked near the venue, a music shop on the outskirts of Cambridge, just before Pat and husband Martin arrived so we walked in together. Pat was a little concerned as she feels she has good days and bad days and she just couldn't predict which way it was going to go. She asked if I had good and bad days with my clarinet but as I tend to only do things that are well within my technical ability I rarely have a bad day. I have had things go wrong in the past, and have learnt some tough and necessary lessons, but there is a point where many of the basic skills become so automatic and secure that it isn't a problem. Pat knows where to put the bow, how to play her scales, that intonation is important but she was aware that when she plays she is thinking a lot about everything. However she was also aware that she had only been playing for just over six weeks so to be taking the exam was a major achievement. I think her thoughts flitted between the two sides "might have a bad day" v. "six weeks work is pretty good y'know"! Which probably only made it more agonising!!
We were welcomed by the steward, who knew Pat and Martin very well, and we went up to the warm up room and I presented Pat with Thanea's donation. Martin carried the violin, checked the tuning and sorted out the music while Pat filled in the slip for the examiner. As Martin's mannerisms went from 'encouraging parent gently helping' to 'pushy parent ready to take the exam himself' we sent him back into the shop to buy a mute for their granddaughter's violin. He also amused himself by trying out a 1/16th size instrument!
Pat and I ran through the pieces which were pretty good, although the Menuet went a little sharp where Pat has to play a top B so she knew to remember not to stretch too far. The Sandman was fine and Pennsylvania 6-5000 was great with all the right jazzy rhythms in place. We also planned our ending which meant me giving a discrete nod to get the last note in palce. This is not cheating, this is commuication, essential for any musician. The steward came to fetch us and down we went.
We went into the exam room welcomed by the examiner and played through the three peices. On the whole I thought they went well. Menuet was nicely played, I can't actually remember too much about the Sandman as I was focussing on my own part which needed more concentration, and Pennsylvania 6-5000 went well. The last note came in strongly and ended more quickly than we'd rehearsed but we finished together so that was fine! I left the room at this point and afterwards Pat said her scales had gone fine, sight-reading had been suprisingly short and not too bad while the aural was also manageable. Then it was over and we headed next door to the pub for some lunch and further chat.
While Pat and I had a small snack Martin ordered himself the largest curry complete with poppadums and naan bread which made me wonder who perhaps was the most relieved that the exam was over! Pat's thoughts again ran between "feeling a little deflated that perhaps it could have gone better" and "should I do grade 2?" We talked about the violin which as a family heirloom played by Martin's father and grandfather was treasured by them both and Pat had a fondness for it that she hadn't felt when learning the trumpet at the 2011 GOAT. In the end Pat felt more confident about it as time went by and I said I would text her as soon as I had the result. We also decided to meet up soon to do some flute and harp playing so we will have some plans soon.
A big thank you to Pat for allowing me to accompany her and be part of her Violin playing journey! I hope I am part of her grade 2 challenge!!
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