Grade-5-a-thon

The only mention the harp will get in today's blog is a lament that I've hardly touched it over the past two weeks. With the end of term fast approaching I've had too many little tasks to deal with including pupil exams, school performances, and other concerts. I am also organising a group and arranging music for several music service performances next week so time is tight. For me to take on any extra work around this time of year it has to be 1. well paid; 2. offer substantial food; or 3. be so musically satisfying that I feel I can't turn it down. So when an email came through from fellow musician, teacher and Grade-1-a-thon (GOAT) participant Kirsty asking if I would be able to accompany her for her grade 5 trombone criteria no. 3 sprang to mind and I could hardly resist! However I was a little put out when I went on to read "I need someone who is not going to laugh at my playing!". I treat every musical engagement with the seriousness it deserves so once I had pulled myself together and stopped chuckling I replied to say yes. I then discovered that Kirsty's other half Derek needed accompanying for the same exam so said yes to that too. Kirsty did trombone in the Grade-1-a-thon. Derek actually learnt the bassoon for the GOAT but already had a trombone so switched. We had a quick rehearsal one evening which went well. I am always fascinated to hear highly qualified musicians (in this case Kirsty, proficient on many woodwinds including the bassoon and ocarina and Derek a percussionist) play on an unfamiliar instrument. The tone was there... most of the time and there were some great characterful moments, particularly in Kirsty's Gershwin (ironically it was Let's Call the Whole Thing Off) and other than stamina there didn't seem to be too many problems. They discussed their differing technique for scales, neither of which seemed to be the most logical method to me but I smiled politely as I didn't want to worry them at this late stage.

Of course another reason for me keen to accompany was to keep track of other GOAT participants. Not that I am competitive of course but I do know that Maurice and Thanea, both pianists who were on the GOAT organising committee and featured in early blogs, are taking grade 5 on the horn and cello respectively this term.

The day arrived and I set off for Hemingford. Both were there and when I arrived we had a few jokes with Elaine who runs the centre and both talked about their last minute preparations (which didn't seem to include many scales so maybe their methods had worked). We went out to the summer house for the final warm-up and got a few photos.

All set for grade 5

So how does B flat minor go again?

 
Elaine keeps chickens and ducks and this morning they were quite happily scratching around the garden enjoying the sunshine. Derek went to play to the birds but just as he parped his first note they ran to the far end of the garden with one screeching louder than the forte that Kirsty and Derek combined manage on their trombones! Elaine's head appeared from the back door and she demanded to know what we were doing to her chickens!! We sheepishly went back to the summer house to warm up. The chickens eventually calmed down.

Derek tries one last time to find an audience who will listen

Kirsty went in first. Despite all the fun beforehand, the enjoyable preparation, and as well as experience and knowledge of the music grades system an exam room is still an exam room and I could sense the change of atmosphere as we went in. After tuning up we played the Mozart. I felt this went well and Kirsty's tone sounded clearly over my accompaniment. There were even some dynamics! The Gershwin began well although with a trickier piano part I was not able to listen in quite the same detail as I did in the Mozart so I worked mostly to keep the pulse steady just focussing on Kirsty's rhythm. I perhaps now appreciate just what stamina is needed on a brass instrument, especially from someone who has been learning for only just over a year. The demands on breathing and control of sustained notes is something that builds up over years of regular playing so what Kirsty has already achieved is pretty spectacular! When she came out the first things she mentioned were the negative things (doesn't everyone though?) but she quickly mentioned the aural had been easier.

Next up was Derek. Purcell's Rondeau was fine and included some nice changes of tone colour which I think were planned. His second piece was an odd little number by a little known composer called Francl. (There may be a reason why he is little known but that's not for discussion here.) Again, I had to concentrate on rhythm more than notes here but we started and finished together so think it was fine. Chatting with Derek afterwards he revealed how he had been playing a scale and then had not realised where he was within the scale which threw him slightly. Woodwind and keyboard players do not have to find the note in the same way as string and brass players as fingerings alone on the whole will give you the note you are after. Again, experience plays a huge part in this so maybe when they do their grade 6 exams this will be sorted!

I did enjoy the morning and thanks so much to Kirsty and Derek for asking me despite being warned about the standard of my piano playing! I look forward to hearing how you've both done!