The Facebook group for ABRSM exams is full of people squealing about how easy the performance grades are. I wonder how many of them have done one. I’ve spent almost two weeks trying to get an acceptable recording for that exam. Amongst the challenges
- My fingers which can only play CPE Bach when literally no one is looking. They are not fooled by cameras.
- My brain which decided at one point that I had never before actually heard Indigo Moon by Elissa Milne despite having played it daily for four omnths
- The not very nice people who race motorbikes up and down the avenue on which I live. I have triple glazed windows.
- The helicopter flying near the building on Tuesday night.
- The not very sober people on the beer cycle today yowling Sweet Caroline to me and my ill fortuned neighbours.
- My brain which decided that Autumn Leaves no 3 too was alien to it several times this week.
The mighty teaching fraternity includes some who say that this is no problem if the piece is secure for you. 3 of these pieces were ultra secure for me except – and this is critical – when the camera was running. Then it was anyone’s guess where I would end up. I’ve played some great jazz chords this week. I didn’t plan to.
Anyway, it’s submitted. It’s not perfect but then perfection does not exist.