ABRSM Grade 7 Piano Exam Success on 27th June 2024.
Congratulations to Faye B. on gaining her Grade 7 Piano Practical Exam with 139 out of 150 marks gaining a distinction under the tuition of Dr Michael Spacie.
The examiner comments and marks are as follows:
First piece: There was a well shaped opening with some clear stylistic features and secure flowing pulse despite some very small slips. There was room to show further light and shade between the question and answer phrases, but notes were always very accurate and there was some effective musical shaping. Melody-lines were always clearly portrayed and softer tonal colours were well controlled and musically convincing. The final section had colourful nuance and this captured sense of the style with positivity. (27 out of 30 marks)
Second piece: Beginning with sense of the mood and played with musical flexibility through the solo line. Thereafter, dotted motifs were very rhythmical and gentle dynamics were carefully controlled with even weight through the hands. There were just very small losses of flow here, but variety of character was confidently protrayed through the passages and playing remained very expressive with just a little more room for warmth on occasion. (28 out of 30 marks)
Third piece: Lively from the outset with very secure jazz rhythm and positive flow. Notes were found very confidently and there were some clear changes of tone between the sections. The improvisatory-like passages had very well controlled technical demands despite some small blemishes and this was fully confident. The final section had notes in place and it was completed with a bold tone. (29 out of 30 marks)
Scales and arpeggios: Major and minor patterns were played confidently and all notes were in place. Scales a third apart had well coordinated fingers despite very small losses. Contrary motion was well shaped with very even pulse. Legato and staccato thirds were both very successful though there were very small tonal losses in the latter. Chromatic contrary and arpeggios were all in place. Dominant seventh had a few small slips but was mainly confident, as was the diminished. (19 out of 21 marks)
Sight-reading: This was a very confident reading on the whole, though there were some pitching errors and losses of key note on occasion. However, sense of rhythm was flowing and it maintained a sense of pulse for the most part. (19 out of 21 marks)
Aural tests: Despite one loss of pitch in the lower part singing and one chord missing the seventh in the cadence, these were all highly accurate answers. (17 out of 18 marks)
Additional Examiner Comments: Many congratulations on a very successful examination result Faye! Your playing was very impressive and colourful.