VCE Stuff > VCE Music Performance
How important is the written exam?
djsandals:
--- Quote from: Yendall on June 17, 2012, 09:55:51 pm ---
--- Quote from: djsandals on June 17, 2012, 09:45:28 pm ---
--- Quote from: Yendall on June 17, 2012, 09:39:38 pm ---Written exam is less important then the performance, however if you want to get above 40 you have to score an A+ in Coursework, Written Exam and Performance Exam. Music is very competitive, you need to reach top percentiles to obtain a high study score.
--- End quote ---
Thanks, I see you did it last year, care to share your experiences with it?
--- End quote ---
I highly underestimated how difficult it actually is. I'm ashamed to say these were my results:
B+, B+, B+.
The hardest part of my year was the theory. I lacked a teacher for the most part of this (instrumental teacher) and I had a lot of work to do in terms of performing. With my mind focused on perfecting my performance, I left my theory in the background. This was possibly the worst decision, because theory is crucial for the exam and coursework, and of course playing (I'm assuming you're a decent player anyway if you're studying Music at 3/4 level), but without a decent mark for theory, your performance mark won't boost your study score.
My advice would be to stay on top of everything and keep a balance. I studied Contemporary Guitar: Solo. Guitar is a very very difficult instrument to perfect in the examination room, you need to show as much versatility as possible.
I see that you're studying horn, and by horn i'm assuming trumpet? I would choose difficult pieces if I were you. Don't perfect easier pieces because the examiners will pick that up straight away and mark you down for simpilcity. You will still get a decent mark, but if you want full marks you need to nail difficult pieces, even if there are a few slip ups in your performance. Again, show as much versatility through your playing, choose different genres, experiment with tone and texture,let your music flow and remain confident.
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By horn I mean french horn :P, but yeah I get what you mean, thanks a lot :)
Yendall:
--- Quote from: djsandals on June 17, 2012, 10:20:54 pm ---
--- Quote from: Yendall on June 17, 2012, 09:55:51 pm ---
--- Quote from: djsandals on June 17, 2012, 09:45:28 pm ---
--- Quote from: Yendall on June 17, 2012, 09:39:38 pm ---Written exam is less important then the performance, however if you want to get above 40 you have to score an A+ in Coursework, Written Exam and Performance Exam. Music is very competitive, you need to reach top percentiles to obtain a high study score.
--- End quote ---
Thanks, I see you did it last year, care to share your experiences with it?
--- End quote ---
I highly underestimated how difficult it actually is. I'm ashamed to say these were my results:
B+, B+, B+.
The hardest part of my year was the theory. I lacked a teacher for the most part of this (instrumental teacher) and I had a lot of work to do in terms of performing. With my mind focused on perfecting my performance, I left my theory in the background. This was possibly the worst decision, because theory is crucial for the exam and coursework, and of course playing (I'm assuming you're a decent player anyway if you're studying Music at 3/4 level), but without a decent mark for theory, your performance mark won't boost your study score.
My advice would be to stay on top of everything and keep a balance. I studied Contemporary Guitar: Solo. Guitar is a very very difficult instrument to perfect in the examination room, you need to show as much versatility as possible.
I see that you're studying horn, and by horn i'm assuming trumpet? I would choose difficult pieces if I were you. Don't perfect easier pieces because the examiners will pick that up straight away and mark you down for simpilcity. You will still get a decent mark, but if you want full marks you need to nail difficult pieces, even if there are a few slip ups in your performance. Again, show as much versatility through your playing, choose different genres, experiment with tone and texture,let your music flow and remain confident.
--- End quote ---
By horn I mean french horn :P, but yeah I get what you mean, thanks a lot :)
--- End quote ---
Oh right, my bad! No worries, best of luck.
djsandals:
Haha thanks :)
ninwa:
--- Quote from: Yendall on June 17, 2012, 09:55:51 pm ---I would choose difficult pieces if I were you. Don't perfect easier pieces because the examiners will pick that up straight away and mark you down for simpilcity. You will still get a decent mark, but if you want full marks you need to nail difficult pieces, even if there are a few slip ups in your performance. Again, show as much versatility through your playing, choose different genres, experiment with tone and texture,let your music flow and remain confident.
--- End quote ---
The versatility point is absolutely spot on.
I disagree with the "difficult pieces" bit. My piano teacher had me playing a couple of very easy pieces (around grade 5/6 standard IIRC), but work hard at them to get them perfect. To be fair though I did have a couple of harder ones to balance it out.
But what I'm saying is that you should NEVER sacrifice proficiency/musicality in favour of difficulty. Nobody is going to care that you played an LMus level piece if you played it badly.
Yendall:
--- Quote from: ninwa on June 22, 2012, 02:49:15 pm ---
--- Quote from: Yendall on June 17, 2012, 09:55:51 pm ---I would choose difficult pieces if I were you. Don't perfect easier pieces because the examiners will pick that up straight away and mark you down for simpilcity. You will still get a decent mark, but if you want full marks you need to nail difficult pieces, even if there are a few slip ups in your performance. Again, show as much versatility through your playing, choose different genres, experiment with tone and texture,let your music flow and remain confident.
--- End quote ---
The versatility point is absolutely spot on.
I disagree with the "difficult pieces" bit. My piano teacher had me playing a couple of very easy pieces (around grade 5/6 standard IIRC), but work hard at them to get them perfect. To be fair though I did have a couple of harder ones to balance it out.
But what I'm saying is that you should NEVER sacrifice proficiency/musicality in favour of difficulty. Nobody is going to care that you played an LMus level piece if you played it badly.
--- End quote ---
Grade 5 and 6 are fine, I was talking more about "easy easy" pieces like Grade 3 and 4. Each piece has to be to some degree 'difficult'; the level of difficulty is up to the player. I guess my main point was don't try and attempt the impossible because it won't help your mark, but choose a piece that will showcase your talent and technique.
I definitely agree, you should never attempt a more difficult piece and perform it badly, in comparison with playing an easier piece with fluency.
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