Piano Grade 6 – How to train?

Piano Grade 6 – How to train?

Keeping an organised agenda while preparing a grade examination is fundamental if we want to guarantee good results. Grade 6 exam already requires a considerable amount of technical exercises. These technical exercises together with the level of aural training and the sight-reading skills expected in a Grade 6 performer turns this examination in a somewhat challenging endeavour even for good students.

Piano students in the UK carry on several other extra-curricular activities besides from learning piano. For continental teachers, these can sound somewhat confusing as, generally in Europe, learning piano takes over most of the students’ extra scholar time. Organising a clear schedule is fundamental if we want to succeed in getting the most out of our practising time in London. There is a handy article at the WKMT blog treating how Grade 5+ students should organise their practising sessions: How-to-organise-your-training-for-a-Grade-5-piano-examination

Another good source of information is WKMT’s article on how to memorise: Memorisation-Process-Full-Recap. Teachers in London are not big fans of students performing by heart but, let’s face it: no respectable concert pianist would perform a concert reading from a score. Memorizing a piece could end being a reasonably daunting enterprise, but there are several reasons for us to do so. Amongst them: increase in performance confidence, more expression freedom and less anxiety while playing in front of an audience. When we learn a piece by heart, we exercise more than just one memory. I recommend the reading of this article by Antonio Losciale to extend your knowledge about the musical memories: Modes-of-memory-and-music-learning

The busier our students are, the more we need to help them organise their limited practising time. I always suggest my piano students keep a diary of their time investment. The latter helps them covering all subjects without forgetting any of them.

My last advise to piano students in London: “Organise your study in 45-minute slots and if you are a Grade 5+ student, keep a routine of 2 of these 45-minute blocks per day, every day of the week with one day-off.”