I remember being in the ante room of a Masonic hall in Vancouver as a fifteen year old, waiting to be called in for my Grade 7 Royal Conservatory flute exam. I had thrown up twice already, and wiped my palms on my trousers for what seemed like the thirtieth time. My accompanist seemed unconcerned, staring at the truly weird photos of old fat white men in huge fur collars and jewels on all the walls. I was called in to do my scales and such on my own. The examiner peered over the rim of his glasses and asked for C-sharp minor. I said, "You can't be serious?" I got a bit of a dirty look, and yes, he was serious.
My experience with music exams are all from my flute years. I hated doing them, and I threw up before pretty much every one of them. Though, I know my scales and key signatures so well because of those years, I can't deny it.
When it comes to cello exams, I'm of two minds. My first reaction is no bloody way am I doing those, are you kidding? I'm an adult choosing to learn this instrument, that means I get to do it how I want to do it. And making myself terrified is not one of them.
However, I know the kind of focus preparing for these things can give you. I would be practising my pieces to a deeper level than I'm doing now if I had to take an exam. I'm a feedback junkie as much as anyone else, too, and I would love to say I passed my Grade 5 exam with flying colours.
In a more general sense, I'm not fond of the exam-taking culture. I couldn't stand classmates who would ask, "Is this on the test?" like that's the only reason to learn something, and sometimes it feels as if we learn pieces only because they're on the syllabus, and don't explore further. I know as adult learners we have to be quite particular about what we have time to do, because often we're holding down demanding jobs and taking care of families and friends and pets and trying to, you know, take care of ourselves in there somewhere as well.
When I took up this instrument, I made a list of things I'd like to be able to do as a cellist: play proper orchestral repertoire with a good amateur orchestra, play in a decent quartet, play in string sections for my friends' bands and be able to play some of the solo repertoire to a decent standard for my own enjoyment. Passing my exams isn't in that list, and really, not necessary for where I want to go as an amateur cellist. I know quite a bit about music already from playing flute, and feel like I've experienced that pressurised situation exams produce as well. I play in two different orchestras now, with a few chamber music things every so often and I'm well on my way to playing with friends' bands. So aside from just getting to be a better cellist, I feel like I'm doing what I want to do in general, and exams don't figure in it at the moment.
Ask me again in two years – I'll probably say something else entirely!
How do the rest of you feel about taking ABRSM exams, or their equivalents, as adults?
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