I mentioned about playing 5x10 perfectly before the end of September in my main blog. It's far from perfect but I'm still happy that I could now play the two difficult bars in the beginning part. They looked easy really but I kept pressing the wrong keys. :P
For this year... supposedly my final year in university... I should be preparing my Final Year Project so that was why I told my teacher that I don't want any piano exams this year. But there were almost-four-month long semester holidays this year so I SHOULD'VE been able to do it. And then came the decision to extend my studies in university for another year, which means I can only start my FYP next year...
Now.. I DON'T CARE ANYMORE. I'll take those exams whenever I want to!
Moving on. Since few weeks ago, my piano teacher had made me study the G5 pieces more seriously. Then last Sunday, she told me what I wanted initially but feared for it to happen now : Skipping G3 and G4, and take G5 exams. WHOA. In these few past months I felt my dynamics & mood-making (or whatever you call it) to bring the exam pieces to life were so lacking, I kind of doubt whether I CAN play the piano or not. It's like "I'm lost". G5 demands a lot of that...which I don't have now... Anyway. She was just suggesting. I have to study both grades' pieces before she decide whether G5 is a go or not.
To me, taking piano exams is like acquiring the official points of the level of my playing skills. It may not reflect my REAL ability but it gives some kind of proof which I think is important to motivate someone who re-started playing piano again at an older age. I actually learnt a lot more from pieces that weren't assigned to me in class eg. I got used to 3-6 sharps/flats songs of my favourite artistes (like Arashi & Demi Lovato)... this self-study lessons complements my piano lessons... If you make efforts to attend music lessons every week, why not take the exams too, right? It was actually a childhood dream of mine really..to play piano like those who played since they were children..and have exams like such. Though... I think all the young students in my music school are taking ABRSM exams. It seems like most of them are taking GUILD ones [or not taking at all??? Will do so when they reach G5 level?]
Hmm.