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  • Grade 7 and GCSEs

    11

    May

    By

    Since I've been doing quite a lot of revision since this website went live, I've been putting off writing a blog entry for the Academy for a few weeks now. But as I'm sure pretty much everybody knows, I usually can't resist getting into something technological :D.

    So at the moment, I'm beginning to prepare for doing my grade 7 in the Autumn of this year. I'm doing some horrible List C piece which looks like I'd have to have about 5 hands to play it and a very nice modern sonata by Poulenc. I've been practising the 1st movement but only realised yesterday that grade 7 requires the second! This is helpful as the 2nd one looks to be quite a lot easier than the first. I do need to work on scales, aural and (to a lesser extent) sight reading though as these are generally my weak points.

    However, I think I may not have been putting enough effort into music practice as I possibly could due to the ominous silhouette of GCSEs looming in front of me. This is actually making me quite nervous -- I noticed today that my revision planning booklet said to start revising 2 months before exams, at which I immediately tried to think of something else. Still, I'm sure I'll be fine in pretty much everything except RS (which, let's face it, I was always going to fail). Music-wise I think I've done OK-ish with the compositions (one of them took me over a year to finish!), and I'm quite looking forward to the Listening exam on Wednesday...

    Anyway, I'm off now to do some Clarinet practice!

    Joe

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  • To Hell and Bach

    23

    Mar

    By

    Having completed the day's chores, giggles and necessary finger excercises,it seemed somewhat appropriate to use what remaining time to write a short blog for the handsome new SMA website. Thus a brief and rambling note ensues;

    'Cream Presents... ' last night went assuredly well, with a turn out of a lovely 50+ and class performances from folk/blues/jazz musicians and poets alike. Am thinking of promoting a similar event in May/or after exams(?) but with solo and chamber music. Mozart, Handel, Unaccompanied Bach, Schumann,hot chocolate (mmm)...

    In the meantime, school is extremely tiresome, and all in all, I am rather fedup with the phenomenon that is GCSEs. Poo.

    However, I have had the good fortune of spotting the most brilliant T-shirt today (as modelled by some unsuspecting Y9), printed with the slogan 'To Hell and Bach' and spouting a rather flattering picture of the said. Perhaps our good friend is making an entrance into British youth culture? Ha. That would be interesting.

    In more unrelated news, today saw the peculiar taste that is tea mixed with coffee dregs from a previous hot beverage in the same mug. I am, as of yet, undecided as to whether it was a pleasant or truly disgusting experience and at the same time, unsure of my preference between these two practice aiding, biscuit complimenting, soul comforting elixirs. Discuss? (Sorry for writing so much about hot drinks, such is the varied nature of my pastimes)

    Hoping you're all well and dandy.

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