06.08.09
National Music Certification Prep A Exam
Ever since Maddy started to learn piano, I had realized that music is one of the gift God has given to her. She gets the theories (albeit sometimes it takes a long time), and she plays the music like music. Her sight reading is one of the best amongst her age. It just comes naturally to her.
However, I was still worried when her piano teacher suggested that we enrolled her into the National Music Certification Exam. After all, it is not a required activity in her music “career”. I did it anyway thinking that worst comes worst we just don’t go.
I can’t say that I was totally comfortable with her preparation. She didn’t start practicing the three required pieces until the test was less than four weeks away (although two of them were old songs done a while back). We started the ear training late. I told Maddy that she did not have to play the pieces by memory (although she somewhat memorized them) since I rather her play the pieces well than play broken pieces by memory.
Apparently the judge just left the music books by the side table. According to the girl “I didn’t want to upset him so I just played my songs”. “How about the clap back and play back part?” I asked her (she had the clap back part down but iffy on the play back part). “oh, it was easy”. “and the sight reading?” “what?” “the new music the judge asked you to play?” “oh, it was easy too” She was out less than 10 minutes if that.
We got her result two days ago: “First Class Honor with Distinction”. To be honest, I don’t really know exactly what that means, but it sounds like she got a high mark. I am grateful that she finds confidence in music (something I can definitely help her with), and I hope that she never loses the joy in having music in her life!!