Grace's Big Piano Day

I recently took my very nervous first born to her first piano adjudication.  Grace's piano teacher heard about the Royal Conservatory Music Development Program back in January.  You would think that five months of preparation would be sufficient to participate, but the breadth of study that the program covers really requires almost a year's worth of preparation.

Still, Grace and her teacher decided to give it a go.  Grace has worked really hard in the last five months to  build her skills.  She has practiced scales, chords, arpeggios and developed her ear in performing playbacks.  In addition, she's tackled new and challenging pieces of music from a variety of musical genres.  She credits the Lord with giving her the strength to cram as much study as she did into such a short amount of time.

When we arrived at the adjudication location, the anxiety in the air was palpable.  The room was filled with students awaiting their turn with the adjudicator.  When Grace's name was finally called, she disappeared into the back room to begin her testing.  Grace's teacher and I sat and listened nervously.  We could hear Grace's music through the closed double doors.  She did well, despite her nerves, but had a difficult time with the playback portion of the test.  The adjudicator played a few measures of music, which Grace could hear, but could not see being played.  Then the woman told Grace the key in which the measures were played and Grace was supposed to play what she had just heard.  I took piano for eight years and I know I never would have been capable of such a feat.  Grace will receive the results of this portion of the test in a month or so.

Next up, Grace needs to study for the theory portion of the test, which will be administered some time in August.  Theory was always my favorite part of piano!  Better Grace than me, I say.  At any rate, we're all proud of Grace for persevering through a difficult process.  Yay, Grace!