Hi violists,
I will be going down to ABRSM (main office) next wednesday to register for viola exams. If you wish to take the exams together, please take note of a few matters:
1. Download, print and fill up the entry form: http://www.abrsm.org/regions/fileadmin/user_upload/_temp_/singaporeEntryForm08.pdf
Don't fill in the part which says address and date preference. I'll put in the same address and preference for everybody so we can take the exam on the same day and all the certs will be mailed to one place. my house. haha.
Check and ensure CORRECT details, any changes after that will result in an extra cost of $20.
2. The exam fees for ABRSM practical exam (2009) are as follows:
3. If you're taking Grade 5 or higher, please bring a photocopy of your Grade 5 theory certificate.
Please bring the exact amount together with a copy of your theory Grade 5 certificate (if you are applying for Grade 6 practical and above) and your completed registration form with accurate and appropriate details filled in during the next rehearsal on TUESDAY (24/2/2009). I will be around then to answer any of your queries.
Registration must be done by next wednesday because the last date of registration is Friday (27/2/2009) and we all have EP3 on that day. Please cooperate. I'll check through all your forms before i pass it to the office.
More information can be obtained from the ABRSM website www.abrsm.org
Pls diseminate the info to everybody... remind them horh.
Working hand to neck, commitment sometimes.
SLIM jiaquan.
Monday 16 February 2009
Hey violists ;]
It has been more than a month since we implemented this Practice-A-Passage-A-Week programme. I really hope that this programme did help you all to improve your playing. Here comes the last Practice-A-Passage-A-Week for A.Williams.
Tm1Wk7 (16/2~23/2): A.Williams From Figure 7 To The End:
1. When you play the semiquaver-2-quavers rhythm, let them ring
2. MAKE A DIFFERENCE between the sonoro and the
3. See the quaver REST 7 bars after Figure "7"? PLAY THE QUAVER REST.
4. For last note before page turn (high E), STARE at Mr Chan and RELEASE STRAIGHTAWAY (which means lift your bow up vertically).
5. STARE at Jonathan Voon and releast straightaway for the last note of the piece (remember to put on mute AND REMOVE IT AFTER THIS PIECE)
6. That's all.. the rest are pretty much the same. Next is Britten ;D
Jiayou!
cn
HCISO Violists21:22<3
Monday 9 February 2009
Yo Violists!
Hope it's been fun for everyone mugging away.. (either for viola or for tests)
jiayou! (:
This weeks aPaW shall consist of 2 parts..
Press on! 1 more aPaW b4 we move on to britten!
4 bars after Figure "4" - right before Figure "5"
Things to note:
1) as previously stated, practice the *cough*easy*cough* ACCENTS
2) play off-string (yes.. just do it.)
3) check ur intonation
4) and rmb to LOOK UP at mr chan when he's slowing juz b4 figure 5!
Whole of Figure "5"
Things to note:
1) ACCENTS.. (Zzz getting boring repeating this)
2) get BOTH ur note changes AND the accents correct =P
3) TWO bows for each quaver drawn on the score please.. [from 1st to 6th bar of Figure "5"]
--> Please refer to [from 6 bars before the end of Figure "5"] for the following.
4) FOUR bows for each quaver drawn on the score
5) i know it's fast.. aim for the two Cs (the one on the A-string and the one on the G-string) O.o
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Appealing to all of you to practice regularly (not asking u to spam) even amidst the tests..
Do expect EXTRA SECTIONALS to be held just for violists after test week
(will be confirming schedule at later date)
plus.. we will be holding your beloved ASSESSMENTS!
fyi, there will be 2 rounds of assessments (1 assessment for each piece/round)
we'll be assessing you and giving comments for improvement after the first round
and your seating arrangement for syf will be decided based on the 2nd assessment
hope all of you will do well!
On a side note, do listen more to recordings & try to understand the 2 syf pieces well
here's a video of Britten.. the version closest to what we're playing that i can find. EnJoY!
Best of luck,
zhaohong
HCISO Violists14:47<3
Monday 2 February 2009
Hey violists ;]
Here's this week's Practice-A-Passage-A-Week
Tm1Wk5 (2/2~8/2): A.Williams From 3 bars before Figure 3 to 3 bars after Figure 4.
Things to note:
1) Intonation - Watch out for all the sharps and flats here. The only way to come around this is practice practice practice.
2) Accents - Remember the accents on the fifth note of each bar. Once you've gotten all your notes right, start working on the accents.
3) Off-String - Play this passage off-string, not legato. When you go off-string, don't lose the accuracy and clarity of your notes.
4) Volume - Remember what Mr Chan said about the crescendo that takes place in segments? The volume is the softest in the segment from 3 bars before Figure 3 to Figure 3. Then increase the volume in the segment from Figure 3 to Figure 4. Finally, the volume is the loudest in the segment from Figure 4 to 3 bars after Figure 4.
I'm not going to continue saying practice practice practice because I know it will not work. But please bear in mind, SYF is coming.
Gold with honours or not, YOU CHOOSE.
The choice lies in your hand,
cn
HCISO Violists22:24<3