upgrading my MP

[Anonymous]

for grade 2
major scales – G (1 octave), F (1 octave) , D (2 octaves)
minor harmonic – A (1 octave), D (1 octave)
and their respective arpeggios.
Then you play 2 pieces accompanied by a piano player,
and 1 piece you play solo. The pieces are only about 32 bars max,
for a beginner sight reader, they are very challenging.
My sax teacher wanted me to do grade 3 instead,
but i’m glad i went for grade 2 to start off with. I was more worried about doing a grade
because i’d never done one before (sort of stage fright).
They cram a lot of detail into the 3 pieces in term of dynamics, articulation, slowing down,
rests etc.., so its not just a case of playing a bunch of notes but more of how you play them.
For anyone going down the sight reading route – i would recommend doing grades, they make you focus
more, not just sight reading, but scales & arpeggios.
Also a teacher gets more serious if you are doing a grade than if you are not.

[Anonymous]

just started looking at grade 3-
Major scales – Bb (1 octave), F (a 12th), G (a 12th), C (2 octaves)
Minor harmonic or melodic – E (1 octave), G (1 octave), A (1 octave), D (a 12th)
Chromatic scale : starting on G (1 octave)

[UU Pfister]

We used to do the grade exercises when I went to the clarinet class and yes I agree there is a lot to think about with dynamics articulation etc and really difficult. Our teacher used to say, the clarinet senses fear. When you nervous you bite on the reed and there is no sound coming out. Do you have to do the scales from memory?
I am more interested in improvising etc.

[Anonymous]

yes all the scales & arpeggios have to be done
from memory, and you will be asked to do
them tongued or either slurred!
I’ve worked out easy ways to remember them,
including the minor melodic/harmonic.
You can also do Jazz grades from 1 to 5,
and i think you have to demonstrate some
level of improvisation, but then you have to
start learning those jazz scales!!

[UU Pfister]

I better get started

[Anonymous]

no rush – just have fun!
i’m doing it to keep my mind exercised,
i just want to see how far i can get with
these grades! Grade 8 would be a big
achievement for me – i’d be able to play
original songs like “hey jude” etc, and
some serious classical stuff

[Anonymous]

Hey UU – got my results today!
Passed my Grade 2 saxophone exam
with a merit!!
Did better than i thought – thought i’d only
get a pass mark!!

[UU Pfister]

Wow well done you!!!!!! that’s so good. Bring on Grade 3. Have a great Christmas and New year.
UU

[Anonymous]

Thanks UU – have a merry Christmas & a happy new year!!
Started work on the grade 3 scales!

Now i know what doing a grade is like, i now know
what to concentrate on in terms of my weak areas.

I lost vital marks on the sight reading & the Aural tests!
I was 8 marks off a distinction!

It’s a good thing i had a 10 minute warm up
at the exam site – calmed me down, took me
a few minutes before i could play my 3 pieces
without mistakes due to nerves!

I’m glad i did it now ! It just shows that if you
take this stuff seriously but with fun in mind,
It’s a sort of bench mark of where i am in
terms of other musicians level of play!
Also just started a music theory course that
lasts a year – covers all the stuff that normally
takes about 3 years.

[Author]

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