I m addressing this question to non-beginner pianists. Unless money is not an issue, most of us would have started off our piano studies with a economical upright model. Usually, after passing Grade 8 exams, many of us will consider upgrading our piano to meet the demands of performance at diploma level. We can upgrade our piano to an entry level Grand, or a high end upright. Which will you choose?
Grand pianos has natural advantage over upright pianos. Due to the bigger mass of the grand piano dampers, the damping effect is more efficient. Grand pianos generate sound with less inharmonicity as they are bigger with longer bass strings. As far as the way pianos are placed inside a room is concerned, grand pianos are usually free from any direct obstacle though upright pianos are usually placed against a wall that consequently reflects the produced sound.
Even though a ultra expensive upright will sound much better than an entry level Grand, I will still cast my vote for the Grand. By listening as we play on a Grand piano, our perception of direction of sound and resonance is more accurate than playing on an upright piano. The body, amount of air inside the body, and the amount of wood are much less in an upright piano, producing a more restrained tone that is not appropiate for diploma performances. Have you ever seen any concert pianists practising on an upright at home? The uprights in their homes are usually for accompaniment for their students who are playing on the grand, so that the accompaniment will not shadow the main player.
So, if you are preparing for diploma, do not waste money upgrading to an expensive upright. Save up for a decent Grand piano instead. ( but not extremely cheap and unreliable Grand pianos )
Guide to Passing the ATCL Piano Recital Diploma Exams!
What is ATCL Piano Recital Diploma Exam all about????
This is a guide with resources and pointers to prepare for the most basic ATCL piano Recital Diploma. Most of us, after passing ABRSM Grade 8, will be considering the Diploma Syllabus in our next phase of pianistic achievements. Here, I recommend ATCL(Recital) as the window and the stepping stone to other more sophisticated qualifications. ATCL is the first level diploma offered by the Trinity College Examinations Board.
Here is a copy of the latest exam syllabus
Pls read through it carefully. I will summarise the important feature of the exam:
1. Recital Exams only requires performance of a set of pieces, no scales, no sight reading, no aural tests, no verbal QnA
2. There is a long list ( check the syllabus ) of pieces to assimilate your program from. You can choose to play anything from the list as long as you can make the entire duration last somewhere 32-38 minutes. Timing is important!
3. Sensible choice of pieces is half of the battle. I will explain this further.
4. Candidates are to treat the exam like a professional Recital performance. (ie. Mini-concert) So, just imagine all the features you observe when you attend other pianists' recital concerts. You need to prepare a set of program notes, dressed in professional attire, carry yourself with a professional aura. To be perfectly professional, most pianists play from memory. But, you don't get penalized for playing with scores either. It is the overall impression you portray that matters.
This is an expensive exam to take. Do be fluent in your playing first before you register for the exams. This is different from the lower graded exams where you can register first to “push” yourself to practise harder. But still, it is one of the most fulfilling and the most forgiving diploma exam! It is stated that the expected level of playing is at first year of undergraduate studies in degree course. You are expected to be advanced and reasonably technically fluent player, but not virtuoso.
This is a guide with resources and pointers to prepare for the most basic ATCL piano Recital Diploma. Most of us, after passing ABRSM Grade 8, will be considering the Diploma Syllabus in our next phase of pianistic achievements. Here, I recommend ATCL(Recital) as the window and the stepping stone to other more sophisticated qualifications. ATCL is the first level diploma offered by the Trinity College Examinations Board.
Here is a copy of the latest exam syllabus
Pls read through it carefully. I will summarise the important feature of the exam:
1. Recital Exams only requires performance of a set of pieces, no scales, no sight reading, no aural tests, no verbal QnA
2. There is a long list ( check the syllabus ) of pieces to assimilate your program from. You can choose to play anything from the list as long as you can make the entire duration last somewhere 32-38 minutes. Timing is important!
3. Sensible choice of pieces is half of the battle. I will explain this further.
4. Candidates are to treat the exam like a professional Recital performance. (ie. Mini-concert) So, just imagine all the features you observe when you attend other pianists' recital concerts. You need to prepare a set of program notes, dressed in professional attire, carry yourself with a professional aura. To be perfectly professional, most pianists play from memory. But, you don't get penalized for playing with scores either. It is the overall impression you portray that matters.
This is an expensive exam to take. Do be fluent in your playing first before you register for the exams. This is different from the lower graded exams where you can register first to “push” yourself to practise harder. But still, it is one of the most fulfilling and the most forgiving diploma exam! It is stated that the expected level of playing is at first year of undergraduate studies in degree course. You are expected to be advanced and reasonably technically fluent player, but not virtuoso.
1 comment:
Hi Usukimo,
I'm from Hong Kong and see your blog notes very useful
We are also considering to upgrade piano after my kid passed ATCL. My kid has been using a very entry level China made piano from grade 1 to ATCL.
Since most HK apartment has limited space for Grand piano, may I know is there any other suggestion other than getting an expensive upright 'recital' piano? eg. Petrof P135 K1
Thank you for your help
william
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