Usukimo's Piano World: Modern pianists advocate less is more?

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.

If you read the modern literature from great masters of today, you will come across many of the opinion that long hours of practice is detrimental and developing a relaxed, natural technique is more desirable. Almost everyone is mocking at finger exercises and techniques written by keyboard masters of yesteryears like Bach, Clementi, Hanon and Liszt.

However, German-trained master pianist Rudolph Serkin acknowledged that it took hours for him to feel warmed up, and he believes in art of finger dexerity:

"I am old fashioned. I practice scales and arpeggios that I might need but don't always use... I practice and have practiced long hours. After five hours I begin to get warmed up... I believe in a good system, a good technical upbringing such as Madame Lhevinne's. But from there out, I believe in finding your own ways according to the piece you are studying and the way you are constructed. (Serkin's daughter has said that her father practiced scales for nine hours before a concert, with only one hour devoted to his repertoire. That was because his fingers were so wide that they got stuck between the black keys. His long, systematic practicing of scales assured that each finger would place itself in front of the black keys.) "

Personally, I think both methods work. But it depends on the kind of body, muscular and nervous system you are endowed ( or less endowed ) with.

For those whose sensory neurons are more developed and sensitive, hours of practice is painful and punishing to the mind. These folks need less mechanical practices, but more ear training and maturity in musical idioms to produce beautiful sounds.

For those who auditory neurons are more developed and have an idea of how music should sound but are rather awkward on the keyboard, they should devote themselves to hours of practice to gain confidence in mechanical movement on the keyboard. Once movement ceases to be an obstacle, the music in their minds will flow effortlessly.

Most of us are somewhere in between. We should strike a balance between technical exercises and relaxed performances.

Guide to Passing the ATCL Piano Recital Diploma Exams!

Modern pianists advocate less is more?

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