Grade 8, Dip, LR, FR & Beyond.

Many of us reached Grade 8 in our primary instrument - whether it's piano, violin or vocal.

Personally, I find Grade 8 hard to teach - but not hard to play. Grade 8 is easy to perform - but not easy to excel. In fact, even among my best students, I don't see anyone shine at G8. Everyone look as if they are digging the piano soil or transforming the piano into a Roblox.

I spent 2 - 3 years on my own Grade 8 actually, achieving a well-deserved Distinction 2 - 3 years after my Grade 7 exam.

My actual memories in my piano route start from Grade 8, DipAB, LR & FR. To say the truth, I could hardly remember much from my pre-G8 journey, other than my lovely thoughts of my first teacher from Shanghai.

DipAB was pretty breezy for me, probably because I spent almost 3 years on G8, that certain repertoires I played were almost Dip! Probably that was a power play from my teacher - ensuring I played Dip pieces even before I attempted G8 exam. Once again, yours truly, a stupid pig, scored Distinction for the Recital component of DipAB.

LR was almost suffocating because there is such a huge jump from Dip to LR, in terms of depth, length and technique of the pieces. I passed, of course. But - no Distinction for me from LR and onwards. Safe passes... still.

FRSM (cover of this blog) - I shined. I know I did well, I matured, I 开窍 - even if my results do not reflect how I feel. I just know, from FR and onwards, I nailed my performance. I don't feel that piano is difficult anymore. I can relax both my mind and fingers on the piano. My wrist did hurt a little, but now it is recovered.

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Most importantly, FR made me love Classical. God damn it but e.v.e.n in LR, I stiilll reach for pops. Obviously everyone reach for pops every now and then. But I truly feel, pops should not be in our default setting. If I can change something, probably I would make every piano student start from Classical training. I mean it.

FR also removed my ego filter, and made me see/hear my music in 4K. You know how sometimes you think you performed well because of musical endorphins, but when you truly removed your ego filter, you find yourself rushing the tempo, playing the accompaniment part too loudly, not shaping the melody, accenting at places you shouldn't be accenting etc... ?

I am glad I removed my filter. But I think I would still go for fillers..