Day 96, Monday April 6, 11.30am: From now on, I shall answer to the name of Amadeus. I passed my Initial Grade Keyboard Exam (capital letters to try and make it sound more impressive) last week. No, I didn't just pass - no hiding of lights under bushels here - I got a merit.
Not that it was that smooth a ride. In fact, I felt like a schoolboy in short trousers for most of the day as a result. The examiners were dead-pan officious and that threw me from the very start. Then I began making more and more mistakes, the longer I warmed up. Then the keyboard stand was at the wrong height. Then my hands seized up and felt like they were playing through treacle. Then I botched my first arpeggio. Then…
But at least there were no frilly pigtailed four-year-olds present. I’d been warned that I might be surrounded by some rather young fellow examinees – Neil, my teacher, said I would probably raise the average age to about seven - but fortunately I was alone. Not a single Suzuki kid to be seen.
I walked out of the exam thinking I might have just squeezed a pass, so I’m very chuffed. I’ve seen the examiner’s notes. The best thing was that he did not mention my nodding head or make any reference to pigeons.
Ha! Try to laugh at me now, scornful four-year-olds! See you for the grade two exam in June! And just remember to call me Amadeus in future…
No comments:
Post a Comment