This is a post for another piano exam I took today. 

Yes, despite living a SEMI hikikomori life.. (had I already mention SEMI? *though it might have been quarter*), I went out of the house to sit for a graded exam for piano at Ming Garden hotel. 

Anyway... I just realised it has been three years since the last piano practical exam in 2012. I was nervous as usual. Went to the waiting room and got a bit surprised to see a new face on the table. A male steward. Oh and I was early. I thought I was going to be there too early but with nervousness and traffic jams around the area, I actually came at a proper "early" time. There was no information on the examiner so I didn't know what his name. But examiner-san is a nice gentleman. He even offered to open the door for me when I was done (I think I was the last examinee for today). He didn't talk much about my performance (at least he didn't ask me to stop midway so I guess it's still good) although he did say something after I finished my 2nd piece but I didn't pay much attention. 

Honestly, I'm not sure if my exam preparation was adequate.. yes, I know that I could be more confident if I had practised more.. but this was different from my grade 5 exam experience. It wasn't as scary as before. Somehow, I feel like I'll be okay.

Even after asking two persons' opinions on which I should start with first, I chose to do my pieces first. The reason was because I have more confidence in playing my pieces. Of course, I got better at playing scales now but I just know that I'll be haunted by them if I do them first. For warming up purposes? The examiner will ask you to warm up for a little time before the exam start and that was enough for me (I played a troublesome passage from my 2nd piece and hit random notes just to get the feel of the piano). Fortunately, I didn't make many mistakes (like during classes)... but they weren't perfect either. It actually helped me get over my nerves. After the pieces, my performance were in extremities. It was quite funny really. My mistakes seemed to alternate between each sections. I did well in Scales then I totally messed up my contrary motion scales (btw I actually got the most troublesome one - evil B-flat minor!). Though I'm a bit disappointed with myself for messing up the parts I believed I'm good at. Including sight-reading (AH! *I don't want to think about it again!*)... NOO~~!! And the aural section... HAH! *goes blank & lifeless*.. Why am I so bad at sight singing?

ARGGHH.. *sigh*

Overall, I think I did okay (comparing to my grade 5 experience), but the lack of verbal comments makes me worried a bit. My piano teacher said they are stricter after grade 5... 

Anyway, in case you're wondering how I can take ABRSM grade 6 without my grade 5 music theory certificate... yeah, actually I already sat for that exam last year and barely got a distinction (it was 90 haha) so I already met the requirements.

Edit 9th April, 2016: Actually got my results already last year (few weeks after the exam). I passed with merit!