Piano exams

I take a deep breath, and rest the tips of my fingers on the keyboard. It's now or never, I think to myself. Making sure I'm seated the proper distance away from the keys, I get up, readjust my seat, and sit back down.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes." As ready as I'll ever be, my mind quips.

"E flat minor harmonic scale arpeggio, please." The proctor requests. "Left hand. Mezzo-forte"

In my peripheral, i see him making notes. Focus, my brain says. Focus.

"Now, B major scale in contrary motion."

I obey, wincing as my finger slips and hits the wrong note. I continue on.

We go through this procedure a few more times- he requesting scales and arpeggios, and me fulfilling his requests, as near perfect as I can.

"Now, you have three exercises prepared for me today. I will choose one, and you will choose one. Which would you like to perform first today?" That British accent still unnerves me every time. I feel as though I should get used to it, I mean, the company is called Trinity Guildhall of London.

Thinking hard about which 2-line exercise I feel most confident in, I decide on 2B-Falling Leaves. "Light and airy" I hear my piano teacher's voice in my head as I play: Piano, piano, mezzo piano, pianissimo, crescendo louder, there's a storm brewing! Annnnd.... Back to mezzo forte, finish in piano. I give what I believe is a flawless performance of that one.

"Thank you. Now, will you please play exercise 1A for me?" That's my worst one. Ugh. Deep breath, I tell myself. "Exotic adventure" what's that even supposed to mean? My other choice for exercise 1 wasn't much better- "Raindrops". I mean, how much more vague could you be?!

Mysterious, I tell myself. That was my interpretation of the title. Start out piano, crescendo up to forte, a little bit after the middle, fortissimo- hit the keys- bang them if you have to- then back down, extra soft, and when you end, the last note should be there, but barely audible.

Looking at the examiner, his bland face tells nothing. I can't tell if he's pleased or upset with my performance. And I'm still not done. I have three pieces to play for him before I may leave.

"Your pieces, please. 'Renaissance' first." This one- it's all about sounding old but not dull- and most notes are down on the left side of the piano- low and dull. My job is to make it "come alive", tell the story of knights in shining armor - off adventuring to save their damsels in distress- every phrase of legato note should sound like galloping hooves, every dissonant chord should be the wail of a lady waiting for her prince to save her.

I finish the first song, flipping over the next few pages to song 2- the crystal cage- light, delicate, happy- it's a pretty piece- anything too harsh could break the cage. Then the cage breaks. A loud clang, and notes get higher and louder- Sorrow, sadness- all until the end. I finish that one, and bring out my separate book, which hosts the last song, my favorite.

"The maiden's tale" is probably my favorite-it's fun, childlike, and something that sounds like it would belong in a ballet like Coppelia. It's a little fast, which I'm not as good at, but the toneage of it is lovely. A little dreamlike in the middle, which means it slows down, and then the very end drifts off, slowly, softly, like waking up from a dream.

I pass the musical knowledge test with flying colors, I'm pretty sure, then go for the aural. It's harder than expected, but I figured out where the two changed notes are and how they're different, my interval is shaky, though I think I guessed it right.

"Thank you," says the proctor. "You are now dismissed. "

I grab my books and get out, thankful that this is the last piano examination I will ever take.