We’re settling in to the scholastic year now, which means lots of new and exciting things to learn – and music can be a part of that too!

The School of Popular Music in Guernsey offers classes and individual tutoring for lots of instruments such as piano, guitar, bass, violin, drums and many more, as well as vocal training. For the students who wish to get qualified, graded exams are available, but they are also optional.

For those wishing to work towards a music exam, here are some tips on how to prepare for the big day:

Practise, practise, practise!
We’ve all heard the expression “practice makes perfect” – and while this might not always be the case (nerves can get in the way), you’ll have a much better chance of doing well if you practise as much as you possibly can. Practising regularly and often is the best way to prepare yourself for your exam. Leaving things till the last minute will add stress and might not get you the best results.

An important practising tip is: Don’t practise until you get it right; practise until you can’t go wrong. This is the key to doing well in any performance.

Get used to having an audience
Whether you practise in front of one person or your entire clique or family, getting the hang of having someone in the room watching and listening will help you to get used to the attention and learn how to handle your nerves in front of your examiner.

The examiner will be writing notes while you play, so it might also be useful to practise in front of an audience that will not appreciate your playing, like an animal or a toddler, so you can learn to stay focused and carry on if they are moving around or fidgeting.

Learn to ignore your mistakes
There is always a chance that something might go wrong during a music exam that will make your performance slightly less than flawless – and this is okay. Learn to carry on past your mistakes without pulling faces, stopping, or repeating bars. Try your best not to let it affect you, as it will only make you more nervous and one mistake can lead to a string of them.

Remember that the examiner will not remove marks for mistakes if you handle them well and not let them affect your overall performance.
Once you get the hang of all these things, remember that it’s also super important to take care of yourself. Make sure that you get enough sleep, eat well, and keep yourself healthy and in good shape in the weeks leading up to your music exam.

So if you’re interested in taking music lessons, and perhaps even working towards sitting for a music exam, click here to get in touch with the School of Popular Music in Guernsey today.

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