Back from exam

[drumass04]

Hey people,

I just got back from my grade 3 exam. Went really well, played all the pieces perfectly apart from the ending of one. Technical stuff was really really easy, no problems there.

I reckon I got a high merit, so I'm pretty pleased. I ws however quite upset afterwards. I was playing on a Yamaha Birch Custom, absolutely beautiful kit. But it was so beaten up, it was unbelievable. The finish was all dirty (originally silver sparkle) and scratched. The heads were about 50 years old. The cymbals were also beautiful. 13" K hats (covered in dirt so they sounded like poo), 16" A crash. Sounded absolutely beautiful. And then the ride, 20" K Special Dry Custom (or something like that) but again covered in so much dirt I could only just see the writing on it. Because of this it couldn't sing at all, just made a rather nasty sound. From previous experience I know all of these cymbals sound fantastic, such a pity they were in such a mess.

I just wish that I could have brought them home and cleaned them up a bit.

Tim

[AtomShip]

Hey some people like dirty cymbals, Elvin Jones would burry his cymbals for two weeks prior to playing them.

[seanman99]

So wat kind of stuff did you have to play in order to pass?

[drumass04]

If you'd have seen this cymbal you wouldn't say that :P It was literally black. I could pretty much scratch the grime off with my finger nail.

I had to play 3 pieces from the Grade 3 Rockschool book.
#1: Manic - Britpop type thing.
#2: Ruff Daddy - Hip Hop/country style thing
#3: BC/DC - A heavier Rock type song.

I then had to play a few 'technical' bits.
#1: 2 bars of 1/4 notes, followed by 2 bars of 8th notes, followed by 2 bars of 8th note triplets, followed by 2 bars of 16th notes.
#2: 2 bars of inverted paradiddles (16th notes)
#3: 2 bars of flams.
#4: Sight reading; 16 bars, just on snare, a range of 16th, 8th, 1/4 notes, and 8th and 1/4 note rests.
#5: Ear tests; a recorded 2 bar groove, repeated. I have to play it back to the examiner. (My weakest point)
#6: Show that I know note values, positions of drums on the stave etc etc. Meanings of dynamics.

And finally I had to explain how to change a snare head.

[Byron]

that sounds ridiculously easy

[crazyguy832]

That does sound relatively easy. Grade 3 you say? Heh. Number 6 would probably be my weakest point... but that's only cause I read drum music off of tabs (I do piano sheet music fine).

I should probably look into drum exams in the area... might be fun to take one.

[Iodus]

i was meant to do that one this year,
but i learnt the songs last year (BC/DC, Xaminer Blues, Manic)
So i did grade 5 this year, although no one does the proper exam out here, it cost $150 or sumthing

[Pikeymikey22]

I've taken grade 5 and 6, got my 7 in March. I got merit both times. I didn't bother with grades 1-4. They are quite easy, but drum grades are seen by some to be easier than grades on other instruments such as piano.

[FockerTheLopper]

that sounds ridiculously easy
Seriously. How I've been playing for almost two years and that all seemed extremely easy.
What is level would someone playing for 2 years be at? I think I'd be at 6 or 7 based on how easy 3 was.

[drumass04]

I was meant to take grade 3 about a year and half 2 years ago, i've been playing grade 5-6 stuff for about a year lol.
I'm going straight on to do 5 next, then probs straight to 8.

[Byron]

I was meant to take grade 3 about a year and half 2 years ago, i've been playing grade 5-6 stuff for about a year lol.
I'm going straight on to do 5 next, then probs straight to 8.
sweet, good luck with those

[Brokensticks]

I don't see the point in doing these exams, I guess it would be fun.

[Futuro]

I couldnt do #4 and 6. (Cant read music) But good job man.

[Byron]

I couldnt do #4 and 6. (Cant read music) But good job man.
that is a pleasant avatar

[Pikeymikey22]

I'm going straight on to do 5 next, then probs straight to 8.
It doesn't quite work that way for us guys in the UK. I just realised you're doing the RockSchool exams.

For those of you who don't understand the different exam boards, here goes:
Theres 3 exam boards over here: There's Guildhall and there's Trinity, these two were the main two music exam boards, and now I think they are merging together to be one big exam board. The third board is RockSchool. To do grade 8 in RockSchool, you don't need your grade 8 theory. These exams are really easy compared to the much more respected Guildhall and/or Trinity exams. To do grade 8 drums in Guildhall/Trinity, you need have done your grade 5 music theory.

My teacher said: "Ya know, if ya wanna do grade 8 next year, you're gonna need to really buckle down to some theory, man".
Me: "But can't I just skip the theory and do a RockSchool grade 8?"
Teacher: "Nah, there's no point doing that, it just shows you can't be bothered to take the grades seriously".

Still, if all you have access to is RockSchool, then I suppose it's better than nothing.

[drumass04]

I'm from the UK as well.
Rockschool is a branch of Trinity (hence the Trinity logo on the back cover :P) It is intended for the more 'popular' style music for drums, guitar, bass and keys (i think). They also run a 'Band' exam, where bands can be graded (I don't really see the point in this, but hey)

[drummer172]

Is this like some UK thing I dont know about?