Ever done something that you thought was a good idea at the time then regretted it afterwards? Well that was me a few months ago. Having had to quit the double bass a couple of years ago, I decided to take up a different instrument. First the trombone and then the Tuba! I like the tuba. Absolutely no reason why I like it, but I like it. So I decided I'd give myself a challenge on it to make me spend time learning how to play it properly. That challenge was Grade VI ABRSM. Foolishly I thought it wouldn't be a problem.
So I got my music and attempted a practice regime. I was playing weekly with the Skegness Silver Band which certainly builds up stamina and experience. Everything was going swimmingly except one thing! Try as I might I couldn't memorise the scales. I can read them fluently without mistakes. But every time the music goes away my brain goes blank. I tried monotonous repetition. I tried writing them out. I included them into every practice. I even went through the fingerings whilst driving to work every morning (on the steering wheel I hasten to add). So come the day of the exam I was beginning to feel the queasiness of a nervous teenager attempting his grades for the first time.
So the exam! The pieces had some silly mistakes but were generally ok. Then came the dreaded scales. Oh dear!!!! As I expected my mind went blank. First scale, the dreaded F sharp major. I did ok at that but a bit hesitant. Then he asked for F sharp harmonic minor which isn't even on the syllabus. Panic swept over me as I tried to explain to him it was G sharp minor on the syllabus fool wed by more panic when I couldn't remember it. I struggled through that scale - barely. Then he asked for "A" chromatic 2 octaves - I crawled my way to the top and got lost on the way down. He took pity on me and asked for a couple of arpeggios and a diminished seventh. By now I was almost a gibbering wreck, convinced I'd failed. Fortunately for me the aural tests were second nature (there is an advantage to being a music teacher).
The results should be published on Tuesday next week!!!!! It's funny because secretly I was feeling confident in the build up to the exam and was hoping to get a merit with a possible distinction. I walked out of the exam room praying for a pass and am convinced I'll be a couple of marks off a pass. The most annoying thing was, at Silver band that night as I was warming up I played the whole "A" chromatic scales from memory without mistakes. The next day I began practising my pieces again, expected to have to take a re-sit in the not to distant future.
My advice? Chase your dreams, but prepare yourself for the fact that to achieve a dream will take graft and possible heartache.