Hi, my name is Giacomo and I am a piano student at the conservatory of Piacenza, and the day after tomorrow my eighth-year exam begins.
Since among the various tests there is also one regarding general culture on the piano, and in particular on the overall mechanics of the instrument, I went looking for clear explanations regarding this and found you on YouTube. I therefore wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart, in particular Maestro Ferrarelli, for all the wonderful explanations I have received!
I am convinced that those videos and this beautiful site are a great idea, and so it is with pleasure that I joined the forum!
The eighth year is great, excellent experience... For general knowledge, it is possible they will ask you various questions not necessarily about the piano. In any case, regarding the piano, they may ask you about its history from Bartolomeo Cristofori to the present day. The evolution it has undergone, from the shape of the hammers to the invention of the escapement. But they can also ask you questions about composers. They asked me to talk about Chopin: life, personality, and interpretation. In short, the videos you have seen on piano technology should be more than exhaustive for your exam, so don't worry... Among other things, general knowledge is a proficiency test; it doesn't count towards the average because there is no grading.
We wish you a pleasant stay. For any problem, we are here... 😉
G
gian
Member
Reply 3 by gian
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60
Welcome from my side too, dear Giacomo. I also joined this site just a few days ago, and like you, I decided to register after finding those very pleasant videos on YouTube that you also speak positively about: undoubtedly well-made videos, thought out and presented by a cultured, affable, and very likable person (and above all, human: a rare quality in these depressing, or "satanic" as one of my dearest Jehovah's Witness friends says, times) who knows how to win you over immediately. By joining the forum, having accepted Paolo's invitation, I immediately had confirmation that I had made an excellent choice that I am certain will never disappoint me. I wish you, Giacomo, that you too may find yourself well here. And good luck with your exam.
Thank you for the compliments and good luck for the eighth [exam/level].
The eighth, for us pianists, is a fundamental exam. Tiring. Long. Perhaps it is the "diploma". Live it while having fun and playing relaxed. Think about the Music, the phrasing, the sound (if you happen to be in a reverberant room with a poorly prepared piano....imagine it and seek it out anyway!!!!), and the style of the Authors.
Thank you all so much, I am struck by the cordiality and kindness that I have found!
It really felt like entering a sort of family (and perhaps it is also like that, seeing as there is no bond deeper, unifying, and universal than music)!
I would especially like to thank Maestro Ferruccio for the explanations regarding the pedals that he gave me in the "Reports" section! They were truly very useful! I just have one doubt remaining, which perhaps I will post in that section!
I will let you know later how the exam went! (PS to Simone: unfortunately, I don't know if it's only in my conservatory or in general, but now I am sure that the general knowledge test averages exactly the same as the performance tests! 😆 )
So thank you again for everything and see you very soon!
Oh sorry, sorry!! I can explain the slip of the tongue!!
under the advice of Simone, who warned me that the general knowledge test for the eighth grade also largely concerned the history of eminent pianists, I focused on studying the various biographies of the Authors I play and among them was Ferruccio Busoni!! Please forgive me so much for the slip, I must have crossed the two things since in one window I was studying Busoni and in the other window I was responding to You!!
An "illustrious" slip of the tongue. I don't deserve that much 😆 Don't worry, it was just a funny way to "underline"... besides, all my former schoolmates and others have also used affectionate diminutives, given my long surname: Ferricchio, ferraccio, Ferri, Ferarè, ferrandì, etc. 😆
