How to Get High Marks on RCM Exams

December 1, 2022

In 2007, the Royal Conservatory of Music published a blog detailing eight ways to get higher marks on their practical exams.

These suggestions were excellent, although they were mostly focused on obvious, but commonly

neglected preparation strategies. It certainly goes without saying, for example, that a failure to focus on critical exam requirements will result in forfeiting marks. And it’s also true that students often knowingly forfeit marks by failure to learn selections by memory, or by selectively neglecting attention to certain exam requirements such as technical or ear tests most often due to self-imposed time restraints.


However, there is one additional very important factor that may be at the heart of some of the challenges that

students face when performing for an exam. And that is the tendency of parents, students, and sometimes even teachers to put the proverbial cart before the horse, which always creates dysfunction.


By that, I mean that if the primary focus for lessons is first on skill development, rather than exam preparation, and not the other way around, highly successful achievement on exams is a natural outcome. The metaphorical cream always rises to the top, and the cream in this case is always the product of thorough time spent in preparation of all exam details, together with the benefits associated with receiving frequent, intense, and consistent expert professional training.


And so it is that the most common enemy of great success on RCM exams, is an ill-advised haste to get to a higher grade level in the shortest possible amount of time, with the smallest possible amount of money spent on lessons with an expert teacher. Going into an exam with the mindset that you know that you are so well-prepared that even on your worst day you are going to achieve outstanding results is an exhilarating feeling that is without equal. Whereas, students who are hastily or less than fully-prepared tend to go into the exam with considerable anxiety and doubt. And, these mental and emotional liabilities further undermine their already mediocre skills. As auto-

maker Henry Ford famously said, “Whether you believe you can or believe you can’t, you’re right! Success,

therefore, necessarily begins with the right mindset

.

The outstanding success of Talent Canada Music Academy students on their RCM practical exams comes in large part from the knowledge that they have been prepared to achieve greatness. As a result, they almost always do.

Five Ways to Prepare for an RCM Exam More Quickly and Easily

December 1, 2022
 After pointing out in two previous blogs that becoming musically talented takes time and persistence to make sure that no steps in the process are skipped, it may seem to be a contradiction to suggest that that there are quick ways to prepare for an RCM exam. However, I do know that everyone wants to succeed quickly, and so, here are a few strategies that that lead to a faster than average speed of learning.

Seven Ways to Improve Success on RCM Exams

December 1, 2022
In my previous blog, I mentioned that in 2007, the Royal Conservatory of Music made eight excellent suggestions to help students improve their achievements on RCM exams. And, I went on to point out a single factor that may have led to these eight common deficiencies as noted by RCM examiners. Here, now, is my own personal list of seven ways that Talent Canada Music Academy seeks to improve our students’ overall success.

Now the Crop Circles are Marching

November 22, 2022
You’ve probably heard of crop circles before. Well, the latest ones actually march.

A Tale of Two Systems

By Stephen Riches • December 29, 2020
The best way to learn piano is trying it with an experienced teacher. Register today for online piano lessons that are suitable for all levels of learning.

The Folly of Conventional Wisdom

By Stephen Riches • December 7, 2020
Practicing slowly is the way to learn the piano quickly, which is why I often remind students to remember that it was the tortoise that won that famous race.

The Two Societies of the Matrix

By Stephen Riches • November 29, 2020
Best piano principles - "intelligence or IQ actually increases with music training, and the rewards can be as much as a 20% increase in academic achievement."

The Ten Factor

By Stephen Riches • November 23, 2020
In a recent blog I referred to a “Ten Factor Formula” for music training. I mentioned that with the Talent Can Be Taught system, a beginner could become as competent as most teachers within five years, and an outstanding professional performer within ten years by starting lessons with the formula of a 10-minute daily lesson and 10 minutes of daily independent practice at the start. This success does not depend on pre-existing music aptitude or extraordinarily hard work, but rather a consistent and disciplined process of developing critical skills. The key factors are frequency and consistency. Unfortunately, the conventional approach to private music training has never worked for the vast majority of all students, as evidenced by the more than 99% of beginners who give up in frustration within three years of starting, and soon forget how to play all or most of what they ever learned. At the heart of the reason that they quit is that they are missing the magic of synergy in their learning experience. For example, one of the key factors that leads to success in everything is momentum. Everyone knows the power of momentum in sports and most of you have probably witnessed a memorable example of what happens when one team has the momentum and the other doesn’t. The experience is either exhilarating or devastating, depending on which team you are on or supporting.

Building Music Talent

By Stephen Riches • November 17, 2020
I’ve come to realize that the process of developing music talent also is not rocket science. Musical practice involves a regular commitment.

Why Is Music Important?

By Stephen Riches • April 13, 2020
There are, perhaps, few more profound questions that can be asked. It’s right up there with “What is the meaning of life”? Or “What is Truth”? It might seem to be obvious, yet at the same time it’s complex and intriguing. Music is a very powerful force in our lives. We all sense that instinctively. But I suggest that there are three ways, in particular, that music is at the very core of our human experience. Music is important, first of all, because it has the capacity to communicate more deeply than words which makes it a universal language. Its significance can be understood across all cultures and in spite of other barriers such as language. It has the potential to make us feel frightened, or exhilarated. It can make us laugh or cry. It can cause us to dance or close our eyes in meditation. In short, we feel and understand music deeply in our sub-conscious. Music also has the capacity to connect us to times, places, people, and events in our lives. And those connections, in turn, can affect us emotionally. This is why music can be such a powerful tool for connecting with elderly people who may be suffering from cognitive or memory loss. Finally, music has the capacity to be as unique or singular in creation as a fingerprint or DNA. Two or three consecutive notes played on a melodic instrument could often be identical in many different songs. But, magically, when various elements of music are used in combination, the result can be like a key or a signature allowing access and enabling us to identify the selection instantaneously, sometimes even from the first and slightest momentary sound. So music is ultimately a creative expression and extension of everything we are.

Bad, Good, Better, and Best News!

By Stephen Riches • April 13, 2020
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. As of the end of March, according to available stats, about 1 out of every 10,000 people on the planet has been diagnosed with Covid-19. Good News. The majority have already recovered or are now recovering from the virus. Better News. As the period of Social Distancing continues in our efforts to conquer this disease, it’s good to remember that there are three wonderful benefits to our health related to listening to music: 1 it can reduce stress and anxiety 2 it can increase the body’s immune system 3 it can help lift people out of depression Best News – You may know the story of the Shepherd boy, David. reducing King Saul’s agitation by playing a harp for him. Or, perhaps you’ve heard the saying that “music soothes the savage beast” My personal top 10 list tends to change from day to day. But, I’m going to give you three of my many favourite listening suggestions in varying styles that I think will lift your spirits, bring a smile to your face, and in at least one case, even get your toes tapping. So here they are – you can look them up on YouTube. 1 Ray Charles – The Mess Around – a slightly naughty song blessed with an infectious (but healthy) motion from beginning to end that is guaranteed to energize you and make you smile! 2 Twila Paris – How Beautiful – a wonderfully luxurious inspirational song for reflection that will raise your spirits in all circumstances! 3 Beethoven – Romance #2 in F for Violin and Orchestra – this is the composer at his angelic best; rising above the personal trials with which he was grappling in his own life back in the year 1803! Happy Listening!
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