Examining Grade 1

While undergraduates across the university are studying for the exams that start next week, some enterprising Music students have been passing a different kind of test – the ABRSM grade one exam in an instrument they had never played before this year.  Catherine Underhill (3rd year) tells us about the final phase of the Grade One-a-Thon charity initiative:

I am very pleased to announce that 33 students have just completed their grade one-a-thon! My ideas for this project began during summer 2014 and I spoke to the Musoc President, Scott Hunter. He was extremely supportive of the project and after lots of planning, an unbelievable number of people showing interest, funding success and instrument searching, I launched the Grade one-a-thon in October 2014.

Just after the Easter break we had two afternoons of rehearsals with our fabulous accompanists, Jamie Harris, George Smith and James Kennedy. This gave everyone the opportunity to play their pieces with the piano accompaniment to a small audience, like a mock exam. We had a particularly entertaining moment when our two budding oboists, James Kennedy and Harry Matthews played their study together … but it was not so together. In fact, they were in different keys, playing different notes!! I’m pleased to say they both pulled it off in their exams.

The exams took place on Friday 1 May and Saturday 9 May in the University Music Department. It was absolutely terrifying but exciting for a lot of us, as taking a grade one exam takes you back to when you were a child and took the grade one on your current principal study!

Not only have we all had so much fun taking part in this exciting scheme, but we have managed to raise money for a music therapy charity in the local area, Key Changes. The total has not yet been confirmed, but I am very pleased and proud that we can support a local musical charity whilst acquiring new skills and having fun.

I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the department staff, especially Jeanice for her help and generosity from the very beginning, to all the participants for being so fabulous and ABRSM (especially Heather and John) and our examiner, David Gostick. I am pleased to announce that Madeleine Shackleton will be events co-ordinator for Musoc next year, so will be taking on the Grade one-a-thon, and extending it. If you wish to participate next year, register your interest now by emailing gradeoneathon.soton@outlook.com.

We’re expecting the results of the grade one exams from the ABRSM in a couple of weeks – stay tuned . . .