ABRSM Grade 8 piano 2009 - 2010 B1 Finale: Sonata in C minor, Op.10 No.1 -Mingshu

[ClubPenguinRocksCRM]

that's me one day :D

[lmprintProductions]

Asian? Obviously...



[ActivatedSemen]

Your music made me not to study...and give no meaning to study anymore! Fantastic!

[littleaddiena]

LOLed at the 'do not disturb' sign. Anyway, congratulations in getting such high marks! i wish i could get that marks in my exam. Don't mind me but, just to add a little opinion of mine on this piece, but i think the song is a little in the rush side, and should work on the tonality of this piece? Well, it's just my opinion, I'm no professional. And your hands looks stiff but your fingers are so strong though you look quite thin! But this is really impressive!!! =)

[Sharon8999]

Its great.............

[DABeatDrop1]

you impressed me :D

[TheManOfTheme]

Im 11, and i play this song. Well, at 1:52 , the fortes there, should be MORE accented

[tom10360]

Absoloutly amazing! I'm ding my grade 2 tommorow=)

[66AngelOfDeath66]

You look so evil playing that, shit. ahaha

[pebbli94]

I think it's technically there, but there should be more musicality:) use more pedal!

[agentmoolikeacow]

ahhhh im on grade 2 and i find military minuet hard!

[dolce106]

Wow, you're amazing! I wish I could play that good! =)

[iamcynthialam]

my exam songs are also the songs you are playing

[peonygogo]

wow is tooo good!

[iloveyoupixielott]

this is relly good id love to play as good as this but cant get the speed of it !

[squishimoo]

It sounds so great! I am in Canadian conservatory and the grading system is different :( Ours goes to grade 10 and I have to play a list a, list b, list c, 2 studies and 1 supplementary peice... Im am not looking forward to my next exam lol.. Have you ever tried playing fantasie impromptu by chopin?

[platinumclawify]

@squishimoo wow conservatory, sounds professional =]

[PurpleWhiteSnow]

Any tips on how to play this piece? Like the playing technique on the fast parts? I have my exam next month and I can't play it very well still, and my running notes aren't as clear...

[baiba4]

is someone playing table tennis in the background?  you have amazing concentration

[discuztungX]

Nice

[kev7978]

Hey, where did you get that "do not disturb" sticker? it looks awesome :)

[14hojk1]

Heyy I'm 12 and I'm playing this song but I don't seem to get how to play the shaking part, the right hand part. :( Gonna fail this song soo much :(

[Ang00Ming]

I like your "do not distrub" XD

[xevanescencex4evax]

You play very well

i can't wait untill i do my grade 8

(=

[jamesfox1788]

I sat Grade 8 when I was 13 years old, and I was much better than you.

[14hojk1]

@jamesfox1788 Don't critisize people be nice! U both did great.

[kev7978]

@jamesfox1788 good for you.

[sylar010]

@jamesfox1788

Harsh much???

[sylar010]

@jamesfox1788

You need to get over yourself. No need to get all big headed about it. Get off your high horse!!!! I find your comment to be insulting and to be quite frank, opprobrious!!!

[axellia12]

what did you get in your exam? :)

[candiluver683]

wow, you are amazing!

i am still only on grade 3 :(

[kristenandmeghanful]

omg wow

i cant believe that zebraaloveex3 tweeted this! :O 

[Shane2131]

You're amazing ! (:

[hamstein]

lol at the chopping and the cooking in the background!

[gym2121]

this is so fast! wish i could play like you :)

[canovee]

AMAZING!!!1

[mooobtube]

I'm not looking forward to doing pieces where i have to turn the page (do you have to do it your self or does the examiner do it)-Anyhoo well done (im only grade 3 at the moment)

[ImperatorVeritas]

@mooobtube You have to turn the page yourself, unfortunately :P You get used to it, though. I'm doing my Grade 8 in July

[canovee]

@mooobtube i am on Grade 3 aswell! Well I just finished it;Tiger Blues, Dollys Funeral nd Chordal Power!We have A LONG way 2 go

[gohsk2000]

tks <thanks you are quite pro yourself too!Nice playing

[duggs95]

great! i'm grade 6 just now - this is my goal: grade 8. plus, i love your piano - great sound!

[floroberg]

Speed has one part to do with it, but I also think that it depends on the Examiner and pretty much how he is feeling.

Personally, an impatient and not in a good mood might give u a lower mark than a happy joyful one.

[hairmehowle]

Good job on the runs. Some parts sound a little rushed like you lost the timing for a moment. You could have brought out the fortissimo more in bar 54. The ending was also a bit too loud and I didn't really hear the decrescendo as it should have been done. Remember Beethoven was very dramatic and you could have softened that last line. All and all it was a good performance and I'm sure you passed or will pass well

[CarlosBugeja]

well done

[rossithefruit]

ur so good am laughing my head off. only been playing for 6 month or so, can never imagine me sitting there at the piano playing this. well done (Y) !

[deathblade125]

Um...this comment is not about this piece...Im taking grade 8 next month, im wondering how you can practise sightreading and in aural, how did you practise sight singing and identify cadences? Thanks!

[proudugandan]

Could you please help me out and show me a slower version of those parts because I don't even know how it's supposed to sound and in the video you put up you were going too fast!

xxx

[proudugandan]

This is a really good performance.

Please could you put up a video showing the semiquavers against triplets played SLOWER?

That's the only part I can't get and I'm not sure how it's supposed to sound.

Thanx

xxx

[weldon29]

@proudugandan That was the part I had problems with too, I was somehow able to play it correctly now.

[missblbx]

wow this is such a great and brave performance at such a fast pace, i thought your control on the fast semi quaver passage was amazing- im doing this for grade 8 too!- i feel that you could have used a bit more pedal discreetly and made the difference between the calm and more rigid passages more apparent. like with the calm bits in the second part, make it sound really pleasant and relaxed but firm. also a bit more dynamic variation and this would be virtuoso standard i think :)

[mysticmingshu]

@misblbx,

Yeah, thanks for your constructive comments! I agree with you so now gotta work on that =P thanks a lot!!

[touyubex3]

dayyyem!

[gohsk2000]

who?????

[TheBanManClan5]

wow this is amazing, its my grade three exam soon, but ur sooooo good!

[gohsk2000]

no enough pro because me and my friend got 146 points for grade 8

[mysticmingshu]

I don't think it's the problem of being pro or not pro. What matters the most is how the player is constantly in a state of learning, and never claim himself to be better than others, because no one can ever achieve perfection. A humble posture of learning.. Congratulations to you and your friend for scoring so good a result! =)

[gohsk2000]

tks tks tks tks tks

[covenantcarbine]

@gohsk2000 wow 146 ?! Fantastically unbelievable !! I've only gotten 134 ...

[kev7978]

@gohsk2000 okay...

[discuztungX]

@gohsk2000

Is it real that you and your friend EXCECTLY get 146 points?

it is hard to get it the same :P

[skyhunterz100]

@gohsk2000 No one is perfect. If you're perfect then you are god. If you are god, then why are you still here?

[ThePatrickpiano]

Amazing !!!

[maozedong888]

im doin this piece, soooo hard!!!!

[pillowcaseIT]

Im 13 and i'm playing this, but on the fast parts, i keep holding down the notes when my thumb presses down on the key D:

so the notes don't sound as clear as yours, where you can actually hear every not that you're playing. How do you make your fingers so light on the keys? ;; n ;;

[NoSkillNoob]

you gave me potential =)

playing same for B1. gonna work more on expression ~

[LoftyProduction]

I'm just starting to read to music, but I can already play moonlight sonata and a chopin waltz .... music theory is tricky :(

[TheHamsandwich9]

You're doing the same pieces as me :D thanks for posting, helped with learnin this one!

[mrcl1121]

How is it possible to play it so fast?? You are AMAZING!!!!!!! Im playing it at 136 and I cannot play the whole song without stopping at least 4 times and also without dynamics. especially at the semiquavers and triplets part. Its always in a mess. Is there any tips? Im quite desperate to get it right as I have not started learning anything else like scales and my exam is in 3 weeks. X(

[weldon29]

You're pretty much doomed.

[RaraLovesMusic99]

are you a malaysian? because im a malaysian!

[zebraaloveex3]

woaaah,

i doing my grade 2 piano.

and this is amazzzzing!

[Vendetta5246]

At what age did you do grade 8?

[mysticmingshu]

Hi, I did it in Aug 09, 17 years old.

[101ryanma]

Wow, you can play so well! Although you missed a few notes, but u r so pro! I flunk my 1st exam and dont want 2 fail again. I am also playing B1. Do you have any idea on how 2 add "expression" to this piece? ps I need a response ASAP cuz I have my 2nd exam next month......

Thanks!

[mysticmingshu]

Expression? hmm.. try to search for "Beethoven: Sonata op.10 no.1 (3rd mov) - Claudia C. Valetta" in youtube. To me, the fingers dancing on the keys itself is already an expression. Feel the music, and you'll soon find your way of expressing it. O___o

[RainbowJelly22]

thank you bb for all the tips! btw I'm also playing Brahms for the third, and omg the ending part, I play it so slow -_-

[Megabloid97]

isn't this is a bit to fast?...

i played slower and got full mark:P..serious..swear to god...but good accuracy;)

[mysticmingshu]

@Megabloid97

Congratulations! haha. good to hear that. ^.^

[kongkiakeng]

past anot?

[RainbowJelly22]

read the summary, she got 29/30 :)

[kongkiakeng]

omg!awesome!!!

[seangreave2006]

OMG!!!!!!!! ive just started learning this and i didnt realise u had to play it this fast. is this is set tempo or is this how u thought it should be played

[BlueSkyWhiteCloudss]

the tempo is at the top of the page, it says 80

[BlueSkyWhiteCloudss]

please give me some tips ~ i changed my piece 5 weeks ago and i got the exam next week ''' !

[LostInTheMusic360]

I have my exam on saturday, and I'm playing this, any tips? You play this well :)

[randomlyxinsane]

wow nice one! i had a hard time practising this too. i used play this piece for the sake of playig & practise this piece frm the start will the end (whole song) & had alot of mistakes/wrong notes in between but after awhile i realise this cant work i need to phrase it bit by bit instead =/ my right hand will feel kinda tired cause i have a small hand & can barely stretch to octave. =/

you played this piece well & gratz:D

thanks for all the tips too its helpful ^^

all the best :D

[mysticmingshu]

"my right hand will feel kinda tired cause i have a small hand & can barely stretch to octave." It's quite the same for me too. Maybe you can try doing so warming up such as practicing scales, and any kind of octave practices. just for fun. :D it will help i guess.

I'm glad you find the tips useful. Thank you for your comments. =D

[akschuu]

You played really well. You definitely deserve a distinction. I am taking my grade 8 exam in 2 weeks. Any pointers in aural test? By the way, did you try playing A2? I can't find A2 in here and that is one of my songs.

[mysticmingshu]

For aural test,

- have more practice with your teacher on singing the lowest part after the examiner plays it twice.

- to identify chords and cadences, we need good ears. I can't help much in this, have to do more exercises too.

- as for sight singing, work on sight reading. (this should not be a big problem)

- again, we need good ears to identify modulations. Know the meaning of terms eg subdominant, dominant.

- on discussing musical features of a piece, definitely the examiner will test on

[mysticmingshu]

its style, period and most probably a possible composer. Know the characteristics and style of each period.

Other than this, all i can say is to practice more.

I tried A2 piece before, but didn't master that piece. XD OK, I found this, search in youtube :piano by kangarooru fugue no.6 in c minor, handel

BUT pls listen to the CD if you have one. The CD provides the best reference.

[deathblade125]

any tips for b1?

[mysticmingshu]

Instead of asking for advices, do you have any questions to ask regarding the piece? Erm, you can add me in msn / email me if you have any doubt. I'll try my best to help. :D

[kim90yun]

may i know how do you practice your scales....my fingers are long but they are stiff..

i have trouble in turning the fingers when i m practicing my appegios

it makes me feel upset... :(

[mysticmingshu]

Maybe keep on repeating the parts where you have to turn fingers? until you feel you can turn and land on the correct note, then try the whole scale slowly and gradually up to the speed u want to achieve. I forgot how i practiced scales, but just give it a try.

[baskalalskal]

wow you play this so...furiously lol

[mysticmingshu]

Haha. yes, I agree with that. haha. Beethoven's style. So furious and breathtaking, yet manifesting the flamboyance side of music. Wonderful!

[kim90yun]

wow...u played it well....how do u practice the triplets part? don mind sharing your opinion?

[mysticmingshu]

Triplets is one of the hardest part i find in this piece. First, try practicing the triplets part only, but making sure that the first note of triplet start on the correct beat. (you can count your beat and play it together) And then when you've master this, try with the octave part too, starting on the right beat. Then later you can try playing it together.

[mysticmingshu]

But the most important part is the triplets, if it's on the correct beat, right hand just 'shake' naturally and should not be a big problem. It's quite tricky, this will take some time and lots of practice.

[amo1000]

Its amazing how u can play this piece that fast and still keep it that accurate!

taking the exam in a month, but still finding it tough getting some bits up to speed like in 1:49 and 2:23

[mysticmingshu]

Try practicing with one hand only. Starting from slow - moderately fast - up to the fast speed you can achieve. Play the notes accurately and clearly, and then, slowly you can add in the left hand, start to practice from slow to fast. Practice makes perfect.

[bomchickabianca]

wow!! great job. i'm playing this for my grade 8, too and its the hardest out of the 3 for me. but i loooove the way it sounds.

did you pass with distinction?

[mysticmingshu]

Yes, I agree with you that it is one of the hardest piece, but yes. haha. i love the way it sounds too! haha. I passed with distinction! Enjoy practicing since this will be the last graded exam for you. I have yet to take up diploma, so... it's like i have nothing to look forward to now. I actually enjoy practicing under exam tension. haha. So, have fun!

[YongJBLiu]

Will it be hard to play this piece with small hands? Because my hands are incredibly small. Anyways, nice playing!

[mysticmingshu]

Hmm... incredibly small hands? If you can reach octave then it should be ok. One of the hardest thing for me is the octave, I cannot seem to get the octave notes right, esp when it's played continuously. haha.

[lilly763]

Wow, well done! I think you certainly deserved your high score on this piece. How did you score overall? I'm taking the exam in one month, and while my pieces are in fairly decent shape (nowhere near as good as yours, though), I'm really worried about the rest. Do you have any suggestions for preparing for the aural tests?

[mysticmingshu]

My teacher gave me some practices during lesson time. She let me have her aural test book and i practice it together with the CD provided most of the time. In your case, maybe you can ask your teacher to do more aural practice with you? Maybe you can add me up in msn so that i can share more with you? Overall score for this exam is 143/150. Thank you for leaving comments. Practice hard. =)

[lovewillfly2sky]

the rhythm is so hard , So can can i do better in this piece?

[mysticmingshu]

Do you mean the triplets part? Try practicing the left hand only, but on the right beat. Make sure that the first note of triplet start on the correct beat. And then when you've master this, you can put in the right hand as well. This will take some time and lots of practice.

[MrJimsum]

thank you for uploading. you've been a great help

[mighty400]

that was amaazing!

[carljr890]

gosh... i guess its a case of perfect practice makes perfect..cos i practiced the whole day and think i am not half as good as u!!!

[mysticmingshu]

Well, yeah. Practice makes perfect. Try not to squeeze the whole piece into one practice. Practice phrases by phrases. Once you think you've mastered certain phrases, then move on. Practicing the whole piece from the start till the end, with lots mistakes in between, is not effective. So, take your time, enjoy practicing! :D All the best.

[90938]

its really nice=)

may i know where do u add pedal for this piece?

thanks

[mysticmingshu]

Bars 9 11 66 68 (only C, F+Aflat, F+Aflat, F+Aflat)

Bars 22 79 - together with the chord, lift up pedal when the left hand is resting.

Bars 105 - 106

Bars 112 - 113

Bar 114 - only during the arpeggios, lift up pedal on the accented G note

Bar 115 - pedal point C note

Bars 117 119 120 121 122 - all the C major chords in left hand

[90938]

thanks sooooo much=)

its amazin whn u can score 29/30 for ur pieces in G8...

[mysticmingshu]

welcome and thank you. You can add pedal in any part if you think it's appropriate. Good luck in practicing!

[carljr890]

hw did u score for cimarosa?

[mysticmingshu]

29/30 for cimarosa, carljr890. :)

[carljr890]

i like ur finale as well.:) hw long u practice daily?

[mysticmingshu]

Ahh... that's a good question. I used to practice 2 hours(including scales + pieces) , but not daily. maybe 2/3 times a week. but, practice according to how you feel. if you're tired, no point practising since it'll actually get worse if you continue. but when you feel the need to practice more to master the piece, well, take your time and enjoy practicing. time passes unknowingly when we enjoy practicing. haha.

[SunShineAristo]

OMG!! grats lol i need some advice for this piece, seems really hard lol (doing it without a teacher's worst =X) ^^

[mysticmingshu]

How's the progress so far? Why doing it without a teacher? hmm...? haha.

[SunShineAristo]

Hi =) not much progress lol trying to keep it even esp the semi-quavers.. im doing it without a teacher as im mostly busy with my studies lol! dont want to waste my parent's money as well, lessons here are expensive lol

[mysticmingshu]

29/30 for this piece! hehe.. If you need advice on this piece, i have a lot to share! really.

[artsalad66]

Aisha, that performance shows that you have reached a high level of technical excellence. That is rare and precious for someone of your age. Keep going - we wil be seeing you in the concert halls of Europe soon! Clapping and cheering, Marina :)

[mysticmingshu]

Err... thank you for the compliments. but did you send it to the wrong person? Concert halls of Europe?! haha... *confused*

[artsalad66]

Sorry - I got confused with your name HOWEVER do you really think you are not good enough to be on tour through Europe and the world playing to appreciative audiences? You are AMAZING and have a successful career in music ahead of you if you want it. You have achieved so much already. Bravo!

[torresina514]

wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!well done^^excellent

[nveenraj]

You are so right.

[nveenraj]

You're so lucky, and talented! Praise God for that..

[mysticmingshu]

Thanks naveen! It's good that we see talents as gifts from God, as this will remind us to be humble always. :D

[singyeelau]

But actually it's not about seeing it as gifts from God, IT IS from God.. ;)

and we tend to forget that easily....

[xdaisyxx]

you play it so well!

[mysticmingshu]

Thank you xdaisyxx. Your cimarosa is good too. :D

[mysticmingshu]

Sorry, the cimarosa you've fav-ed. X___x still new here. Sorry!

[xdaisyxx]

Lol :) i really need to practise to get that good!

[mysticmingshu]

Yeah. Practice makes perfect. Nothing comes easy. I listened to the CD provided and tried to improve on it. But this is one hard piece X____x.

[mysticmingshu]

Ahh... thanks for the compliments! I'm playing A1 and C2. hehe, Exam was over last week. All the best in exam! For higher grades, my teacher always say : Just go and enjoy yourself! :D

[Mandyyauyau]

I think u played quite good! how about yr a & c? I will hv my g8 exam too