Starting diploma in music performance?

In a nutshell, TEACHER. An individual can most readily direct you to those areas needing the most concentration.

I would not initially worry about levels. You need to first get your playing back to a general consistency. Often the self-taught have strengths in certain areas and 'holes' in others: this state of affairs is most likely when you have not been under supervision over the last few years.

If you cannot afford regular lessons, you may be able to make an arrangement for less than weekly lessons. If that can be arranged, make certain the lessons are still at regular intervals.

Iteration is basic to learning an instrument. There are inherent dangers in repeatedly practicing something wrongly. Dependent upon your current ability, there will be more or less danger depending upon the time interval between the lessons you schedule.

Negative repetition takes twenty times the mental efforts to correct. This includes all those basic and important physical aspects of playing an instrument which are as important as playing the correct notes.

Thus the importance of regular lessons, which are after all, supervised practice sessions.

best regards, petr b.

You need a teacher. The ABRSM, as well as other UK systems (which are those that go up to grade 8 and then diplomas), require you to have a grade 8 in the same instrument that you're being examined in for the diploma. They want to see your grade 8 certificate or online records that show you've taken grade 8, before they will allow you to register for a diploma exam. Also know that the diploma exams are much, much harder to pass than the graded exams. If you don't have a teacher, there's no way you'll be able to pass them. You also need to write programme notes for all your diploma exam pieces, and be able to answer questions about those programme notes thrown at you by the examiners to show that you truly know your instrument (and not just the repertoire either). You need a teacher for all of these.

If you want to be exposed to more music studies and performances, you have to have a teacher. So it only makes sense to start with a teacher now so that you'll be able to get as much decent instruction as possible. You will need to do a fair bit of Chopin's etudes and studies, as well as Bach's compositions, if you want to go for piano performance studies. Those are staple repertoire for any performing pianist.

Hey Well done for all the self study. I was always doing this but really it helps to work with a teacher as you can leave many things out without understanding. Even the best pianists have lessons in order to perform well. Your ear becomes so used to the way you play that you can no longer hear your mistakes.

Also as a performance practice it would make good sense to take grade 8 first, as any opportunity to perform will help you as a musician and teacher.

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