Shaolin Temple School of Karate and Piano Playing

How could I have forgotten about this? This was certainly a distinctive experience for me last July. With just pure luck I scored myself a day with the examiners at the Hilton PJ's ABRSM Examination Centre just to get a glimpse of what it's like to be in their hot seats. No people, not because they farted...

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I recalled this as I was skimming through my previous grading exam results, only to find myself not as good as I am at Sight Reading as I was last time compared to currently. Damn, I need to start using notations again instead of my lazy way out with tablatures. 

Side note: Please don't ask me how I even got myself a chance to get a day with them. I myself don't quite recall how.

I remembered how I use to panic and cause an earthquake with my guts shaking it's way throughout the exam during my examinations last time. I could almost relate to how this poor kid was literally shaking his way while plucking his required piece. That was then, and heck am I glad to got that through with. (Hey kid, soak your face in water for 10 seconds, it works! For me at least)

The sole purpose of this was only to get myself to write a "book" in my mind on just how-do-they-test-you-by-sitting-there-the-whole-day-just-writing. Everyone can try it - sit on your sofa, doing absolute nothing than listening to a certain album over and over again. Fun when it's played properly; nasty when your Hi-Fi decided to screw you over.

Ok, I don't like him. Pull the plug...

The examiner I was with that day whose name I won't disclose was fairly a patient, hilarious person. Is it a requirement for a certain someone to be an examiner? I switched different rooms every now and then after a fair bit of candidates enter and leave = different instruments. Flute, guitar, piano, cello...you name it.

For those whom are bound to take their exams soon, scales need not be played at Formula 1 speed. This is the common disregarded tip. Some candidates will definitely have a future as racing drivers. Rather that and/or touch could be lighter in scales from some candidates too. Some will go on to become great karate masters. In fact, when I was watching certain candidates play their scales, I figured he might have come from the Shaolin Temple School of Karate and Piano Playing. No offence, now that I know, I might have even been that hard on the poor instrument previously. Man...