Category: M.P. Challenge

An archive of my work on Bohally’s M.P. Challenge

MTC Open Evening

On Wednesday 6 November, I helped out at the Marlborough Technology Centre (MTC), from 6pm-8pm. I was a little late getting there as I was also playing in the band at the Bohally Yr 6 Info evening. I worked as a helper/guide in video tech, where we learn about producing films. At first, we didn’t get many people in, but as soon as the Bohally Info evening was done, a flood of children and parents came through, and we quickly had our hands full. It was really fun, and I learnt a lot about video production.

Presenting my M.P. Challenge

Are you wondering how I’ve decided to present my Bohally Maximising Potential Challenge? Well guess what, you’re reading it right now! This website, among other purposes, was created to catalog everything I’ve done for the M.P. Challenge. In fact, presenting it is one of the tasks of the challenge. So here it is, the M.P. Challenge presentation. Hope you enjoy!

Helping out in the Community

This year at Bohally Intermediate, we have a challenge called the M.P. Challenge, for which we have to do different tasks to be completed by the end of the year. One of those tasks is 8 hrs work in the community.

I got a golden opportunity when Linda, my music teacher, made me a leader of a group at Theory Club. Theory Club is a music group, where we do musical theory, and play games linked to music. This helps young musicians to become better at music, in a fun way! We spend 45 mins doing theory, then 30 mins doing games!

I help by assisting the kids in my group with anything they are unsure about, and making sure they are having fun, and that they understand what to do.

I have been a leader now for 16 sessions, meaning that in total, I have spent 8 hours being a leader at Theory Club! I have helped out the members of my group, and led us to victory in many group contests.

The truth is, I hadn’t actually enjoyed Theory Club that much, prior to being a leader of a team. Then, once we started doing group activities, and I started leading one of those groups, it motivated me to continue attending, and I actually really enjoyed it. I am glad to be a member of Theory Club, and hope to continue doing it in the future!

Marlborough Performing Arts Competition

Today I performed pieces for 5 categories of the 11 & under 14 section of the Marlborough Performing Arts Piano Competition. I was really nervous before I played each piece, and for the final piece I played, Piano Man, I was so nervous that my pedalling-leg was shaking!

20th Century Classical — Tango Passionis
I was placed second in this section and the judge wrote (in very messy handwriting) “This performance had well judged dynamics and good balance. The tempo was consistent and the mood was very well communicated. A good performance.”

Piano Solo Test Piece — Melody
I got first in this section and won the Rowlands Cup as well as a gold medal. My music teacher won the cup in 1981. The judge wrote “There was a good feeling for the style, with nicely shaped phrases, and good hand balance. The right hand had good singing style. Dynamics were used to good effect. Touch was just a little uneven at times.”

Piano NZ Composer — It Takes Two
I was placed second in this piece also and the judge wrote “The mood was very clear from the start. Notes were fluent and accurate. Dynamics and articulation were well observed. A fine performance.”

Pre 20th Century — Study in E Minor
I made a couple of mistakes in this piece and was tied for third in this section. The judge wrote “There was some good shaping and nuance. Tempo was a little inconsistent at times but there was good attention to detail. There were one or two slips in notes, but generally a good performance.”

Modern Piano Solo — Piano Man
I was second again in this section but was pleased with how I played. The judge wrote “The style was clear from the start. The balance was good, but the tempo was not consistent. There were some little hesitations. Dynamics were effective. The mood was mostly conveyed.”

Grade 4 Piano

In December 2018 I started to work on learning Grade 4 piano and in Term one of this year my music teacher suggested that I should sit the Trinity examination in August.

I learnt 6 grade 4 pieces and picked three of those to do in the exam. The pieces I ended up playing where: Study in E Minor by Henri Bertini, Barcarolle by Friedrich Burgmüller and Tango Passionis by Barbara Arens. Over the 8 months that I spent learning grade 4 pieces I had a 45 minute lesson once a week and then practiced for about 30 minutes a day. As the exam got closer I sometimes had two lessons a week and increased my practice to about 45 minutes a day.

Three weeks prior to the exam I played Barcarolle at a master class, where a visiting music teacher helped me to fix errors in my playing. There were 4 other students there as well and we all got to listen to each other playing and hear what the teacher suggested.

The exam had five sections; scales and arpeggios, exercises, pieces, musical knowledge and aural. You can gain points from each of these sections which go towards your final score. Practicing for the musical knowledge section involved going over musical terms and knowing the names of the notes. In the aural section you need to listen to music and being able to identify mistakes, or say if the final cadence is perfect or imperfect.

The exam was held at the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts on August the 15th which was a Thursday so I had to take the day off of school. We drove over in the morning and Mum had booked a practice room so I could play my pieces through before I went into the exam. The whole exam only took about 15 minutes and I felt like I had done well overall, although I knew I had made a few mistakes.

About two weeks after I sat the exam I got my results from Trinity College London and I passed with Distinction.