Recording video for grade exams is not easy!
錄製考試影片一點也不容易呀！
Esmond is 11 years old this year. He has been learning classical percussion with me for almost two years. Last month, he took part in the ABRSM grade 3 percussion (combined) exam.
學習敲擊樂第二年的Esmond 今天要考英皇三級！
The biggest hassle for recording for percussion exam is to look for the appropriate instruments, and then a space that can fit all the instruments. As the video has to be in one take, this space has to be pretty big as well...
錄敲擊樂考試影片的最大麻煩就是除了要找齊樂器之外，還要找到一個能夠容得下那麼多件大型樂器的空間……
Esmond’s mother has rented a recording space at Oaklands Recording Studio for this special occassion. They have snare drum, a 3-octave xylophone, and a pair of timpanis, which was perfect for the requirement of this exam (grade 3 percussion requires students to play with two timpanis).
家長找到這個錄音室，剛好有齊得我們需要的樂器。還是母親厲害！
Prior to this, Esmond has never played on a real timpani before! But he prepared very hard for this exam, and has been practising his timpani piece using the tom toms from his drum kit at home.
學生以前從來未打這真正的定音鼓呢！雖是這樣，他也一直很勤奮地用家裡的爵士鼓練習定音鼓曲目。
We booked the studio for two hours. Esmond spent the first hours warming up and rehearsing. Then he recorded the whole program five times. Eventually, we thought the second take was the best.
我們租了兩個小時。第一個小時學裡學生練習和採排。然後他把整個考試演奏了五遍。最後我們選了第二個來遞交。
We were so hungry and exhausted afterwards. Student’s mother has prepared some cakes to share. We ate the cakes happily on the car ride back home.
錄完後我們都餓壞了，家長很暖心地買了西餅，我們在回家的車程上，開心又放鬆地吃蛋糕。有媽的孩子真是個寶呀！
The exam result returned within a week from England. Esmond received Merit - 120/150! What a huge achievement, especially considering the fact that this is his first ever musical instrument exam!
考試成續一個星期就出了，真是神效率呀。學生拿到優異的成績 - 120/150分！恭喜！第一次考試就拿到這個成績，真是可喜可賀呢！
Does any one also think that Esmond’s mum who is holding drumsticks in the forth photo looks like a percussionist more than Esmond?
有沒有人也覺得第四張照片中拿著鼓棒的學生家長 看起來好像比學生更像敲擊樂家😂