musicians of old

Chapter 646: "Grade Exam Fever" in the Year 916 of the New Calendar

such as--

The first article is "The Origin of Emotional Presentation Theory".

  Fanning writes about the aesthetic development process of the Western Continent from ancient music to the Middle Ages and then to the emotional theory of early classical music.

Article in Issue 2, “The Philosophical Practice of Symbolic Logic”.

  Fanning writes about analyzing people's practice of artistic creation from the perspective of symbolic logic.

The article in Issue 3 is "On Three Kinds of Aesthetics".

  Fanning wrote about the contents of the three kinds of art that he believed to be constituted, including language arts (oratory and poetry), plastic arts (sculpture and painting), and the art of sensory play (music and color art), as well as three possible art forms: classical (displaying clear ideas, order or structure), symbolic (allowing the audience to imagine certain structures in sensory forms), and transcendental (sublimating ideas and emotions and touching the transcendental level), thus analyzing the aesthetic activities of the audience from the perspective of form and content.

This is a very high-level musicology reading with a strong historical overview, and has highly concise and refreshing academic value.

But Klimt was really confused.

What happened to the promise to "cite examples", "criticize current ills" and "point fingers" everywhere regarding modern music?

"Forget it, maybe he has changed his mind?"

“If my “Separation” can achieve this level, I might change my mind.”

"Or maybe this is the 'inventory' of his theoretical research in the past few years, and his actual energy is invested in the audit work of their theater chain."

All kinds of guesses came to Klimt's mind, and finally he shook his head helplessly.

The object of his frustration was not "New Moon", but the long queue that had already formed from inside to outside the door of the "Bookstore Café" in front of him.

If it wasn't so crowded inside, according to his habits and preferences, he would prefer to find a seat by the floor-to-ceiling window inside to do sketches, rather than sitting outside under a parasol on the street.

  These things made by this Master Fanning are really one better than the other.

If the appearance of the above-mentioned things, whether it is radio stations or audits, is still limited to the attention of the industry circle, the secrets of the explosion of "New Moon" can only be seen by insiders.

So this "grade test" is almost becoming a "national craze"!

  It is a field that countless motivated students are working hard on secretly, a popular project that countless middle-class people are vying for, and a favorite of countless teachers and parents, as well as a "childhood shadow" and "holiday destroyer" for countless children!!!

"Ma'am, do you have any piano grade 4-5 textbooks left?"

"I'm going to explain and demonstrate records, uh, violin grades 1-3."

"Please help me get a complete set of piano repertoire teaching materials!!"

There are young people with backpacks, beautiful girls with noble airs, gentlemen dressed decently and full of business atmosphere, and parents with children.

"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, the complete set of textbooks is no longer available. I suggest you buy the ones you are preparing for the exam now--"

"What's going on? Didn't you say you were going to get more supplies this morning?"

"Uh, but it's only noon."

The bustling sounds from the bookstore cafe came one after another.

The Turner Art Cinema grading system founded by Fanning also established a joint committee to be responsible for its specific implementation, but its members are not individuals but units.

The first group of members selected included 24 public schools in Theolaine and 18 seminaries in Janus.

The major examination centers are located in the county towns of various countries, and the centralized examinations are initially scheduled to be held four times a year.

The registration for the "Spring Semester Examination" is in February, the examination starts in March, the registration is in April, and the examination starts in May; the registration for the "Summer Semester Examination" is in July, the examination starts in August, the registration is in September, and the examination starts in October.

The main consideration is the festival of Theolaine. The August examination of the summer semester has ended. Some are happy while others are sad. Only a part of the candidates have obtained the desired level certificates. Now, it is the registration period for September. Some people try to challenge again, while others are preparing to move to the next level.

The above gameplay sounds similar to the "Musicians Association Grade Examination" in Fanning's own country in his previous life.

  Actually, this is not the case. Fanning's main framework is more based on the "Royal Schools of Music Examination System", which is the long-standing "King's Examination System" established in 1889 in the previous life!

For example, the difficulty level is not 1-10, but 1-8.

Of course, in terms of specific content, he also made some adjustments based on the actual situation of this life.

The content of the Turner Cinema grading exam is completely different from the domestic grading exam in the previous life. Currently, there are relatively few instruments that have completed the detailed syllabus and are open for examination, a total of seven: piano, classical guitar, violin, cello, flute, French horn, and trumpet.

  First of all, it’s not as simple as just playing a few compulsory and optional pieces of the corresponding level!

Performance skills, duration, and necessary speed only account for 3% of the scoring factors.

  The accuracy of the work’s style, period, and ideas accounts for 3%!

The judgment of musicality or artistic aesthetic evaluation accounts for another 4%!

These professors and priests will write unique comments and suggestions for each candidate. If you just study hard and memorize mechanically, your scores and comments will be ugly!

It doesn't stop there.

  All instruments, all levels, require written tests of sight-singing and ear-training corresponding to the difficulty level!

Yes, sight-singing and ear-training are the most basic musical literacy. If a music learner cannot sing when seeing the score, or cannot distinguish the notes he hears, he is unqualified even if he is an instrumentalist!

This is equivalent to having two subjects.

  It’s not over yet. Starting from Level 4, you will need to take additional tests on “Sight-Reading” and “Basic Music Theory”!

The examiner will temporarily produce a piece of music with a difficulty level approximately 3 levels lower than the current one on the spot, and ask the candidate to sight-read it on the spot.

A moderate slowdown in the overall speed can be tolerated, and then, the scoring is done on the spot.

  The standard is the same as normal performance, not only considering the accuracy and completion, but also considering whether the candidates can accurately feel and grasp the style of the work and whether they can achieve musicality.

As for basic music theory, there will be a written test on the spot!

In other words, starting from Level 4, the number of subjects directly becomes 4!

Finally, starting from Level 6, an “Improvisational Performance” will be added!

Given a theme, a set of bass or chords, the scene expands at will!

Faced with these awkward "improvisations", the examiners were friendly and tolerant: simple melody continuation, a few repeated sequences, some basic harmonies, or even just switching between the left and right hands. As long as it makes sense, half a minute or one minute, it is a creation worthy of encouragement and can get a good score.

  But a music learner who embarks on the advanced path must learn to compose and express his inner emotions, rather than just being at a loss in front of the instrument without the score!

So this is equivalent to 5 doors.

The textbooks changed from a thin book for levels 1-3 to a thick book for levels 4-5, then to an even thicker book for levels 6-7, and finally to a single book for level 8. The span is getting smaller and smaller, but the content is getting more and more.

It can be seen that the evaluation system formulated by Fanning, which refers to the "Emperor's Award", is extremely complete and comprehensive.

Although it still has a strong examination-oriented nature, it can indeed accurately reflect the learners' true comprehensive musical qualities.

It is absolutely useless to launch a sudden attack in order to achieve quick success.

The difficulty is here, especially the last few levels, which increase exponentially.

But there are still so many people who are trying their best to get admitted.

  The reason? The popularity of Turner Cinemas, the authority of the certification, and the dignity of the title of "Piano X-level" are just one aspect.

What is even more subtle is that the Turner Hall of Art has given a series of comprehensive descriptions of “what level learners are at each level” in its published grading syllabus!

Level 1: Officially embark on the journey of music learning in a correct, comprehensive and healthy state.

Level 2: More promising, with further development of comprehensive qualities.

Level 3: Children with a solid foundation in piano, or self-learners who have achieved remarkable results. The comprehensive development of musical quality provides the possibility for any future advancement.

Level 4: You are really beginning to understand everything about serious music. Although the real practice has just begun.

Level 5: Familiar with a certain style of works, mastering certain means of expression, and understanding what is musical aesthetics - any teacher should cherish such students, they are very rare.

Level 6: The watershed between amateur and professional. Having a realistic foundation to immediately embark on a professional path. Both the candidate and his teacher can consider this.

Level 7: Professional level. At least qualified to study at a music school. Of course, top music schools may have higher admission standards based on this.

Level 8: Quasi-performance level. Graduates who major in music performance or are engaged in composition and conducting should set the same standards for themselves; graduates who major in music teaching or theoretical research are encouraged to set the same standards for themselves.

  The above description is basically still at the level of describing the matter at hand.

And as I look at the subsequent levels, they seem to have more and more meaning of "level guarantee" or "qualification endorsement"!