* The Result *

well, here it is, a transcription of the Examiner's report:

ABRSM Examination Mark Form

Candidate: Kirsten Mackay
Subject: Jazz Saxophone
Presented by: Great ASO Musicians' Grade-1-a-thon
Grade: 1

Programme
Group A, #3, Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
The mood caught well in an expressive "dusky" tone: the notes are well in place and sensitively phrased. Some lyrical ideas emerging in the solo. Take care to keep the tone consistent - there is breathiness in certain notes.
27/30

Group B, #5, Mack the Knife
Crisply articulated with a tight and incisive sense of rhythm and some lyricism on the longer melodic notes. Some bright and inspired improvisation, and a nice flourish at the end.
28/30

Group C, #5, Oye Como Va
Again this is incisive rhythmically. The notes are well in command, and the solo continued confidently in similar vein.
29/30

Scales & Arpeggios
All well known, prompt and rhythmical. Tone a little uneven in places.
20/21

Sight-Reading/Impro
Very accurately read - a slick answer also.
19/21

Aural Tests
A - very good, B - mostly correct, C - excellent.
17/18

Additional Comments
Excellent - very well done!

Total Marks - 140/150
- pass with distinction.


so... get your wallets out, all sponsors great and small.

I think the report was fair...

• I know exactly what the mark in the aural went for - I came in a semiquaver early on one of the bits of echoing - felt myself doing it, and did well not to laugh at it!
• The first piece was the one I did on the tenor.
• The "breathy" or "uneven" notes are C & C#.