ABRSM ARSM diploma piano exam trial 2021 - Distinction

[@robertcocovinis5269]

This is amazing. I loved the flexibility you played the Bach with, a very warm interpretation. The 3rd movement of the moonlight was also fascinating, I liked the way you played with classical clarity rather than barn storming romanticism, and your attention to detail. I could tell you are very particular about detail;your attention to crisp rhythm etc. I also noted your accuracy in the final arpeggios, which is often, well let's say not as accurate as yours! I could go on but instead I'll just say Well Done, young man.

[@kadencheng3570]

Thank you for your kind comment :) This is thanks to no other than my teacher who has helped me build a strong musical foundation since young.

[@sscomposer2235]

This is beautiful. Impeccable clarity, abundant musicality, never disappearing expression - everything not just an examiner, but any musical audience looks for and can easily notice here.

[@IVAN_PIANO]

I have never heard anyone play the moonlight sonata 3rd movement with such clarity and perfection. You are a worldclass pianist. Remember us when you are the number 1 concert pianist

[@brianneison8696]

Beautiful playing, . Moonlight sonata was with passion, beauty, emotional, and clarity. Thank you!

[@jere3558]

incredible touch, especially in your rendition of Bach!

[@pianolau2023]

彈得好好呀，好享受，多謝分享

[@RaZorasiangamer]

I love the uniqueness of your Intermezzo. My favorite performance is Volodos’, but considering you’re on an upright piano and aren’t 50 years old, this is great.

[@dilanrbangunawela8171]

Wow nicely performed.. All the best in your future exams.

[@finbo7936]

Very inspirational. Thank you for sharing this

[@jones2786]

I have a completely different approach to the Fugue. I played it lyrically and occasionally with the help of pedal.

[@m.a.g.3920]

This is the asian style😸😸

[@federico5140]

really beautiful

[@elomensch9566]

That fugue is a delight!

[@CRb677]

This is a real deserve of Distinction. Some other KZbinrs said they got distinction and I am so confused how they got it when they played really bad.

[@LudwigVanKate]

yeah same. some of them arr expected to get a pass or even fail. i have no idea where the distinction comes from. but this one really deserves more than a distinction😊

[@jackshang3480]

Perfect performance. I’’m now preparing for the ARSM exam. Could you share the remark sheet that I can take it for reference?

[@Axolotl42101]

Wow, amazing playing! Your level of technique is something I’d love to achieve in the future. I can tell you practiced a great deal to prepare these pieces

[@Bigblackpiano]

Beautiful

[@mr.baothepekingese658]

Admire your control and accuracy. Can you share the tips to play in such high accuracy?

[@MasterImmanuel]

Can you Send me the course details for after grade 8 ?

[@carlhopkinson]

Well Done !!

[@plaguedoc7727]

Hello there! I'm planning to go for an ABRSM diploma sometimes next year, do you have any tips and headers for how should practice and perform?

[@MasterImmanuel]

Hi, I completed 8th grade piano in abrsm. Could you plz tell me the next piano exams ? I would like to do diploma ARSM exams and others.

[@Mission7630]

Diploma is closing at the end of the year so u only can take them in June or December

[@maxbogdanovic4735]

Hi could I ask what type of device you recorded this on please?

[@misomiso8228]

Yeah you can play.

[@bestjeongchoi8154]

Thank you for sharing the great performance. Did you submit this video to Arsm? I wonder if the pedal doesn't have to come out.

[@kadencheng3570]

Thanks for the compliment. This is a trial copy but not much difference from the actual copy. Showing pedal is not a must.

[@oliviamou60]

I'm getting started on choosing pieces for my ABRSM diploma, what book did you use? How did you choose your pieces?

[@demooisteNAAM]

Which grade do you play? Perhaps I could help you with the pieces?

[@monikamehrotra7715]

Hi! If possible could you share the marks and examiner comments? Your performance is absolutely stunning, well done!

[@kadencheng3570]

I got 49/50 and here’s the examiner comments. Pieces or songs The start of the Prelude was confident in its delivery and the phrases were well directed with a clear awareness over the varying textures and voice parts. Sections were defined and ornaments were clearly executed with ease. The fingerwork had an agile and effortless feel throughout the movement and the tone was light and buoyant in the lower accompanimental textures in particular, which suited the idiom. The introduction to the Fugue established the main musical ideas and motifs and the phrases were shaped with a subtle use of tonal rise and fall. There was perhaps more room for contrasting dynamics to add colour and interest to the phrases; however, the ever changing harmonies had a feeling of continuity and movement due to the consistent, internal pulse kept throughout. The opening movement of the Beethoven was expressively played and there was an appropriate amount of space given between phrases, with effective use of the sustaining pedal and control over the textures to allow the melodic line to be lyrically played. The second movement had a buoyant-feel and the use of articulation was effective in highlighting the short and nimble phrasing throughout. The third and final movement was a "tour de force' and played with vigour and poise. The fingerwork was controlled throughout and there was much awareness over the balance between the hands, as the octave leaps in the bass-line were never over projected and the melody was passed effectively between the hands throughout. The ascending scalic and broken-chord passages were polished and and the hands were well-coordinated with the detached, homophonic chordal sections of the piece being played with a vibrant and suitably bright tone. A sensitive start to the Brahms meant that the new romantic idiom was firmly established. The phrases were expressively shaped and had a pliable-feel; there was more scope for more of a piano dynamic in areas, especially in the more static sections of the piece such as in the chordal, homophonic sections. There was a subtle use of rubato throughout, which emphasised climactic and flourishing melodic phrases. There was on occasion, overuse of the sustaining pedal and the textures became slightly blurred, with some pitches not sounding out clearly at times, but this did not detract from what was, a fluent and elegant account. The Debussy was played with a clear engagement to the impressionistic style and the unresolved dissonances and irregular phrases were sculpted with nuanced phrase shaping throughout. The dynamic range could have been slightly more contrasting; however, the climactic moments were expressively played and there was a clear awareness of the framework of the piece. The relaxed and lazy atmosphere of the piece was accompanied by agility and precision within the fingerwork, which meant that the technical challenges of the piece were effortlessly played. Performance as a whole Interpretative qualities were clear throughout all four items and the different textures were approached and blended with assurance. The programme provided an array of musical styles and genres and each was approached with sensitivity and control. The pacing and space left between each item and movement allowed them to "speak' convincingly and there was a clear feeling of performance throughout the programme. Technical delivery was strong and consistently of a high standard throughout. 29/30 20/20 Pass 34 Merit 40 Distinction 45 Total mark:49/50

[@monikamehrotra7715]

@@kadencheng3570 Thank you so much that helps a lot!!! Congratulations again!

[@jasg771]

Is it a must to play 4 songs for ARSM? Or 3 songs is enough if I can hit 28min? Like your effortless performance on beethoven

[@ariel1119]

Congratulations! Please share about how many hours do you practice a day? Thanks!

[@kadencheng3570]

Hi, thank you for watching my video. I don’t practice all the pieces everyday except Moonlight Sonata 3rd Movement. I remembered I spent about 1-2 hours a day to practice.

[@ariel1119]

@@kadencheng3570I’m sharing your video to my students. They are curious about how many years you spend to prepare and practice for this entire ARSM? Was it less than two years or more? 🙏 thanks

[@kadencheng3570]

@@ariel1119 Thanks for sharing my videos. Was planned to take this ARSM in 2020 after my grade 8 in 2018 but due to COVID it was delayed till end of 2021. I have changed the entire lists of pieces because I was bored with my practice. The preparation for my final ARSM pieces were done in a year.

[@ariel1119]

How old are you? You are so good 😊

[@kadencheng3570]

@@ariel1119 I’m 15yo and thank you so much for your compliments. 😊

[@minadin3757]

Wow you have played so beautifully. Is your piano UX3? My twin boys have just started their ABRSM grade 7. They want to do diploma as well. Is it very hard?

[@kadencheng3570]

My piano model is U1J. I actually started practicing pieces from the diploma repertoire list since I was grade 8. Hence I found preparing for diploma manageable.

[@demooisteNAAM]

Well done! You are practicing to be a concert pianist? Or is it a hobby?

[@kadencheng3570]

Hi, I play just for fun, so yep it’s a hobby. My standards and level of commitment are far off from what would be expected of a concert pianist 😂

[@mr.baothepekingese658]

You will play better Brahms intermezzo when you are 50, when every chord is a memory. Maybe that 1 mark deducted from there😊

[@tinyasiandude]

may i ask if this the actual recording you submitted, coz im very confused with the guidlines

[@kadencheng3570]

No, this is not the actual recording. This is just the pieces I played. But it identical to the actual recording in terms of recording angle, camera frame etc. Hope this answers your question :)

[@jomammammaa]

your playing is so good! Can i ask where you learn piano?

[@oliviamou60]

good job! are you required to memorise the pieces?

[@Mission7630]

No

[@amalielynmead]

May I have a question please? How old is he when he made this video?

[@kadencheng3570]

He did this video recording when he was 14yo.

[@amalielynmead]

@@kadencheng3570 He looks handsome. I guess he practices piano so many years.

[@joetyjohannes90]

When you recorded this for your exam, did you introduce yourself first and shown the programme form before playing like grade 8 exam? Or did you just start playing? Thank you

[@kadencheng3570]

Yup I introduced myself and showed the programme form as well as other things (music books, identification card etc.) before playing during the actual recording used for submission.

[@joetyjohannes90]

Thank you for your response. And I want to ask you one more, the duration for this exam should be in 30 minutes. How many maximum or minimum minutes allowed?

[@kadencheng3570]

@@joetyjohannes90 Roughly 3 minutes.

[@giotay3204]

Hello, thanks for sharing with us! 😍💪🏻 Is it a must to play without music score in ARSM exam?

[@kadencheng3570]

Hi, nope, playing with your music scores is fine too!

[@LUCASCHINYEESENGHCI]

omg Kaden Cheng wow so cool so hot so amazing I love Kaden Cheng