Alas, exam season at The Royal Conservatory of Music is quickly approaching and students at The Frederic Chopin Music School are diligently preparing for their evaluations. Positive scores predict graduation to the next level and can sometimes lead to opportunities for scholarships.

Most RCM exams include technical and practical components, such as ear and sight reading. FCMS director Grazyna Szacon offers some practical tips on succeeding on your RCM evaluation:

1. Practice, practice, practice! The more you practice your piece, the better it will work itself in to your muscle memory. However, make sure not to practice your errors! Errors can often make their way in to our muscle memory and create bad habits.
2. Try a lesson with another teacher to enhance your technique. At the Frederic Chopin Music School, students will sometimes swap teachers to enhance their technique and receive constructive criticism from another professional who may notice other areas of improvement.
3. Practice at the time of day that you will be taking your exam. If possible, try to practice around the time that your exam is scheduled. If you are not a morning person and your exam is at 9:00 a.m., it would be beneficial to train your mind and body to be productive at that time.