At the age of 88, most people think the days of exams are long gone. But for Ray Every, the challenge of taking the 8th grade piano exam was too much to give up, and 67 years after taking the 7th grade, he passed with distinction.
Mr Eveleigh, a retired vicar from the village of Killam, near Bridlington in East Yorkshire, said he was surprised by the interest after his story was featured on local BBC radio stations, television and local newspapers.
He said: “I'm surprised it got so much press and attention because there's a lot of news about weather issues, wars, and of course the political situation in America. And I thought, 'This is it. That's a bit ridiculous.'' There is an old man who passed the 8th grade in Kiram.''
Ivry described the piano as a “personal friend” and one of his passions that helped keep his brain active. “You know, at this age, obviously you can get tired, and sometimes you think, 'This is not good.' I don't want to spend my life dozing off in an armchair. Come on, Evely, stand up and play the piano. ”
“And that's what got me out of that trouble. Because what an honor it is to play music written by the great geniuses of over a century ago. Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart. That's really amazing to me.”
He said he wasn't a perfect piano student as a child and was always scolded for not practicing, but after meeting his wife Brenda, a singer, at Cardiff University, he decided to take the instrument more seriously.
“She was a soprano at the Royal College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. She wanted an accompanist, so I had to do some work so she could read music without ulterior motives. “It's now,” he said with a laugh.
Brenda and her daughter Jenny Bray, also a musician, convinced her to take Grade 8, the UK's highest practical music exam. “I got up on base and thought, 'Yeah, I'll give it a try.'”
It's been almost 70 years since I last took the exam, and it took me about six months to pass it, taking lessons over Zoom with my teacher, Anne Martin-Davies.
And what advice would he have for someone his age considering attempting a similar feat?
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“The important thing is to maintain some kind of creativity, and not just with the piano,” he said. “I'm not going to recommend that everyone my age learn to play 8th grade piano. But I think most people, in fact all people, are interested in their I believe he has talent and creativity.”
And it's important for young people to keep doing that, Ivry said. “Arts like playing music, painting, writing poetry, or writing novels are long-term. There is no instant gratification. In fact, the art of playing music, painting, writing poetry, writing novels, etc. It can be very frustrating and it's hard work.
“But I think making music and doing it well is the most rewarding work in life.”
