The Trial of Cross Country

Today, the middle and senior girls had their cross country carnival.  Yesterday, I was talking with a grade 6 girl about it.

Me: Have fun tomorrow!
Girl [groaning]: Ugh...
Me [mock surprise]: Really?  You don't want to do cross country tomorrow?
Girl: Well.  I think it's a bit much... Really... To ask grade 6 girls... To run... Three kilometres!... All the way to [suburb] ... State School!... ... And back!  ... I'm not looking forward to it.
Me: Love the way that sentence just kept going and going...
Girl: And then, when we get back, we have to prance around! [lip sync competition]
Me: Team spirit?
Girl rolls her eyes and groans.  Again.

How Hard is Grade 6?

A girl in grade 9 (14 years old?) asked me if she does violin exams, does that really help her OP?  Yes...from next year.  She did a grade 5 exam last year, and was a little disappointed that wouldn't count.  She was quite happy that she just had to pass the exams, not get an A.  Looks like we're back to doing violin exams. 

Me: We should start grade 6 material now, then.
Girl: [shakes head vigorously]
Me: Yes.  [I then explained timing of exams, won't bore you with that here].
Girl: But.... won't it be hard?
Me: [sigh].  Let's have a look, shall we?  [I pick up the newest grade 6 book].  A major.  Not that hard.  Goes a bit high, but you can cope?
Girl: [nods]
Me: Good.  Next one.  Just arpeggios.
Girl: wah?!
Me: You can cope.  Next.  Oh look.  The first movement of Eine Kleine - which I know you can already play.  [girl nods].  Next.  Fantasia on Greensleeves.
Girl: Oh, I did the solo part for that last year in orchestra.
Me: Yep.  Exactly the same.  Next. 
Girl: Agh!  No!  Too many flats!
Me: hmmm... Next.  Ooh, Csardas.  [I sing the main bits - admittedly, a bit on the fast side]
Girl: Oh, it's just like Hungarian Dance!
Me: Yes. 
Girl: But it's so nnnnnnn-nnnnnnn-nnnnnnn [don't know how else to transcribe that - that's what she sounded like, though].
Me: Well, it's not really that fast... Just move your fingers and bow a bit fast and you'll be fine. 
Girl: Can we do Greensleeves first?

And then she proceeds to play it perfectly, the first time.  I guess grade 6 isn't so unattainable after all.