RAD BAllet Exams

[shinny]

Dear all, was hoping someone could help....is it possible to enter a child for a RAD vocational exam yourself or does it have to be through their ballet school?

Also, how long is reasonable to study for the Intermediate Foundation exam? Bearing in mind Grade 5 is being studied at same time.

many thanks in advance for any answers!

[KatyMac]

I don't know about RAD but in ISTD

No, a teacher must enter the student for all exams - but it doesn't have to be the students teacher

Grade 5 would normally take about a year, then Grade 6 the same but there could be some overlap & then IF again the same but some schools choose to take longer at IF/Grade 6 as it's the first vocational exam (I understand

Is she/he skipping Grade 6?

[KatyMac]

I should I am not an expert and I'm more than happy to be corrected

[shinny]

DD is going to take her Grade 5 this spring and was expecting to take IF as well. Not sure if the latter exam is now going to happen, so I want to explore my options.
thanks

[KatyMac]

I PM'd you

[Picturesinthefirelight]

No, it isn't possible to enter a child yourself. You can only enter students for an RAD exam if you are an RAD registered teacher.

As for preparation time, how long is a piece of string?

If a child is doing one inter f class a week (alongside grade classes) then it is going to take longer both to learn the syllabus & develop the necessary strength taking account of the fact that some pointe work is required

Dd started IF in September - she does two 90 min classes per week but won't be entered this year - others in her class will be entered but some of them began IF last year at their old dance schools.

Alongside her IF class she does 5 other ballet classes per week (some 60 mins some 90 mins)

Children at her old school
Would probably take about 2 years to prepare for the exam.

[Sparklymommy]

RAD exam entries are always done by an RAD registered teacher, so no, you couldn't enter her yourself.

How old is your dd? My dd is 11, and has been studying ballet since the age of 2. She took her grade 5 exam at the end of last year, and has been attending inter foundation syllabus since she was 8 (just over 2 years in total). She cannot be entered for the Inter foundation exam until the autumn term due to restrictions on age and where her birthday falls (she has just turned 11 this month).

However I am in no hurry for her to take it. She does three Interfoundation lessons a week, and two Intermediate, and a grade 6. Her teacher feels that the only thing holding her back from taking the exam is the age restriction, however, having watched many girls get low exam grades, usually through taking it at a young age, I don't mind her having to wait a bit.

Also, she will be confident on pointe by the time she takes it.

Why do you wish to go against the advice of your dds teacher? She will want your dd to do her best and if that means she feels she isn't ready yet then she probably isn't.

[GraduallyGoingInsane]

No, you can't enter for RAD unless you are a qualified teacher. I guess another teacher can enter your child, but they would have to put them on their record (eg take responsibility for their performance) which they might be reluctant to do.

My DDs school recommends 2 years study for vocational exams and 1 for graded exams. They do 2 x 1.5 hour classes for the exam, plus general class on top. My DDs also do associate classes so their hours are slightly higher, but if they didn't they'd do 4.5 hours of pure ballet, plus an extra .5 hours pointe and then contemporary and stretch/body conditioning on top.

My DD4 is studying inter foundation. She's 10 and will take the exam in autumn of this year when she is 11. She started it in autum 2012 when she was 9.