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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

G5 Music Theory exam tomorrow - any last minute tips?

42 replies

pianomama · 15/06/2012 14:48

DS is taking his G5 theory tomorrow - any last minute advice/tips/general experience? He hasn't sat any written exams before, so very nervous.
How did your DC do? How long did you wait for results?

OP posts:
Original poster
pianomama · 17/06/2012 11:37

Colleger - how did you DS feel about the exam? Did he think it was easy?
Hard to know sometimes with kids - my DS usually tells us the exams/auditions went terribly bad only to get really good results few weeks later.
I really hope the reverse is no true :)

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Original poster
pianomama · 17/06/2012 10:23

Ds is 10 so not an 8 yo doing G8 :) .
There were 3 or 4 boys looking younger then him.

One little boy came out first looking very confident and pleased with himself way before the others finished. He did have that look of a little genious about him :).

Ds took his time - hope he was mature enough to check things afterwards.

There was also someone who looked like 19-20 doing G1 and a couple of grown up ladies - I find it absolutely admirable. Cant imagine myself being able to sit an exam at my age - much easier to make poor Ds :).

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roisin · 17/06/2012 04:08

How little are the littlies and how old is your ds? My ds was 12 and was the youngest/smallest by some way at the centre, which surprised me because on here you always get the impression that everyone is doing grade 6 when they are about 8 yo Wink

roisin · 17/06/2012 04:03

I think the Board said results within 4 weeks, and it was just a few days shy of that. (He did it 1st March and results email was 27th.)

But I've just checked the website and it suggests 6 weeks now! Not sure if I dreamed the 4 weeks bit!

Original poster
pianomama · 17/06/2012 01:34

rosin - how long did you wait for the results?
Hoping to get away for a while at the beginning of July, would be so good to know before then.

Poor Ds had end of year school exams all week , really needs a break that child

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Original poster
pianomama · 17/06/2012 01:30

Thanks , went well according to DS "was easy". No more theory for a while - horrai!

Was surprised to see quite a few very small looking peoplw doing G5 - not that I am a competitive mother :)

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roisin · 16/06/2012 17:33

Hope it went well! ds2 did his last term: I'm pleased it's over and done with!

FiveHoursSleep · 16/06/2012 16:40

How did it go? DD2 did her grade 1 this morning. That was scary enough for me.

BrigitBigKnickers · 16/06/2012 16:37

How did it go pianomama?

CURIOUSMIND · 15/06/2012 23:33

Season A only tested a couple of very simple words, maybe things will change this time?
Writing neatly was the most useful tip for my DS1.
Best luck!

mumblecrumble · 15/06/2012 23:22

My students have their grade 5 tomorrow - lots of luck to everyone!

Agree with above, write out a little kayboard, FCGDAEB and keep your wits about you. use scrap paper for rough and double check eeveryhting.

Original poster
pianomama · 15/06/2012 23:17

Brigit - I wish you taught my DS. Thanks and fingers crossed.Will be pleased with the lowest pass possible .

OP posts:
BrigitBigKnickers · 15/06/2012 21:49

I used to teach Grade 5 theory.

On a scrap piece of paper (given to you in the exam) write out:

  1. a chromatic scale (with all the equivalent flats and sharps.)
  2. GooD AlE BeeF (sharp keys left to right (with F# at the end)/ flat keys right to left with a flat sign in front of them (except F))
  3. Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle (order of sharps left to right, order of flats right to left.)
  4. Remember the relative minor starts on the sixth note of the major scale (and has the same key signiture)Harmonic minor raise the 7th, melodic minor raise 6 and 7 on the way up and back the way they were on the way down.
  5. For the harmony questions write out the chords for I II IV V and VI.
  6. Intervals include the bottom note.

Good luck.

Original poster
pianomama · 15/06/2012 15:16

Thanks Lancelottie. I will try the usual "read the instructions" and check your answers afterwards :) .

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Original poster
pianomama · 15/06/2012 15:14

Thanks - good luck to you too!

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Lancelottie · 15/06/2012 15:13

When he's finished stay in there long enough to check it through, rather than waltzing out gleefully like DS2 did-- and then having second thoughts about question 3 when it's too late to go back!

Colleger · 15/06/2012 15:10

Good luck! My eldest sits tomorrow and my youngest really needs to sit it but we've not got round to studying. Eldest at boarding school so can't offer any advice but wanted to say good luck.

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