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Original poster

Music grades as an adult after a long long break

53 replies

colleysmill · 24/01/2016 07:44

In my younger days I used to play my violin to a reasonable standard but it all fell by the wayside when I went to uni and I never played much again.

After a long hiatus (17 years Shock ) I'm back playing regularly, mainly in orchestras and small groups and gradually I've dragged myself back up to a similar standard I was as a teenager.

All good so far and I'm really enjoying playing again. But the bit that's bugging me is that as a teenager (whilst I was playing at around the standard) I never actually did my grade 8 exam. And part of me has always regretted this and now it's like an itch that won't go away.

Part of me thinks I am crazy to even consider it - I've a family, full on job and playing for a number of groups on an ad hoc basis (who knew violinists would be so in demand as an adult!) as well as an orchestra(s) but I've looked at the 2016-19 syabullus and found a local teacher.

Has anyone taken high level grades as an adult? And does it differ in terms of confidence than when you are younger? I'd love to hear about anyone's experiences

OP posts:
CeeBeeBee · 24/01/2016 09:57

I only did grade 1 violin as a child and took up the piano as an adult. Did grade 5 a couple of years ago as my first piano exam and am sitting theory prior to hopefully sitting grade 7 practical in the summer. It is a bit strange when you are in the minority. However, I have found it very rewarding. There are plenty of adult learners doing grades. Check out the abrsm forum which has an adult learners section.
Go for it!

LooseAtTheSeams · 24/01/2016 09:54

I only recently took grade 3 piano so can't comment on higher grades - though icouldbe's husband is an inspiration! - but I think if you're still feeling as though this is unfinished business you should go for it! You're doing it for yourself, so there's no time pressure and your teacher will work with you to get you there. Just from the fact you've managed to get yourself back up to scratch and you're playing regularly in groups suggests you've got the motivation to practise. You can't change work demands but I think if the family realise that practice time is your time and you mustn't be disturbed you should be OK. Nothing lost by trying and think of the huge sense of achievement when you do get it!

Icouldbeknitting · 24/01/2016 09:17

My husband went back to piano after thirty some years. He left school with a "mediocre" grade two and when we bumped into someone who was taking grade one piano as an adult it gave him the idea. He found a local teacher, bought a good digital piano and it ended up with him taking his grade 8 last year. The big thing we came across was him not being able to find his grade five theory certificate, he knew that he had it somewhere because he had taken grade eight violin before leaving school. We paid ABRSM for a duplicate and they did a fantastic job given that he couldn't remember whether he'd taken it at school or at music centre and he couldn't remember the year, never mind the sitting.

If you want to do it, go for it. DH says it felt strange in the exam centre when everyone else was about four feet tall, there are many older candidates but not at the time when he's been having his exams.

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