Is it possible? 2 grades in 18 months on violin

Oh yes it's definitely possible Ds got grade 5 distinction after 18 months of 1-1 lessons at school ( so very short- but cheap lessons ) but that's not the norm and I wouldn't have thought you needed to be like Ds to get a music scholarship . And in some ways he's not what they would be looking for - for him as I said earlier it really is all about the trumpet and he only discovered piano and singing later ( and really because he currently has his eye on studying music later on)

My son went straight in at ABRSM grade 4 at age 12 on violin after 2 years of playing and got a distinction.

It's definitely possible.

And £60 per hour is ridiculous. For that I’d expect an internationally renowned teacher such as teaches at the Conservatoires & aglittering cateer begins them.

Dh charges that to coach professional, working singers or graduates.

They are going to be excluding some of the most talented musicians if they insist on this. Internationally grades tend not to be taken & children who are taught by teachers who have come from abroad often don’t do grades. These are often highly talented young people who have sought out top teachers due to their gift.

It’s the same in ballet. My daughter’s school asks for no grades at age 10/11. They go on the audition alone. For 6th form Intermediate standard is expected as a minimum but many have not actually taken the exam especially those from Russian/Vaganova methods etc.

I would contact schools you are interested & explain that your child’s teacher doesn’t really focus on exams & does she have to have the certificate or just be playing at that level.

Another vote for new teacher! I'd be looking at the teachers lists in the conservatoire junior depts and set your DC up with a couple of consultation lessons. At £60ph - even in K&C - sounds like your current teacher is swinging the lead a bit. Good luck

From my experience, it is state schools with music scholarship places who seem to expect 'certificate' more rather than (good, reputable and academic) independent schools. And I do think it's because of the finance provision for the selection as it makes easier for them to draw a line with less admin (so less cost).

Some schools just list relatively lower exam grade as a guideline in order to keep the door open to real potential/talented ones, as musically very well aware schools know not all talented DCs take exams or rush to take higher grade. So very often they end up choosing those who may appear to have no or lower grade on paper but actually a strong musician much closer to higher grades.

Yes, I am sure most scholars are expected to be distinction material but I would be quite surprised if they actually want a proof of grade X certificate. Having said that I do know a few excellent schools who won't audition anyone lower than certain grade (I think G6 ) but it is rare from what I found while I was researching for DS.

If I were you I would just ring the school. You get much more authentic and helpful information this way.

Oh ok so for 13 plus that would seem reasonable and in line with what schools ask for around here , though I would imagine that the playing standard of many applying will be higher !?! With all schools offering music scholarships o would also go and investigate thoroughly watch a concert etc.

Crossed post Kutik I think you might be right - maybe it's worth a phone call to ask if a letter from the teacher will suffice ?

Is this the school you are looking at ? I think it's sad that they want proof of having taken the exam as they will miss talented children ( or children with potential) who haven't taken the exam yet. I'm not surprised though tbh Ds goes to state school but plays in the NCO with lots of children on music scholarships . Certainly amongst some instruments at least it's common to have taken lots of exams (and I'm guessing that that's partly why ) . Gilly is right though music schools, jds and also NCO and NYO don't care about exams just playing standard. I'm guessing wanting the certificates is also an admin thing to make the decisions about who they ask for audition easier . It sounds like this particular school is aiming very high ( because they can) especially the comments about choir singing - Ds loves singing but only discovered this once at high school ( though maybe that's just because I live in my rural bubble !!)

It doesn't look like asking a proof of any exam pass...? They seem to select scholars purely based on the performance at the audition.

I'm just guessing based on the amount of time I would imagine she needed to spend learning exam pieces to the right standard to get a good mark at grade 5.

I wasn't looking to start a debate, merely telling op that it is possible to answer her question. My daughter plays lots apart from grade pieces and we are both trusting of her teacher's judgement.

I can see where you come from Spamalotte and I can agree many parts. But how do you know se22's DD learnt only exam pieces during the 12 months..? She may have covered lots other pieces and skills between learning exam pieces... Anyway she is stating she is glad to be away from exams for now so clearly her DD is doing other than exam pieces...

If done right though grade exams should just be a measure of a journey towards musical ability. The problem comes when parents and some teachers make them the be all and end all.
I have grade 8s in three instruments, a diploma and a music degree plus post grad qualifications, Will all of my teachers, I had to have learned the scales and developed the skills needed for each grade before they let me get near the pieces. Lots of time was spent playing in a range of styles with lots and lots of sight reading. I practised lots because I loved it and with the wrong teachers I could probably have completed grade 8s in half the time it took. Would I be the player I am now though? I doubt it.

I always tell students that a year between each grade is about right. Anything less and you're just learning set pieces and little else.

I think it's sad that these schools use exams passed as a way of assessing musicality.
I don't blame the parents as they only do whats expected, but interesting that the most reputable music schools don't base entrance on exams passed.
Music should be fun, not worrying about rushing through the basics.

If she did 3 grades in 12 months then she absolutely flew through them. I'm coming at this with 20 years teaching experience, countless student exam successes etc and I promise you that this teacher made the wrong choice. Hopefully your child will now slow down and actually build her skills up to match her certificates. Hopefully 3 exams in 12 months hasn't put her off.

Spamalot. This was her teacher's preference. There was no flying through the grades or timeframe involved it was just chance

Apologies for the typos. Typing quickly as this kind of thing really irritates me to be honest. A good teacher would never ever advice 3 exams in 12 months. It's a waste of time, money and adds so much stress onto a pupil whilst doing very little to develop their technique and skills.

se I think you were given some really poor advice by your dd's teacher there to be honest. If she was "overcooked" for grade 3, she'd have been better off skipping it altogether and moving on to skills development ready got grade 4/5. Flying through grades is absolutely pointless as all a student will do is learn pieces for that exam. The skills are what matters and there is absolutely nothing to say you have to take every single exam along the way. The exams are not the be all and end all, and 12 months of developing skills ahead of grade 5 would have been far better for your daughter than learning 6 pieces and passing grades 3 snd 4.

We did 3 grades in 12 months although it was exhausting. Dd was over-cooked for g3 1 year ago in March. G4 in autumn and g5 last term. Exhausting and we are glad to be away from exams for now,bug entirely possible.