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Original poster

Grade 5 theory

106 replies

Floottoot · 31/10/2018 10:19

Just thought I'd start a thread for all those taking grade 5 theory next week.
I've taught DS for it, as I've taken my own pupils through it previously, but it's been surprisingly hard work - maybe because we've tried to do a crash course (I usually spend a couple of terms of more when teaching pupils), or maybe just because teaching your own child is just harder!
He's capable of doing ok, but massively under-practised so I'm worried he'll make silly mistakes, and his actual note writing is scruffy. We haven't looked at terms, other than those he already knows, and certainly no German ones!

Anyone else looking forward to it being over???

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ILovePandas · 06/11/2018 05:39

Good luck everyone. Will be glad when it’s over. Last minute nerves seem to have set for DD but this always happens before music practicals so will approach with the same positive mind, positive outcome mantra!
Melting hope your DD got some sleep

Witchesbritches · 05/11/2018 23:50

Melting, patio is up, hole is dug...no jury would convict you.

I hope you chose a good selection of colourful words to share with him.

DC (13) is FAR more chilled about it than I am. It’s just as well she ‘gets it’ because I can’t help her At All.

I’m really looking forward to waiting in the car for 2 hours 🙄

Trumpetboysmum · 05/11/2018 23:38

Oh no melting
Good luck all for tomorrow Smile

Original poster
Floottoot · 05/11/2018 23:01

Oh no!
Hopefully, she'll get through tomorrow on adrenaline, if nothing else.
Flowers Melting.

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MeltingWax · 05/11/2018 22:41

Good luck everyone!

I am not in the best of moods. DP took DD to the accompanist this evening for her final practice before her recorder exam on Thursday. He said she was 'yawning quite a lot' on the way there so they stopped in Costa on the way and he gave her coffee Hmm. Coffee for an 11-yr-old an hour before bedtime the night before an exam. DD is still awake now and to say that I am thoroughly fed-up would be the understatement of the year Angry.

Original poster
Floottoot · 05/11/2018 22:32

Good luck to minis Melting, ILovePandas, Trumpet, and ja9r!
It'll be all over this time tomorrow....phew!! WineWine

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Original poster
Floottoot · 04/11/2018 21:02

Thanks, Melting. DS has a habit of knocking drinks over, but his school drink bottle is not spill, fortunately!
Your poor DS!! Ouch! Fingers crossed, this exam will be uneventful...

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MeltingWax · 04/11/2018 20:36

Hiya floot - they are allowed to take in bottles of water. I try to avoid giving them a drink because am always paranoid they will spill it over a completed paper. But they did in the summer exam because it was so hot.

In previous exams they have taken in pencils, sharpener, rubber and ruler in a clear plastic pencil case along with their sticker thing to put on the exam paper. I have seen other candidates holding clear plastic bags and even normal pencil cases I think.

Before the last theory exam when he was sitting Grade 2, DS managed to jam his fingers in the toilet door at the exam centre and he could barely hold a pencil Hmm.

Original poster
Floottoot · 04/11/2018 19:58

Thanks for the good wishes!

A couple of quick questions about exam protocol:

Do they have to take their pencils etc into the exam hall in a clear plastic bag?
Can they take bottles of water in with them?

DS has done 3 practise papers this weekend, and done ok on all of them BUT he's driving me mad by making daft mistakes, like not circling answers when the questions asks for it, or ignoring key signatures in some intervals - it's the inconsistency that is frustrating me!

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howabout · 04/11/2018 14:38

Just having a quick catch up on this as I have resolved to be far more diligent with DD3 and theory than I was with DD1 and DD2. DD1 is naturally conscientious so more or less got on with it herself. DD2 had me tearing my hair out and eventually although I had taught her it all I had to come to an agreement with her piano teacher so an outside party could get her to engage with it. I remember the pain vividly Floottoot.

Good luck to all.

April2020mom · 03/11/2018 21:14

My stepdaughter is doing her first ever formal piano exam. She is going in for her Grade 1 exam. Good luck everyone! Make sure that they read the question carefully. Remember practice makes perfect.

Lotsofmilkonesugar · 02/11/2018 22:09

Good luck for everyone taking the exam this time🤞They all sound well prepared and I expect any silly mistakes won’t happen on the day as they will concentrate better 🙂 Just don’t let them leave early!!

Original poster
Floottoot · 02/11/2018 21:48

for our DCs now.

Yes, this half term has been bonkers, Trumpet, and the run up to Christmas is worse!

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Trumpetboysmum · 02/11/2018 21:33

Me too Floot - but when I booked the exam I’d forgotten how crazy this half term is !!

Original poster
Floottoot · 02/11/2018 21:27

Thanks, Romany.
I have to say, I actually think grade 5 theory was harder when I took it (nearly 30 years ago....eeeeeek!), but I suspect the rest of life was a lot easier than it is colour DCs now - so much else to juggle, in the way of school work, extra curricular activities etc, it's hard for them to find the time needed to really nail it.

I'm praying DS does enough on the day not to have to take it again next term!

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RomanyRoots · 02/11/2018 21:21

Trumpet

I know, they are all pretty much the same, although mine is becoming more conscientious, taken years with ABRSM syllabus, but other theory seems to get more interest.
I bet you'll see this too.

Trumpetboysmum · 02/11/2018 21:15

Romany I really hope it is done on Tuesday and he doesn’t have to resist it !! He spends hours a week on music ( just not theory !!)

ja9r · 02/11/2018 21:02

Nothing really to add... my ds is doing it next week. He's been working so hard in prep. He works harder on music theory than any aspect of school work... because he has a piano teacher who really pushes him... way more than any school teacher does.

I'm not musical at all. He is on his own!

Good luck to all your dc.

RomanyRoots · 02/11/2018 20:55

Just come on to say good luck to your dc, it's such a relief when it's done. Thanks

MeltingWax · 02/11/2018 20:52

Fingers crossed indeed for favourable traffic/transport and all DCs to be where they need to be in good time!

I was half thinking about picking DD up from school before her last lesson of the day but she is already missing school on Thursday for her piano exam and there are school assessments coming up. Will be very glad when this week is done and dusted.

Original poster
Floottoot · 02/11/2018 20:47

Melting, that's my stress too - DS doesn't finish until 4pm and it can take a good 10 minutes for him to appear, and another 15 minutes to get out of the school car park, after which I've got to get across the city ( no idea where I'm going, actually), drop him, hope he finds his way into the exam hall, and get back across the city to pick up DD from a school production rehearsal...and then get back across the city to collect DS after the exam.

Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly for you! We'll both just be relieved if we get our DCs to the exam in time and in one piece!

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Original poster
Floottoot · 02/11/2018 20:41

DS did his first full practice paper today, with mixed results.
He made a few silly mistakes (said a major 3rd was minor, because he didn't take into account the key signature, that sort of thing) and one huge one, which was a transposition question and worth 10 marks - he (correctly but mistakenly) worked out that the original key was minor and tried to transpose from that.

I'm working tomorrow, so it'll be down to him to go over the areas he's making mistakes in.
He's still not breaking a sweat over it...

We've had an email to say that the centre is particularly busy this session, so parents will have to drop off without stopping - I'm a bit worried because I don't actually know where the centre is, and it's a high school, so I could end up dropping DS in completely the wrong part.

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MeltingWax · 02/11/2018 20:39

Hope everyone's prep is going well. DD was playing in a concert last night & they were told to take a book as there would be some hanging around. I packed her theory book so she could try and learn some terms. She was a bit Hmm.

Am fretting now about the logistics for Tuesday. Have to pick the DCs up from 2 different schools and get them all the way across London by 5pm...

Trumpetboysmum · 02/11/2018 20:28

Think ds’s focus !!

Trumpetboysmum · 02/11/2018 20:28

No and we’ve got a busy weekend ( and the school show ) so I thought no ds’s focus is elsewhere !! Did you get the email that the time has changed to 5pm for our centre ?