Spring 21 virtual music thread

Has the March online theory exam been cancelled? I haven't had any information through but I went to check on the abrsm website about something else and it looks like it may be? Sorry for any confusion if it hasn't been but I am quite confused now.

I don't think there's any rush. I did my G8 on a good old buffet B12 and I know of many others that have too! Wooden clarinets are quite heavy - how old is DC? How long have they been playing and are you sure they will continue? There are other ways to upgrade, like mouthpiece and ligature, and even better reeds, that I'd work through before splashing out on a wooden clarinet... unless the current one is really bad..?

hi i think around g4 - but would suggest you wait for lockdown to end so DC can try some? they aren’t cheap and there can be a huge variation in performance between exactly the same clarinet (according to dd teacher). also if you wait a little while you will prob get an instrument which can work for dc for quite some time

Have posted on here a while ago and popped back on to ask if any clarinet parents know when is best to upgrade to a different/better instrument. Dd has a beginners plastic clarinet and is working towards Grade 2 at the moment. Due to COVID delays arranging lessons and exams etc she’s been learning for around 18 months. Was thinking of upgrading her to a better model of clarinet (wooden?) but from what Ive read online it seems to be more common later on.
When did other parents upgrade from their beginner instrument please?

DD did the Grade 5 theory in order to progress in her practical exams but as it got nearer to the exam she did really enjoy the learning. She doesn't however want to do any further exams.

DD has always previously learned scales without a book and indeed still does with her bassoon but having just started learning Grade 7 scales on the clarinet having not really concentrated on any for a while, she is finding using the book really helpful.

What are posters wanting from the theory exams?

For me (I have 2 averagely musical kids, keen but not prodigies) I want to have them learn the theory roughly in step with the practical exams as I think that will work best for my two, rather than caning G5 on its own. I also feel doing formal music exams is good prep for GSCE by acclimatising them to the now or never stresses and emotions of sitting public exams.

Specifically at the moment, they have a lot of time on their hands, sports and clubs are cancelled, it's dark outside of remote school hours so I feel that using this time to do their next exam is constructive. One of my DC dances too and I've been really impressed throughout the last year at how the dance teachers have been such a good example to them of making the best of a bad situation and remaining focused on your goals and keeping going. Doing the theory exams now rather than when life is back to normal is part of that for us.

I think it depends how they are taught their instruments, my dds teacher never gave them scales books, they always had to think and work them out and listen, so actually that helps when doing the written theory as they know the scales anyway. Also, doing scales on piano at same time helps you see them. I think theory and practical definitely complement each other so the sooner they can do a bit of theory it helps. Then you don't get held back with practical. You can make it fun with apps/ quizzes too but mine actually find it quite satisfying weirdly, I suppose it helps make sense of things they are playing and is orderly ( unlike much of life just now!) Ds does not formal theory but seems to find scales quite mindful so always does quite a few. Not sure whether he relates it to his piano pieces or not but it suits him. He's good at learning so would pick up enough to pass if he ever needed to, has only grade 4 but is probably about grade 6 now.

Watching my two (one of whom has done the theory and the other hasn't) doing their practice it is clear that it's really helpful to know the stuff (however many gaps DD2 has in her knowledge). Dd2 is learning two instruments where she is below G5 practical, and one above, and the speed at which she picks things up is much quicker because she already has the theory.

So there is a point to it rather than just means to an end. DD1, like me, (no theory, play a bit) is foggily groping around in the dark with sharps and flats and clefs. I would never have wanted to do theory as a child but wish someone had made me, as it all would have made so much more sense (and I might not have given up at Grade 5 practical).

What are posters wanting from the theory exams? Is it just a pass grade 5 so that they can move forward with practical exams? Or is it because they want to continue onto grade 8 and further with their analytical work?

@Chocomel, may I ask your thoughts?

DD has recently begun working on G4 pieces. It would be nice if, in time, she wants to progress to G6-8, but at the moment she’s taking things as they come and enjoying playing her instrument; there’s no pressing need for G5 theory.

My question is about the value of undertaking some structured study of basic theory through the ABRSM theory grades. In your view, would it be effective and worthwhile for a more rounded musical education? An exam would provide extra motivation to study and, with any luck, be a marker of progress, but it’s not the goal.

For anyone with DC considering or booked to take a remote performance grade, ABRSM are running a webinar for parents on the 17th Feb. Wonder if they’ve been reading this thread!

I didn’t have to take ID for Ds when he did his Grade 5 in November 2019.

I have to say the invigilators were fantastic. He had his own room and invigilator and rest breaks. I’d been worried as the exam centre was at the school he’d been kicked out of!

I used to invigilate ABRSM theory exams before the online system - anything with a photo will do for ID for G5+ - a lot of ZIP/oyster cards but littlies often had a signed photo from the school. I'm not sure that half the time I would have known if an ID was valid or not.

Scrap the above, I think I accidentally loaded the US site. Sorry!

Just went on to the ABRSM website to book the theory exams as this was meant to be the booking period for the March online ones and it says they are cancelled. No explanation given. Very annoyed as we were using them as a lockdown project. Says May and June will go ahead but tbh if they're allowed to see friends at last in May and June, they're not going to want to study theory! This was an ideal time for us. Is cancelling online sessions something they do a lot or is it too new to tell?

My daughter just used her Zip card (public transport pass) for photo ID for grade 6. They barely glanced at it. Think a school pass would have been ok too.

Thank you OneLovelySister, that really helps I actually do have that number on the youngest's last mark sheet so I'll try to find a mark sheet for the older one and if not, I'll email school. I assume if school can't answer me, then ABRSM will have some way to tie the records together later.

Screenshot of the email

@Purpletomato, so I’m cobbling this together from when I had to create an account to view DD’s results late last year.

Before I got the email from ARBSM saying the results were ready to view, I’d set up an account in my own name (using my email address that was given to ABRSM by DD’s music teacher). When the email arrived, I realised DD needed her own account, which was to be created using the Contact ID given in the email. When I set up DD’s account I used my own email address again.

The school may be able to give you the Contact IDs? Failing that, maybe contact ABRSM?

@OneLovelySister Thank you - I have their certificates from their exams taken through school but none of the entry paperwork as we don't get given that. I can't see a candidate number on the certificates? If it's something I need, I could email school to ask for it?

Oh, hang on - may be something called a Contact ID rather than candidate number. Sorry, I’m not really helping, am I?

@Purpletomato, I think you can use the same email address (I set up accounts for myself and DD using the same one). Have your DC got candidate numbers from their school exams? That’s how it all links together, iirc?

My son needed his grade 5 as some of the Uni music courses he’s interested in ask for it for those not taking A level (he’s doing btec) a couple of places also ask for a higher grade.

Thread has moved on since I checked but thanks bostik for the recommendations, will check them out. We had the first ever broken string last week. DS was initially distraught so perhaps he's more bothered about his cello than I think he is! Thankfully a call to the teacher, speedy delivery and youtube helped put it right and I'm feeling proud to have learned a new skill! The tone on the new string is noticeably better even to my ears so we may change the others once we're out of lockdown. It's a music service instrument so goodness knows when they were last changed.

I'm finding the chat about online exams and theory helpful. DS has started to prepare for G5 theory with his piano teacher. Not sure when he will take it but it's helpful to hear about the online assessments and book recommendations.

Sorry to be a muppet but registering the DC for the exams is confusing me. School usually do it on our behalf so this is my first go. I registered myself as I thought it would need an over 18 in charge of the account and also as payment will be needed? But the email I received suggests I need to register the kids independent of me? I've mucked this up, haven't I? Do I need to do each child with a seperate email address? Is It ok that the DC won't be linked to the exams they previously took via school or do I need to link to those somehow?