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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Piano - how to record ability without ABRSM

30 replies

Bruisername · 28/02/2026 09:56

Hi. dd15 is very much into her piano at the moment. She did her grade 5 at the end of year 6 but has not done any more as she is not good with the theory (she knows it but doesn’t want to sit down and revise it iyswim). She dropped music gcse for the same reason - she loves playing but isn’t interested in the theoretical side.

grade wise she is around 8 now but doesn’t enjoy the pieces in the abrsm exam and the continuous practice of the same pieces wouldn’t work for her!!

are there other exam boards or such like that she could follow? I’m thinking ahead to uni applications I suppose and this is her main extra curricular activity

OP posts:
Babsandherwabs · 28/02/2026 10:13

I mean god I went to see Raye on Thursday. There is no way she got that good without obsessive practise! Look at MJ, Taylor Swift, Elton John, whoever. They’re all obsessed and constantly learning.

Babsandherwabs · 28/02/2026 10:10

Other more varied piano practise techniques:

play for the school production
play for a local panto
open mics
join a band
hook up with a singer and form a duo
if classical, accompany other musicians

Unfortunately practise is a big part of music and repetition is a huge part of practise.

Original poster
Bruisername · 28/02/2026 10:10

No she didn’t want to study music - she says music is something to experience and not study!! So pretentious

I guess I was thinking of non UK unis where extra curricular is considered

OP posts:
Babsandherwabs · 28/02/2026 10:08

There are lots of other boards. Rockschool might be good - pop based with backing tracks. Does she need to know what grade she is and track progress if she’s just doing it for fun? If she’s wanting to pursue further ed in music then I’d really encourage her to take grade 5 theory especially if she already understands it, just get the exam done and dusted.

Comefromaway · 28/02/2026 09:59

Is she wanting to apply to study music? If she isn’t then it won’t have any bearing on uni applications. She can mention her piano if it ties into any skills necessary for what subject she wants to study, otherwise she’s best focusing on super curricular.

my son got into uni for music not having passed any graded exams.

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