Spring / Summer 2026 music thread

@DitheringMusicParent I don't know many 9 year olds who could pass grade 5 theory. Mine hadn't even started the instrument she's at conservatoire with at that age and she's doing fine! Clearly some must do but maybe it's just more stress than you need at the moment. Would continuing with trinity work just now until he has some more strategies for focusing ( not easy I appreciate) and wants to do it himself? Have you tried the abrsm app for the iPad as it might be more fun if it is gameified? Other child refused to do theory until she wanted to, so just stuck with trinity until teacher suggested grade 8 should be abrsm as that's what their JD does. Other option is continue playing whatever music suits and not worry about exams until grade 8, by which time he might have decided himself to do the theory.

@Compsearch I think the trick is not to work on three pieces only for months on end. If they are really at that level they can pick the pieces, learn them and do most of the work then if you're brave can leave them ticking over and keep revisiting but not bashing away constantly. Then nearer the time they can be re-polished. Depends what works for your child. My youngest learnt a grade five piece two weeks before the exam because her teacher realised it was the wrong study and it was no problem because she'd been playing so much music around and above the level for ages. Different case for piano though I guess.

Has anyone on here had a child with autism/ ADHD/ visual processing issues who is great at passing practical music exams, but is a total space cadet terrible at staying on task with independent written work?

If you did, did you ever get them to pass Grade 5 theory?

DS 9 is doing Grade 6 Trinity organ and cello this year. He's kind of stuck doing Trinity at the moment, despite the ABRSM syllabus being better for organ, because he just doesn't have the executive function skills to stay on task in ABRSM theory exams.

However, he really needs to get going on the theory exams since he'll actually need to know the theory if he wants to go and do music at uni and be an organ scholar.

I think we need (1) someone to actually teach him theory properly, as I'm too tired and overstretched and DS spends so many hours playing music per day he has no brain space left to learn theory (someone else will have to steal a couple of practice hours per week to do theory, since he won't do it for me), (2) supporting evidence from a paediatrician saying DS is AuDHD with visual processing issues and severe executive function issues, then the easy bit, (3) ABRSM theory special exam conditions with pen and paper, extra time and a prompter. I'm tired just thinking it through. The little ABRSM red theory book is sitting there on the shelf looking piously neglected...

Update on the organ teacher situation: DS has stayed with the better teacher (B) and is making massive progress, but the first teacher (A) is refusing to discuss anything at all, including whether DS is allowed to continue to play at her church/ sing in her choir. He's not been given anything new to do in a service since the Teacher A went on sabbatical (has just played in a few services, committments that she'd organised prior to leaving). She's been back from sabbatical for a while and has just stayed silent (choir holidays so she hasn't been around). It's getting slightly ridiculous, so it looks like he'll have to leave her church, but the teaching from Teacher B is great at least.

Also @achangeofnameisasgoodasarest i think a teacher would be a good idea? Sounds like you’ve done great so far and will be learning through the band, but will be quicker progress with a teacher.

@achangeofnameisasgoodasarest it’s a great choice! Though yes a little unwieldy. I started on tenor horn which is similarly gentle and cuddly!

thank you @northerngoldilocks i just had a look and there are some October sessions near Moorgate which would be perfect so will prob book in for that when it opens - very small booking window!

@Londonmummy66 I have a band - I'm in the baby six o clock bit of the local brass band - which is how I acquired a euph in the first place. Am hoping now I have my grade 3 I might be allowed to stay for a bit of the next stage up as that is a 'grade 3 plus ensemble"

I picked the euphonium because I googled 'which is the easiest brass instrument to get a sound out of' and this is what I got. Sadly I did not google 'how large is a euphonium'. I am a fool as I have to take it on a train.

Wondering if I might need a teacher for the next bit, rather than just the half hour group class.

Congratulations @achangeofnameisasgoodasarest - so impressive! How did you choose euphonium btw? You should definitely find a band - will be amazing fun.

DS is singing in a friend’s wedding soon - in King’s chapel, the only child in a choir made up of adult former choral scholars…no pressure! So we’ve been practising all the music which has been fun, if a little stressful. Also need to record his NCO audition at some point. He’s getting thoroughly sick of the pieces but yet has not perfected them 🤪.

He’s learned 5 from the grade 5 syllabus now, so his teacher has suggested doing grade 5 next term. I think will be good for him as he’s never done an exam and does need to learn all the scales etc, but he will hate working on same pieces for months. When do the face to face ones happen/can we pick the date? The earlier the better!

Congratulations @achangeofnameisasgoodasarest - taking up an instrument as an adult is quite the challenge. Now to find a brass band???

That’s amazing news @achangeofnameisasgoodasarest - congratulations!
Good that your dd has finished for the summer. I hope she has some downtime in her near future!

dd still has a week of school left. She’s just finished a three night run of SIX (teen edition!) which was amazing but exhausting. She has her last chapel service of the school year on Sunday and her g7 singing next Wednesday and then she is DONE! We are limping towards the end of term. Her g8 cello has been put back (no time to practice) which was a bit of a relief.

just got dd2 back from music hogwarts, where as usual they wrung every drop of emotion from the end of term. Now a summer of preparing audition pieces and uni applications awaits.

BUT in much more important music news i got to take my grade 3 euphonium. despite the worst nerves in the world and sightreading in 3/8 (who does that) I have a123 merit.

Took the thing up last November and it’s been so much fun so far. I do concede that I might need a teacher after this though.

Sorry wrong post

Fab, thanks!

@chocolateisnecessary I think from memory it was on the day specified. For the final results I think it was unsuccessful ones first, then successful, all on same day. Can't remember about the interim progession to live audition round that are due in July. Best of luck to everyone waiting. If you don't progress, there will be other opportunities.

Does anyone know if the NYO results tend to come out bang on the day they’ve said or a week or so earlier? Does it vary by instrument or do they all come out at once?

Hi all - just popping up to wave. Hope everyone is ok. We’re out of the NCO projects/Eisteddfod era and entering a LOT of end of term concerts and shows, NCO audition plus another Eisteddfod. And residentials. Homework seems to have increased but the amount of practice really needs to
increase too and it’s a bit 😬😬😬atm. At least the heatwave has stopped for a bit! We had a fan pointed at the harp at one point!

Debra Adamson-Brattland does a 6 week online G5 theory course, the next one starts in September. My ds did his GCSE music with her and says she’s a really good teacher.
debra-adamson-brattland.com/theory/

https://www.celebratewithmusic.co.uk/grade-5-theory-course/

Simon is great - really recommend him. He teaches in a very practical and strategic way. You can join subsequent courses for free if you need to go over it again and he offers follow up marking.

@hannacoolfer this Facebook group has suggestions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DJfNmfCBp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

OK - I don't have experience of others as mine did this one as it used to be residential. However Guildhall have one in July. DD was at JD there and the theory tuition (hers was above Grade 5) was good https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/study-with-guildhall/short-courses-summer-schools/find-a-short-course-or-summer-school/essential-music-theory-grade-5

That looks great but we are near London (Watford).

@hannacoolfer I don't know where in the country you are but this is a great course if you could get to gloucester https://glosacadmusic.org/sessions-and-courses/holiday-courses/theory-courses/

I hope it's ok to pop into a long standing thread. My dc plays piano at G5. He has just finished his exam and will be starting g6 in the autumn. he's had terry lessons for 2 terms and is quite ok with grade 5 theory but needs some exam practice and maybe a more intensive going over everything sessions.

Are there any reputable online providers. He is not a beginner but working comfortably at grade 4-5 level.

Wish you all strength @Siriusmuggle ! My DS is ND and his uni years were incredibly stressful. They're kind of adults but not quite...

3% is very close so fingers crossed for the resit and learning from mistakes!

@Siriusmuggle I hope it all works out and they are able to now go off and do the bits they enjoy without the stressful bits.