Musis theory

[SLOWREADER]

My son age 14 needs to take Grade 5 music theory (ABRSM) before he can progress to Grade 6 guitar. Please could anyone recommend any 'teach yourself' books, online material etc. that I could buy for him? Extra theory lessons with his music teacher are impossible to time table so he is going to have to go it alone. Thanks!

pmsl at other rudimentarians

I looked at mine the other day while decluttering. couldn't bring myself to chuck it out, but jaysus it was dull...

I threw mine out last Monday - worn, and tattered - now I feel lost and alone - and exposed

oh and I had no theory lessons btw. none at all.

my Rudiments saw me through.

at beety the heretic

Please would someone describe their
rudiments in terms appropriate to a 14 year old male audience.

lol

my rudiments are not appropriate for 14 yo males...

gawd I wouldn't let an impressionable 14 year anywhere near my rudiments
he'd be put off for life

isn't there something else he can do instead (all my advanced pupils usefully have done theory at high school, so I've not had to look into it)- would this be more appropriate?

You have to do grade 5 theory if you want to do any more grade - i

You don't have to do Grade 5 theory - there's Practical Musicianship instead.

You play your own instrument and you do things like improvising. I've never entered anyone for these, but my friend, also music teacher, swears by these for people who haven't done any theory. She thinks they're MUCH easier. Depends on the kind of pupil though.

I had a nasty moment there trying to remember where my Rudiments were...

found them now though .

Jokes about little red books aside, I would seriously look into Practical Musicianship instead.

However, if you ARE going down the theory exam route, then I do think he probably needs SOME lessons, unless you know all about it yourself. You can buy past papers you know.

Thank you for all helpful advice. nfb, music theory at school here in the uk seems to be very basic up to at least GCSE level and that is 2 and 1/2 years away for ds anyway. He does a lot of practical music too, folk club, electric guitar with friends etc but seems to enjoy ticking off the grades and sails through with no fuss or stress. Not my idea of fun, I was an exam hater myself and have never pushed them, but don't really want to transfer my fears to him. He wants to do music in VI form and later at college/uni so I suppose the theory will have to be tackled at some point. Still looking for a teacher for him but very difficult here- finding someone to teach him practical music higher than grade 5 was very hard indeed. I may be able to help him a bit, and he is a whiz at maths so that may help.
Shall now look into Practical Musicianship- might be good for his sister too. Thanks again.

You could also look into the Trinity Guildhall syllabus where theory is incorporated into each practical Grade bit by bit.

It used to be that Trinity music exams were not as well thought of. This has now changed and with the merger with Guildhall, a complete re-vamp of the syllabus they are a viable alternative.

Dh, a singing teacher who has previously only ever taught Associated Board (and went throug the piano Grades himself) is very impressed with the singing syllabus and the overall structure of the exams.