Music exams and younger children

[marialuisa]

DD is 6.5y and plays the harp and violin. Both teachers have suggested she takes her Grade One exam next term but I am not sure if it's a good idea. I'm worried that 2 exams in the same term will be too much for her, on top of school and other stuff and also feel that she's a bit too young to take such exams. I am sure neither teacher would let her go for the exam if they weren't sure she would pass but the idea of a formal assessment grates slightly.

Am I worrying unnecessarily or is my feeling that exams can wait reasonable?

That is very young and yes at that age two in one term could be a bit much.

Which exam boards are the teachers using. The Associated board and I think Trinity Guildhall too both do a Preparatory Test which rather than a pass or fail type exam is an assessment and the child gets a sheet with nice contructive comments on.

It is generally seen as being pre-Grade 1.

Some children never do exams, and it is your own judgment as to what you do. Some children thrive on the achievment they get from exams and having to work towards something, some don't take a single exam until they get to A level. For some the pressure of exams can be too much and lead to giving up. I did a mixture. I took some grades and skipped some.

My dd didn't bother with grades one and two,her teacher thought the exam process was unnecessary at such a young age.She took grade three when she was 8 or nine I think .

My daughters' violin teacher (a wonderful teacher and very wise woman) did not think a child could do itself justice doing two exams in the same session. Probably best to leave one till next time.

I had two very musical children (one went to music college, the other stopped at grade 8) and both skipped grade one in both instruments, no harm done in that and might do some good if your child will find it harrowing when so young. However, some children thrive on having a goal to focus their practising.

Congrats on having such a musical DD - you must be proud of her - melts at thought of tiny harpist

There's two issues here:

Firstly is she too young for exams at all and secondly is two exams at once too much.

On the first issue, some kids seem to cope fine with music exams from being very tiny and don't seem to get nervous at all. Other children might feel the pressure more and not like them. Ask yourself what your daughter is like - does she get stressed by tests? In general, teachers are very unlikely to push such a young child to do exams unless they are really ready for it technically, so I'm sure she's more than able, but whether it's a good idea or not is another matter.

On two or more at once, again lots of children do. Ds did two grade 2 exams in one session once and it was fine - but he was much older (10) and they weren't his first ever music exams. This session he's only doing one and skipping a grade on his other instrument because he says two is too many at once for the higher grades.

I think in your shoes, if your dd is up for it, I'd choose just one instrument and try it and see. That way you can find if she enjoys/copes with the exam but not have the pressure of two unknown entities at once.

Thanks all. She's done the prep test for her violin (ABRSM) already and wasn't too bothered, but it doesn't exist for harp.

The violin teacher (lessons through school) is very chilled and will have no problem with DD not doing exams. The harp teacher is not linked to school and a lot keener on the exam side of things. I think I may go with my gut and ditch the exams for now.

Some excellent advice from Snorkle.

Dh is a peri teacher through schools and many of his pupils don't do exams as their parents can't afford them so peri's won't blink an eyelid usually.

My gut instinct would probably be she is too young.

Have you asked your DD if she would like to do one or both exams?

My dd did grade three when she was 10 ( her teacher doesn't put them in for 1 and 2) She found it very stressful and I don't think she would have handled it very well younger. They have to go off into a sound proofed room on their own! I know dd would have hated that at 6. Sorry to be so negative!

Interestingly my daughter does LAMDA drama exams and they state that to take their Grade 1 you have to be 9 years old on the day of the exam.

At 6 my daughter can only do the preparatory exams. She thrives on tests though and had no problem with going off on her own to the examiner.

The counter to that seeker, is that just maybe, if she'd done an easier exam younger she'd have handled it better. For some people, it seems to me, when they are little they see it as 'something you do' rather something to get anxious about. They often seem quite happy to go and play their pieces etc. to someone new.

As you get older and better, not only are the exams harder but your anxiety reflex is better developed. If you've done exams in the past then you know what to expect (you've got a bit of been there done that confidence) and so find it less stressful.

But 6.5 is very young and marialuisa's probably best off going with her instincts.

btw if the harp teacher is very exam focussed, could you suggest that she prepares her pieces as if for the exam and then gives an informal concert to you (the parents) one lesson instead of actually taking it?

Actually, I kind of agree snorkle. But even if the exam was easier, I don't think dd would have gone off into a soundproofed room with a stranger - she would have been attaches to my leg like a limpet!

I do wish dd had wanted to play the harp. Actually, I don't they cost a fortune, don't they?

Yes, I've asked DD but she changes her mind every week hence the need for me to make the decision for her!

The harp teacher raised the exam thing first which led to a few days anxiety from DD that she's "rubbish at the violin because Mrs X hasn't said about an exam and I started violin before harp" and that's the kind of thing that makes me think she shouldn't do real exams yet.

Seeker-DD very much chose the harp herself, it was a lucky fluke that there's a teacher near us. Her "basic" harp cost £1k but should last until she's 13y. You can hire them but Great Granny coughed up!

She must look SOOOO beautiful playing it!

Yes, she does look cute [fond mama emoticon]. She chose a baby pink one though which rather spoils the angelic image!

I loved doing music exams and by the time they really 'mattered' I was so used to them I just got excited rather than anxious. My sister, however, threw up with nerves on the morning of her one and only music exam and never took another.

But even for the most confident of children I would definitely have thought 2 in one term would be a bit much at that age.

Mine both started doing music exams at around seven and didn't seem to find them too daunting (probably rather too much the opposite). My view was that it's good to get used to doing performance-type exams young, before you get older and more self-conscious.

I wouldn't do two in one term at that age, though.

Agree seeker, early exams is not the right answer for everyone. Getting a bit of harp envy here too. Dream .

dd was 7 ish when she did her grade 1 theory. she did her crade 1 cello a bit later,

But two different exams at the same time might be a bit stressful