How long for Theory gr 5? And how long will the 2013&2014 syllabus be valid?

[hardboiled]

IYE, how long for a child to be ready for Theory gr5 (hasn't done any theory exams before).
And does anyone know till when the Piano 2013&2014 Grade 6 pieces will be valid?

Trying to do a bit of scheduling ahead... Don't know whether I should buy the 2013&2014 book yet. DS just sat Gr5...

ds1 took 14 months from zero theory to passing grade 5 with distinction; but he wasn't in a rush - could have done in faster.

Exam board pieces are usually valid until the Easter after. But why the rush? What does his teacher suggest?

What is the instrument?

Oh, sorry, just seen it's piano. ds1 really enjoyed Chris Norton's Rock Preludes as a between gr5 and gr6 distraction.

On one lesson a week, probably one or two terms. If you do it more intensively, then quicker. BUT the age of the child does come into it, to a certain extent, also things like bass clef knowledge, which your DS obviously has since he is doing piano.If you can run separate theory lessons, and keep up with the playing lessons and practice too, then I would have thought a schedule of Easter 2014 theory summer 1014 playing was perfectly comfortably achievable. If you can get some intensive theory in over the summer then December 2013 theory might be realistic, which would then allow Easter 2013 playing - which might be a bit soon, I suppose....

The 2013-14 syllabus should be valid for all sittings in 2013 and 2014 and might even be valid for the first 2015 session but you'd have to check the small print on that.

Thanks Casey, it's piano.
There is no rush, DS is going to be learning lots of other new pieces anyway, it's just that he loves getting the new syllabus and listening to the pieces and start choosing. So DH said, let's get him the GR6 book and then I thought, wait a minute, he needs to pass the Theory and how long will that take and then the pieces will get out of date...etc. I don't want to waste the money. Teacher is new as of next Sept so can't ask yet.

When you say Easter, you mean the 2013&2014 would be valid till Easter period of 2015?

Oh sorry, we crossed posts Russians!
Thank you, that info is very useful!
I think, based on all feedback, that I can buy the book now.

Hardboiled I'd buy the book anyway, it will be useful for repertoire building. I know they aren't cheap but even so, they are useful I think.

How old is your DS?

We too have a new teacher situation with DD2 for one of her instruments, her old teacher has retired so she has to start with a new one in September when she starts Y6. Which is not a good time to start with a new teacher! It's a worrying time really, isn't it, even when you kind of know what you will be getting.

Hi Russians, he's 11.

I'm sure your DD will be fine, sometimes a new teacher acts as a real incentive, provides a new point of view, and the children want to do their best! We have met the new teacher and really liked him.

Re Y6, it wasn't specially hard. DS had the best time ever. He wasn't bothered by Sats and homework was light and allowed for lots of music. Y7 will be a different song...

And gosh, I forgot Y6 was the year of all the 11+ exams, auditions...etc.

Still, a fine year to change music teacher. Don't worry!

My DS's have successfully done G5 theory via a crash course starting in Easter hols with Dad! It really helped that their piano teacher had gone through quite a lot of theory over the years and I was surprised how much they had assimilated over time without even realising. It is advantageous that your ds is a pianist and can read both bass and treble clef with ease. I wouldn't worry about the theory exam hurdle holding your DS back, he might actually enjoy it - my boys did!

We are in a similar place to you op.

Dd (9) passed grade 5 violin in march and is now busily getting on with the theory. We have a tutor coming to the house each week and in the past few months has moved through the books to grade 4 now. We are aiming to enter the theory exam at the next available time in November.

Dd's theory teacher did say it is possible to take grade 6 practical exam and they will only release the results once the theory has been passed.

Dd has enough to be getting on with at the moment with preparing audition pieces etc, so won't be looking at the next exams for a while. It is possible she will move straight to grade 7 next yr, bit we'll just wait and see.

Or do Trinity exams and forget about the theory (bad thing to do, forgetting about theory. Trinity exams are fine though).