Trinity Grades - Scales vs Study

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Anyone's DC opted for the studies rather than scales in the higher grades?

Up to now, DD1 kept to scales, but always disappointed with marks. She thinks the studies feel more like pieces, and helps with the same technical skills. She is currently working on both for Grade 8 in spring.

Would examiners be likely to see the studies as a cop out at this level and mark more harshly?

What instrument?
Any alternate options will be considered equal.

How are you going to do study well if you can't do scale well?
Try play scale musically, as if this is the most important passage in your piece (classical style), you may find the fun side of scale.

Bad memory, especially if she gets nervous. Thought study was from music.
Instrument is recorder.

I'd go for the study then. As long as scales are incorporated into her general practice routine.

It will not be considered a cop out. Don't worry!

Our teacher used to give study to less able/dyslexic/poor memory students and scales to the rest. Scales are important if you're going to take it seriously but I'd have thought the study is easier, especially if you have issues with scales.

Yep, and nope. The studies are MUCH harder though, in the sense that they have to be played super fast. Or at least, the one's I've seen have to be. So there are all manners of technique going on as well as just the notes. But they suit DD1 better (dyspraxia thing).

Moomin for the recorder the study is most definitely not easier in a technical sense and IME (and the experience of DD1's teacher) is only attempted by the more able students since most people without specific issues will find scales way easier.

The study may not be easier for other instruments.

I have to admit I always did scales because for me (photographic memory) they were genuinely a piece of piss (I'm sorry I know they are really difficult for some people, including obviously DD1. DD2, whilst also dyspraxic like me and DD1 also has my memory so is acing all her scales for her grade 4 next week. But I might insist she does the study for Grade 5)

I think for DD1, its the volume of the scales (rather than the diffficulty) for Grade 8, especially as she is skipping Grade 7. And has piano scales for Grade 5 piano to learn.
She managed scales for TG Grade 6 with a few slip ups, still getting a distinction overall. Went completely to pieces on scales in ABRSM Grade 5, and that still haunts her.
Working through the studies currently with teachers to improve technical skills, so hoping they will be sympathetic. They know she wants a distinction, so hopefully won't make her do scales again just to prove a point.

The exams are structured for the studies and scales to be of equivalent difficulty so an examiner won't think the studies are a cop out or easy option at all. For Trinity cello exams the studies are orchestral extracts and they are flipping hard, much harder to play well than the scales imo.

Hopefully her teachers will be sympathetic and be working with her to choose the option which will give her the best possible chance of a distinction. Best of luck to your DD when she sits the exam.

DS, who is doing Trintiy Grade 5 clarinet with a VERY strong jazz bias, is doing the study. He is doing improvisation and musical knowledge as his two 'skilly bits'.

For him, the grade is simply a record of his achievement in a particular instrument [hoping to take up sax next] - he has taken no other grades, and won't unless at some future point he wants to take grade 8. For him, the studies make more sense as they embed scales, arpeggios etc in a real context - and he is above all a practical jazz band musician so the 'purist' scales option is not meaningful to him.

DD1 just got a very high distinction for grade 8. She played the study. A sound decision.

Wow Metebelis3 well done to her.

Which of the studies was it? DD1 currently favouring the alternate fingering one.

Dunno. :) I try to be as uninvolved as possible. It had triple tounging.

It's fine to do the study, it will be weighted equally with the scales.

However, despite doing TG on first study (playing scales) DD needed to get all the AB Grade 8 scales up to scratch for Music College auditions. They clearly knew what they were doing, asked her all the hardest ones.

(She got a place, though )

Scales are essential to any good player and will support all the studies/pieces. I do like that Trinity allow the choice of what to present, so I would go with whatever you feel is the one that presents the student skills in the best light. But I would be insisting on knowing scales anyway! regardless of what is chosen to present at exam. After all, you are learning to play an instrument well, not just pass exams ??