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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Flip

Original poster

Is it OK to miss out grades?

13 replies

listsandbudgets · 03/04/2017 15:04

DD (11) started singing lessons this term. She's never done individual lessons before though she has been involved in a choir for 3 years and the teacher was highly recommended by the choir organisers.

The teacher seems very good and is obviously experienced as well as being a performer and its clear DD is improving quickly with her help. She has now suggested that DD should prepare to enter grade 3 and simply jump grades 1 and 2.

While her teacher is happy with this I'm just wondering if its really ok to do this. DD is not always very confident and I'm just wondering if she'd be better to work up slowly rather than jumping strait up. On the other hand if she can do this and do well in it then maybe it will give her a boost.

However I know nothing about music exams so most likely I'm just being overly protective (have to say the song currently being prepared in German which dd has never studied is doing nothing for my confidence but all DD says is "singing is singing mummy in any language"_

OP posts:

ealingwestmum · 03/04/2017 15:24

Hi, based on my limited experience of voice, my DD was similar to yours. No formal voice training until lessons started in Y7 (choir at juniors), then G4 in spring term of that year.

Teacher had a similar profile to yours. Whilst we do have experience of music grades, I had absolutely NO idea of what was being covered in lessons, nor heard the songs before exam.

Was completely wowed at all the DC at a singing concert, including fantastic performances from those less confident in everyday life.

DD's just sat G5, including a German song. Has no idea what she was singing about, but still belted in out in the shower each morning

If your DD is enjoying it, then you enjoy too, it's a great hands off 'instrument' if the teacher's good!

ealingwestmum · 03/04/2017 15:26

Btw, she would have gone in at G3 had she not had a music background already, and all the other newbies started on 3 or 4 (5 for the boys due to voice changes when breaking later)

RapidlyOscillating · 03/04/2017 15:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ealingwestmum · 03/04/2017 15:48

Good point rapid. Lessons at DD's school were supported by separate aural/sight reading for all levels taking any music exams. But may not be a given with all singing taken at other schools. Worth checking...

Wafflenose · 03/04/2017 15:52

Totally normal to start at Grades 3-5 at that age, as long as she can cope with the listening games and sight reading. :)

Original poster

listsandbudgets · 03/04/2017 16:01

Thank you that's really helpful. I feel a bit happier to let her go ahead now.

I know that they have to do some sight reading at choir so she's not an entire stranger to it and she says her teacher did mention they'd be doing practise for it. No idea what the aural tests comprise of though.

She's having private lessons as we would have had to wait forever through the school. Her teacher works by day at a boarding school which specialises in ballet and performing arts so knowing nothing of music myself (dd got any such talent from her dad) I'm assuming she'd have to be pretty good for them to keep her on

OP posts:

foundoutyet · 03/04/2017 19:06

dc1 started straight at grade3 (rockschool). Was a complete shock to his system and has never done any other exams since. (had no clue what aural tests involved)

Original poster

listsandbudgets · 03/04/2017 20:08

so ummm ....what are the aural tests. Obviously something to do with listening but what?

OP posts:

AlexanderHamilton · 03/04/2017 21:05

Ds went in at Grade 4 aged 11/12 however she had spent years performing in musical theatre.

Wondering which school your ds's teacher teaches at as dd goes to a school just like that & has friends who attend a similar school elsewhere in the country.

TP or H?

Sadik · 03/04/2017 21:14

I think it was perfectly normal back in the day? I remember starting at grade 3 on both flute and piano (started playing age 7-8). I guess I'd have been playing for a year or so then started at grade 3 & took one exam a year, which seemed to be the norm. Mind you, maybe the exams have got harder! (Or maybe parents were less keen to shell out for exams until they knew you were keen/committed . . .)

WhatHaveIFound · 03/04/2017 21:31

DD started singing a year ago and went straight in at G2. Her teacher is planning on putting her in for G4 next. Although she hasn't been singing very long she has several years of piano/guitar playing and G5 Theory so will catch up some of her friends who've been doing all the grades.

Witchend · 04/04/2017 20:45

Dd1 started singing at age 8yo and went straight to grade 2 and got a merit. She then did one exam a year until grade 5 (when she had to pass theory so got a bit stuck!) She then went to grade 7 as it had taken her so long to get the theory.
However she was already grade 2 on piano (was always about 6 months further on) and her piano teacher did a lot of the other stuff with her so didn't need to work at things like aural etc.

Helenluvsrob · 05/04/2017 12:42

Fine to miss grades and IMHE teaches who are less fixated on grades are more fun and better teachers, you don't needto do a " grade a year" and spend all your time on the pieces that fill the technical requirements for ever step of the journey.

Flip