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Extra-curricular activities

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

Original poster

Circumventing Music Theory Grade 5

35 replies

JasmineOill · 08/09/2017 15:33

DS has just completed grade 5 clarinet and Guitar. He didn't sit music theory grade 5 exams. He had tried doing the lessons but it all got too much on top of his workload at school plus they kept changing the teacher, times etc. In the end ds completely lost any gusto for doing theory. His theory knowledge has however developed alongside his instrumental grades. His teacher advised for him to sit Jazz Clarinet to circumvent theory grade 5, this we were told will allow him to proceed to the next grade.

However ds has started senior school and is now being told he has to do theory grade 5. DS does not want to do this, he is not interested in becoming a professional musician etc, he just wants to enjoy playing music in bands whilst at school. Has anyone been in the situation?

OP posts:
number1wang · 08/09/2017 15:40

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number1wang · 08/09/2017 15:41

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Original poster
JasmineOill · 08/09/2017 15:44

Yes he has been doing ABRSM exams. What is 'practical musicianship?

OP posts:
Couchpotato3 · 08/09/2017 15:47

Or he could swap to another exam board e.g. Trinity College, who don't require Grade 5 as a prerequisite for higher grade practical exams.

Practical musicianship is quite tricky - it is a combination of various tests that includes sight-reading, aural skills, improvisation. Not many people take these exams, to be honest - it does require good all-round musicianship and some theoretical knowledge (eek!)

number1wang · 08/09/2017 15:53

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Original poster
JasmineOill · 08/09/2017 16:15

I think as he has already done Jazz Clarinet, I will present this to school that he should be able to carry on with grade 6 as per the link number gave. Thanks for that by the way, very useful.

OP posts:
Malbecfan · 08/09/2017 17:02

Maybe he doesn't want to be a professional musician but grade 5 Theory is incredibly useful and I recommend all my GCSE students work for it. I'm afraid that I can't be bothered with grinding through the books; instead we buy old papers and I teach them how to answer each sort of question. As long as they are proficient music readers and prepared to put the work in during the final run-up to the exam, we normally get them through it in 3 months.

As others have said, you can switch to Trinity Guildhall exams, but I hate people moving to them just to avoid theory. The aural tests at higher TG grades need a good all-round musical knowledge if you want top grades, so you need to put the work in somewhere.

Original poster
JasmineOill · 08/09/2017 17:31

DS is keen to stick with ABRSM, i've suggested switching to Trinity. I wish he could do it in 3 months! he might be able to but don't know if school will a crash course if you like, in theory. Will ask.

OP posts:
Icouldbeknitting · 08/09/2017 21:37

At 11 my son would not touch theory with a bargepole. As it worked out he took G5 theory two years after G8 practical (he did Trinity all the way through). He didn't much enjoy it then either but by then he recognised the need for it.

Grudging acceptance for it may come given time.

Noteventhebestdrummer · 09/09/2017 06:37

You can do theory lessons by email

HemiDemiSemiquaver · 09/09/2017 07:58

quite a few places do a week long intensive summer course

you can also get various books (different people like different ones - don't have to use the ABRSM ones) and work through it at his own pace, teaching himself

Also it is apparently a bit easier now with the changes for the next session (not according to ABRSM ,but according to the theory teachers I know!)

Original poster
JasmineOill · 09/09/2017 08:08

Thanks everyone this is great news. Smile

OP posts:
cantkeepawayforever · 09/09/2017 21:23

DS is a Trinity Jazz musician who has discovered that one of the music colleges he might want to go to to study jazz post 18 appears to require grade 5 Theory.

He'll do it if he has to - but as he has now done GCSE music, is studying A-level music + 2 Grade 8s, and has always done 'Musical knowledge' as 1 option in his Trinity exams, it will probably be easier than if he was doing it at the 'normal' time.

Trumpetboysmum · 09/09/2017 22:39

I also have a reluctant 12 year old ds. I think he will do the theory this year ( but will just get on with it he won't want to work his way through all of the books) but only because at the moment he has decided that he wants to go to music college and maybe a specialist music school Hmm at some point. He has grade 7 ( trinity) and may well do that for grade 8 anyway . Certainly the theory exam is useful for some pupils and it's good to have the theoretical knowledge but I think having grade 5 theory as an exam is over rated and I bet lots of children have passed it and then promptly forgotten it all - I know I did Grin surely it's better to enjoy playing and discuss and develop an understanding as you play / compose

Musicdoc · 10/09/2017 23:45

Trumpetboysmum snap! My 12yo DS has got G7 Trinity but we (his music teacher and I) are making him go for G5 theory this time... it's hard work but we have almost completed the first practice paper. Can't wait until it's all over Wink

Trumpetboysmum · 11/09/2017 12:38

We haven't got that far yet things keep cropping up but I'm putting it on his learning plan for his CAT place so he will have no choice but to get on with it !!

Moominmammacat · 13/09/2017 11:17

Malbecfan, why do you think Grade Five theory is incredibly useful?

raspberryrippleicecream · 14/09/2017 13:24

My oldest two have trinity Grade 8s and no Grade 5 theory, but both did a lot of the actual work. DS1 said it was really useful for GCSE music.

BeyondThePage · 14/09/2017 13:27

DD16 said she would not have got a high grade in her GCSE if she had not done a lot of the work with her piano teacher doing Grade 5 theory. ESPECIALLY the composition tasks and terminology.

Original poster
JasmineOill · 14/09/2017 16:00

Update **

A huge thank to Number again and for the link. Senior school have finally really that we were right, and you indeed can go on to do grade 6 if you've done Jazz in one of the recommended instruments. So relieved!

OP posts:
cantkeepawayforever · 14/09/2017 17:13

Beyond, DS - abovementioned Trinity Jazz exam taker - got an A* in his music in the summer, with the best marks being in the compositions.

So he may not have 'the piece of paper', but having 'Musical Knowledge' as an option in Trinity exams - and possibly particularly the Jazz thing of improvising from limited written musical information, which implies knowledge of key signatures etc - does mean that he has 'working knowledge of Music Theory equivalent to at least grade 5 level' IYSWIM?

Eroica · 14/09/2017 17:32

May I ask which theory books people recommend for G5? DD is doing Trinity in one instrument, so has avoided so far, but is currently preparing for G5 on her 2nd, doing ABRSM, so the theory will become relevant for us very soon. She is keen to do the theory, but I don't know where to start with materials. She's between teachers too, as she also has just begun secondary school.
Thanks.

number1wang · 14/09/2017 19:53

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Eroica · 14/09/2017 20:19

Thanks herts Smile

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