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Extra-curricular activities

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

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Original poster

Skipping Grade 1 piano?

34 replies

PyjamaMamma · 30/09/2021 12:12

Hi there - just looking for a bit of advice. DD started learning the piano last October and according to her teacher was ready for the grade 1 exam over summer. I booked the exam but DD decided she didn't want to take it, so I cancelled. DD's teacher was not best pleased but accepted that DD was anxious about it and they continued to practice with a view to take the exam this autumn instead.

Last week her teacher told me the exam bookings would open this week and asked me to book it. I asked DD if she was ok to take the exam this time and she said she wouldn't mind taking the exam but isn't bothered by having the certificate. Then she had a piano lesson yesterday and her teacher offered two options: taking the exam in November (she is ready for this) or skipping grade 1 and going straight for grade 2 next summer. DD is happy to just skip ahead and prepare for the summer exam.

Now, I am not a musical person and don't have much of a clue about exams at all, so I would like to ask all you knowledgeable people if there are any advantages to having all grades or if it's fine to skip. Is grade 1 particularly important? Any advice welcome. Please and thank you

OP posts:

underneaththeash · 30/09/2021 12:13

I think it's a good idea to do grade 1, even it's it just to get used the format of the exam (especially if she was nervous last time).

VimFuego101 · 30/09/2021 12:19

I agree, I would treat grade 1 as a practise run.

whiteroseredrose · 30/09/2021 12:20

DS skipped various grades as he went along. I don't think it is that unusual.

purplesequins · 30/09/2021 12:21

I would take it as practice run.

polar81 · 30/09/2021 12:26

My daughter DD (then 7) started the piano at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 and took her grade 1 in December 2020. She has now skipped grade 2 and is taking grade 3 piano in December 2021. She's really keen to take the exams and has played lots of other non-grade material too, so skipping has worked best for her. If she wants to do more grades after this, then I imagine she'd go for grade 5 next.

Incidentally, I learnt piano and clarinet as a child/ teenager and only ever took grade 5 and then 8 on both- it seemed rare for anyone to sit every grade exam.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 30/09/2021 12:32

No need to take any grades. As long as your DD's teacher has covered the grade 1 syllabus in terms of sight reading, scales and aural it isn't a problem.
DS1's first piano grade was grade 3, his first saxophone grade was 4 and DS2's first organ grade was 7.

Musictimesthree · 30/09/2021 12:33

My children have skipped grades as they’ve gone along but did grade 1 in each instrument. I think it was important in getting them used to exams and building confidence for the future.

Original poster

PyjamaMamma · 30/09/2021 12:38

Good point about being a practice run, thank you. I had read that is more usual to skip the even numbered exams but wasn't sure if there was a case for skipping others. She definitely seems more relaxed at the thought of the exam now than she was back in June though, which is probably a good sign (for taking the exam).

OP posts:

chesirecat99 · 30/09/2021 12:38

It's fine and common to skip. When I was learning, some instruments started at grade 3, there were no grade1/2 exams, eg woodwind.

Although, if she was nervous before but she seems happier to take it now, maybe it's not a bad idea to give it a go for "fun"? Perhaps pitch it as a trial to see if she likes exams?

Comefromaway · 30/09/2021 14:05

It sounds like your daughter isn't really fussed to taking exams at all. In which case just let her have the lessons without the pressure (and expense) of the exams,

Brigittebidet · 30/09/2021 14:07

@Comefromaway

It sounds like your daughter isn't really fussed to taking exams at all. In which case just let her have the lessons without the pressure (and expense) of the exams,

Good point well presented, they are not cheap. If she's not fussed then I wouldn't worry about it. If she is, then it's fine to skip exams - you don't have to have them all. I only started on Grade 3 clarinet and then stopped at 5 when I realised I had to do theory after that

HarrisMcCoo · 30/09/2021 14:08

@whiteroseredrose

DS skipped various grades as he went along. I don't think it is that unusual.

Agree with this. DS didn't need to do grade 1 and 2 for flute....he sat grade 3 and passed without a problem.

HarrisMcCoo · 30/09/2021 14:10

Some piano tutors do say it's entirely your call if you want to sit exams. Your playing isn't defined by a certificate. I play piano for fun. Your DD will get there in her own time. If she's not bothered about the exam just leave it til she is a few grades in. No rush.

Original poster

PyjamaMamma · 30/09/2021 14:42

@Comefromaway

It sounds like your daughter isn't really fussed to taking exams at all. In which case just let her have the lessons without the pressure (and expense) of the exams,

That is it, she isn't fussed, at least not for now. I will have a word with her tonight and see if she'd like to go for a trial run or just leave it for now. Thanks everyone

OP posts:

Comefromaway · 30/09/2021 14:50

In future years it might be useful. Ds is currently about to apply for music degree courses and I made him take Grade 5 theory a couple of years ago as many places ask for it. But he hasn't actually taken any grade exams at all. It's useful to know roughly what standard you are playing at for applications to courses/ensembles but you don't actually need the certificate. That can be determined at auditions.

PeppermintMocha · 30/09/2021 15:04

If she might want to take exams later, and if she is the sort to get nervous about them, then taking Grade 1 could be really useful. the examiner knows it's the first one, they'll be extra kind, and it will be (hopefully) be a nice gentle start. If you wait until she is really ready to take it (a bit advanced for Grade 1 even) then she will find the sightreading and scales etc all quite easy, and that will make it go quite smoothly.

If she doesn't care about exams and isn't likely to ever want them, or if she might want them in the future but isn't the sort to get worried or nervous about them, then save the money and wait!

Nobody needs to take any exams, unless for a few things they require evidence of a particular level. Usually auditions and teacher reports are what shows how you can play, if you are going for something like that.

But it can be a useful thing to get you used to performing, doing tasks that aren't in your comfort level, preparing, dealing with nerves, making you learn pieces that you wouldn't have chosen etc. I refused all exams in one of my instruments, and really wished later that I hadn't, as I am still very bad at any kind of performance or audition, and never feel that I'm confident enough with some of the technique.

NautaOcts · 30/09/2021 15:18

I’m a bit envious! We have the most ‘thorough’ slow piano teacher in the world. Dd1 learnt with her for 3 years before taking her grade 1 (and only dropped 2 marks from a perfect score she was so over ready) then of course wanted to give up when she went to secondary.
Now dd2 has been learning for 3.5 years and hAsnt taken it. It’s driven me mad and I feel like we’ve picked the wrong teacher. She’s very thorough about hand position, technique etc and also likes them to do theory. Probably good if they’re going to be concert pianists but I think the problem is that if they don’t get enough under their belt by secondary school they lose interest and give up. She’s always said they take a long time to get to grade 1 then they go quickly from there but now hearing of people getting there in 6 months….

Silverdorkinghen · 30/09/2021 15:23

Grade 1 and grade 2 are very similar for the piano. Our kids teacher often has them doing grade 1 and then straight onto grade 3. I can’t see any harm in just going straight to grade 2 if she’s ready for grade 2 level. There is a performance version of the piano exam too. No scales/sight reading etc and play 4 pieces in a row whilst recording them (so can’t keep playing one till get best performance- have to play all 4 in one sitting) and send the recording in.
Hope that makes sense. It’s a way of passing the grades with out the whole going to send an examiner set up. One of our kids likes the exam set up so will continue with that. Another doesn’t so is going to try the performance version instead.

SomePig · 30/09/2021 15:31

Former piano teacher here. I skipped straight to grade 6 as a kid. My own kid went straight to grade 5. It’s fine to skip. Bear in mind though that they’ll need grade 5 theory if they want to do grade 6 (didn’t realise this and we are now plugging through the music theory grades as quickly as we can so as to get to grade 5 😩 and it’s a right faff)

Original poster

PyjamaMamma · 30/09/2021 16:44

@NautaOcts

I’m a bit envious! We have the most ‘thorough’ slow piano teacher in the world. Dd1 learnt with her for 3 years before taking her grade 1 (and only dropped 2 marks from a perfect score she was so over ready) then of course wanted to give up when she went to secondary. Now dd2 has been learning for 3.5 years and hAsnt taken it. It’s driven me mad and I feel like we’ve picked the wrong teacher. She’s very thorough about hand position, technique etc and also likes them to do theory. Probably good if they’re going to be concert pianists but I think the problem is that if they don’t get enough under their belt by secondary school they lose interest and give up. She’s always said they take a long time to get to grade 1 then they go quickly from there but now hearing of people getting there in 6 months….

DD is fairly musical but I think the fact that she’s older (started learning when she was 11, her first piano book was called something like piano for the later beginners 😂) helps her - plus she knew how to read music a little because she’s learned a bit of guitar before, which I’m sure helps too. Her lessons are through her school via the local council’s music service, so we were allocated a teacher rather than picked one, iyswim, but she’s got a great pace - they probably know what to do to keep preteens interested

OP posts:

languagelover96 · 01/10/2021 13:24

Do it as a practice warm up run. It is not uncommon to skip grades however. My sister skipped grade one and went straight onto two.

Incognito22333 · 01/10/2021 13:29

You can skip all lower grades but I would advise against skipping grade 6, 7 and 8. For his first instrument, my DS did do all grades but second instrument only grade 2 and 5. My other ds who is 7 went straight to grade 2 violin, then grade 3 and now on grade 4. Dd also did all grades on first instrument but only 2 and 5 on second and then 6,7,8 on both. She has friends who did nothing but grade 8 too. It doesn’t really matter, grades are expensive and for some kids like mine they are good structure and incentive to practise but other kids hate them/too nervous etc all fine. But if you don’t do many grades try and do little performances to friends and family for confidence building

thirdfiddle · 01/10/2021 18:38

Divided opinions!
I would say skip.
If she was ready in the summer she'll be sick of the pieces by the time exam comes round this term. Specially being an older learner she'll probably be able to move along quickly, as she has so far.
Re a test exam, any grade can be easy if you leave it late enough. I'm not a huge exam fan but if you're going to do them my teacher and Dd's both had approach of wait till you're a bit more than on top of the difficulty level so you can pick up the pieces fast and concentrate on performance quality.

honkytonkheroe · 03/10/2021 07:29

It’s not at all unusual to skip grades. My son was ready for his grade 4, then COVID happened and he has moved on to his grade 5. Therefore, grade one for her could be a good practice run. However, exams really aren’t for everyone and mean nothing. For example, my son’s teacher does teach a little too much for the exam. He is 10 and preparing for his grade 5, because as he finishes one grade he moves on to the other. There’s a lot to be said for just learning to play lots of pieces of music well and improving sight reading. He enjoys his lessons and that is the main aim but grades aren’t everything.

Original poster

PyjamaMamma · 04/10/2021 11:05

Hi everyone, I just wanted to thank you all for your help - while I was here dithering about what to do, DD and her teacher talked among themselves and decided to go ahead with Grade 2. Guess my opinion was actually not necessary after all .

OP posts:

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