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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

Am I being unreasonable (ahem) to think that the only music theory exam you actually need to take is Grade 5?

19 replies

Katisha · 25/03/2010 19:06

DS's piano teacher insists on plodding through every grade and now every grade of theory.

I seem to remember only bothering with Grade 5 theory so as to get onto the rest of the instrumental exams but I can see DS is going to be expected to do every single one. I didn't do every single practical exam either.

Is there any point? I suspect there will be a fuss if I object and actually I dont really have any particularly fine argument against - just that it doesn't seem necessary...

OP posts:

CarGirl · 25/03/2010 19:07

I don't see the point of actually doing the theory exams either. yes it's better/good to learn the theory as you go along but pay out for even more exams, erm no thanks!

gerontius · 25/03/2010 19:08

Nope, you only need to do Grade 5. The others aren't really very much use. Although I suppose Grade 8 looks good.

caffeineaddict · 25/03/2010 19:10

I'm with CarGirl. All my lot just did grade 5 - and just achieved pass mark. But it means they can go on to do instrumental exams beyond grade 5. It'd be a bit grim plodding through every theory grade - and expensive.

tummytime · 25/03/2010 19:12

No. Grade 5 theory lets you do the higher instrumental grades but otherwise theory is not relevant and could risk them turning off completely. Well, it did with me anyway.

frakkinaround · 25/03/2010 19:14

Grades 5 and then 8 are the only ones really worth doing. 6 and 7 are probably good to do if you doubt you'll make it to 8 as they look good on a UCAS form. Also as foundation for a music degree they're pretty handy. I used to put students in for 3 as well to give them a sense of achievement, see what they'd absorbed and give them practice at taking an exam but I taught theory separate to an instrument.

Is she doing all the exams or just working through the books? I definitely worked through all the books but the exams are just nice bits of paper.

PineapplePoll · 25/03/2010 19:16

My DD has just done Grade 5 Theory having worked through all the books in the past year or so, and we're hoping she's passed.

Learning theory alongside all the practical grades is probably a good idea rather than rushing through it all at once, but there's no need to sit all the exams.

Original poster

Katisha · 25/03/2010 19:19

Yes I think its a good idea to work through the books but the teacher wants to put them in for every exam as well.
She doesn't really do flexible...

But I not sure how much its worth making a stand, given that she'll get The Hump.

OP posts:

notanidea · 25/03/2010 22:02

my dd is 9 doing grade 3 piano/grade 4 cello.We have agreed that she needs a good basic music theory knowledge so it is not a shock to her when she has to do her grade 5 theory. So she just does the previous exam papers and couple of relevant grade music theory exercise books.When the teacher thinks that she is getting the knack of doing the previous paper - she scores the paper(mock exam but no time limit to do the paper at home) and moves her to the next grade. She does not do the exams.IMO children do not need so many exams so early in their lives.

thirtypence · 27/03/2010 05:47

Yes to working through the books and doing a specimen paper for each grade - no to shelling out money for the exam. The only time I think it would be worth it would be if you were going for a music scholarship.

brassband · 28/03/2010 14:39

My DS has done no exams at all.But now at grade 5 has done his first practical exam.But his theory is WAY behind and it is quite a shock to have to get up to grade 5 !So I do think they should at least study the theory even if they don't do the exam

PixieOnaLeaf · 28/03/2010 14:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

thirtypence · 28/03/2010 20:34

I make all the pupils do the work for grade 1 as it's a great way to check that they actually know what a bar line etc. is rather than me ask them every week.

abride · 28/03/2010 20:45

We have done grades 1,2 and 3 with my daughter, with me teaching her at home. She has loved it and started early, at about eight, to get used to the idea of sitting the exams. Now we're skipping from grade 3 to grade 5

It's much easier to learn it little by little for young children. My daughter is 11 now and looking forward to sitting grade 5 in the next year.

basildonbond · 30/03/2010 10:40

can you change piano teacher? I had to do grade 8 theory but that was because I was in the junior dept of the Royal College of Music and we all had to ... it was dull, dull, dull (although I enjoyed the composition bits) but also incredibly easy if you're good at music - and then you've got another grade 8 on your CV (not that I've ever put it on there )

seriously, if your ds's piano teacher has a different exam philosophy to you, you might well be better off changing to someone more in line with your way of thinking

Kammy · 02/04/2010 16:03

I think it also depends on how far your ds wants to go - higher grade theory is useful for analysing music at higher practical grades, and pretty helpful for aural tests too. Also depends on how interested he is!
However, don't see the logic of ploughing through each grade regardless.

snorkie · 02/04/2010 17:32

It's not necessary, children don't need to do so many exams that young, and the costs and inconvenience of sitting the actual exams is also a big consideration. Surely you can construct a fine enough argument out of that?

ds went straight in at grade 5 & got a distinction - he recommends the book 'Take 5 and pass first time' btw.

gramercy · 13/04/2010 17:25

Ds has done Grade 3 theory onwards. I suppose it's easier to learn a bit at a time than do it all in one lump. It also means he's been used to sitting in an exam hall from the age of 9. Although he found doing the music theory homework a pain, he actually enjoyed sitting the exams!

Drayford · 14/04/2010 10:27

Grade 5 is perfectly adequate (IMHO).

My DD is just about to take Music A level and hopes to study music at uni - grade 5 was considered more than adequate by her tutors, music teachers and unis as she's covered way beyond that at A level.

Same with DS who will be staring music A level next year. Grade 5 has helped him with his music GCSE but A level will be more demanding.

Neither of my DC bothered with grades 1 - 4 Theory as they have been fortunate to have excellent teachers of music as a subject at school and both have had fantastic instrumental and vocal teachers who have made theory part of their lessons.

maggiethecat · 14/04/2010 22:05

Drayford, seeing you here has reminded me that I need to send message to HQ to ask if they would add music books as category for sale/wanted. How do I get in touch with them? (sorry if I'm asking the obvious)

I'm still looking around for Ronald Smith's aural training in practice grades 1-3 book and CD and cannot for the life of me see any sensibly priced used copies online and am thinking that there must be loads of these lying around unused which could bring someone some extra cash.

Pls do also add your request.

Cheers

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