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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

Do A-level colleges teach Music Theory to Grade 8 ?

30 replies

stickygotstuck · 30/04/2025 16:40

Just that.

DD wants to study Music A level, and also wants to get up to grade 8 in both her main instrument & theory.

I'm wondering if she should find a teacher who can teach her Theory to grade 8 (she has grade 5) or whether she would be able to learn at college as part of her course. Or at least have a teacher mark exercises/past papers in preparation for the exam.

Any experiences?

TIA 🙂

OP posts:

CantHoldMeDown · 30/04/2025 16:43

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Octavia64 · 30/04/2025 16:43

No.

PaintDecisions · 30/04/2025 16:51

I did Music A Level and none of the teaching was linked with ABRSM or other board at all. In fact, some students could barely play instruments - and very few of us anywhere near grade 8.

Somuchfree · 30/04/2025 16:54

I'm sure this varies by area. Where I live, all theory is done 'outside of school' by the same organisation that does all of the instrument tuition. It isn't ever done in school as part of A Level, though perhaps some colleges might.

Octavia64 · 30/04/2025 16:59

You can buy past papers with answers. There’s also workbooks for each grade of theory.

the Abrsm theory isn’t part of the a level music course.

some teachers (of instruments, not class teachers in a college) will teach theory either 1:1 or in small groups.

Original poster

stickygotstuck · 30/04/2025 17:33

Thanks everyone.

It's as I suspected, she'll have to do it outside college.

I'd have liked to think that she could self learn and ask her teacher for the occasional help.

DD is prone to overwhelm and we're looking to minimise the amount of stuff she'll be doing outside school. Oh well.

OP posts:

Jaxx · 30/04/2025 17:39

My son’s school ran Grade 5 Theory classes out of school hours by invitation, but this was considered unusual for a state secondary school. I don’t think I know anyone who went beyond grade 5 - including those who have gone on to study music at degree level and at conservatories.

He did most of his preparation in the summer before Y7 so didn’t do the school classes. We found the www.mymusictheory.com very good. They go up to Grade 8 so might be worth a look.

Original poster

stickygotstuck · 30/04/2025 17:42

Thanks for the link @Jaxx .

So it sounds as if Grade 8 theory can be slightly overkill then?

I think I'll look into the difference between G 6, 7 and 8.

OP posts:

Lightuptheroom · 30/04/2025 18:09

She doesn't need grade 8 theory. It's perfectly acceptable to do grade 5 theory, followed by A level music, followed by degree level study if that's what she wants to do. If she's looking to do degree level music then a decent grade in a 'supporting instrument' is also worth having. Why add unnecessary work to 3 A levels ?

Wigeon · 30/04/2025 18:13

Anything beyond grade 5 theory (which you need to do practical instrumental exams above grade 5) is massively overkill and irrelevant to A Level music. I have no idea why she'd do theory beyond grade 5 unless she has an obsession with theory. It would be extremely unlikely that school/college would teach ABRSM theory at any grade (unless they have a peripatetic teacher who offered grade 5 theory lessons).

She'd be much better off using the time she would have dedicated to theory in practising her instruments, being in ensembles and listening widely to music.

Wigeon · 30/04/2025 18:15

My DH, who teaches A Level music and is also an A Level examiner for one of the big exam boards, has a big workload as it is and wouldn't mark extra work unrelated to the course (even if you paid him). Maybe another teacher would be more generous but I doubt it.

WithOneLook · 30/04/2025 18:30

Honestly, many people who teach A level music wouldn't necessarily have the knowledgeable to teach grade 8 theory. There are very few reasons to go beyond grade 5 from an academic perspective insofar as you can access everything (degree study, diplomas etc) without it. That doesn't make it meaningless though and I was your daughter. I've actually got 5 grade 8s including music theory. What does your daughter want to go on and study post A level? I have no regrets doing the grade 8 theory but when I went on to do my degree I discovered that many music departments would take my grade 8 practical and theory instead of A level music so I wish I hadn't bothered with the A level and been able to study an additional subject to that level.

Original poster

stickygotstuck · 30/04/2025 20:02

Thanks everyone.

That's a good point about many teachers at A level college not having the knowledge to teach grade 8 theory.

To be honest, I think DD just wants to feel that she is progressing and learning, It's not as it she needs it for the A level or for future study right now. She's not great at independent study so she appreciates having the structure generally.

The suggestion that she concentrates on her second instrument instead makes sense.

OP posts:

Pythonesque · 30/04/2025 23:20

If she is interested in composition then she might enjoy doing more music theory. (especially in my opinion if she is a mathematical/logical type).

Grade 6+ theory in the ABRSM syllabus is essentially a different subject to grades 1-5 and is not easy to learn without help.

However other exam boards are better structured. If she has a look at the Trinity workbooks for theory she may find things she hasn't yet done from about grade 3 onwards, and to work through the relevant sections would be much more approachable than trying to start on ABRSM grade 6 immediately. That would help her work out if it was something she was keen on taking further.

Original poster

stickygotstuck · 01/05/2025 08:20

That's very interesting about Trinity v. ABRSM, thank you @Pythonesque . She's done all her exams so far with ABRSM but her accompanist suggested Trinity might be better. We aren't familiar with their stuff but worth considering.

And yes, she is interested in composition so that's a reason to progress with the theory side.

OP posts:

LadyJaneBlue · 01/05/2025 20:26

Unless your DD is a genius, at the level of Beethoven, she is not going to be able to "self study" for Grade 8 Music theory.

There have to be places she can gain some support for this though. Have you contacted the Royal College of Music or similar, to ask?

Octavia64 · 01/05/2025 20:28

My son self studied for grade 8 theory.

he is definitely not Beethoven.

he said it was all covered in his music degree anyway but it was nice to be a bit ahead.

Original poster

stickygotstuck · 01/05/2025 21:09

No, not a genius! But in any case, the idea would be for her to have some lessons, like she did for her grade 5. I am just surprised that it's not part of the A level.

I'm not sure DD wants to do a Music degree like Octavia's son, so all the more reason to do it now I guess.

OP posts:

WhisperingTree · 01/05/2025 21:15

Jaxx · 30/04/2025 17:39

He did most of his preparation in the summer before Y7 so didn’t do the school classes. We found the www.mymusictheory.com very good. They go up to Grade 8 so might be worth a look.

DC state school also does grade 5 theory. However I don’t think it’s very hard to find people to tutor it. Many people have done grade 5 theory because it’s needed for ABRSM instrument exams. I helped DC with the theory with the help of the workbook and answer book.

Grade 8 is an entirely different beast. I suspect very few people did theory beyond grade 5.

StrangewaysHereWeCome · 01/05/2025 23:45

My DC's state, non selective 6th form college offers g8 theory. All the music A level students are expected to do G5 if they don't already have it. If they do, they do g6 in y12 and assuming they pass, g8 in y13.

I'm sure it's nowhere near essential but she's found it really helpful for composition, which is a compulsory coursework element.

Original poster

stickygotstuck · 02/05/2025 17:19

Thanks Whispering and Strange ways . Sounds like your DCs are very lucky. Especially Strangeways's!

OP posts:

Malbecfan · 05/05/2025 14:53

I teach g5 Theory in my state school. Anyone who wants or needs to do it is welcome to join the group which runs at lunchtime. I reckon I can get 2 groups per year through it quite comfortably and I don't waste time ploughing through the workbooks. I go through question by question how to answer them then give lots of practice papers.

My old HoD used to teach g8 Theory in y12 - 13 alongside A level. Before A levels were "reformed" (thanks idiot Gove) there was more skill overlap and if a student missed a grade at A level, g8 Theory often got them onto the course. Whilst I understand it, I'm not confident enough in the content to teach it without some revision. I would, however, be happy to teach grades 6 or 7.

To the OP, why not look at grade 6 or 7? It shows commitment beyond the A level curriculum.

Original poster

stickygotstuck · 05/05/2025 21:59

Thanks @Malbecfan .
The old curriculum sounds better
Shame DD"s school doesn't teach it.

Yes, I think that's a good suggestion DD to aim for G 6/7.

OP posts:

Nat6999 · 05/05/2025 22:07

My neice got to grade 8 in theory & practical music, she had private lessons & her mum is a qualified music teacher, she is at a specialist performing arts college but I don't think they have done much to help her, just her parents paying for everything.

Throwawayagain1234 · 05/05/2025 22:08

Is there a reason she wants to do it? If it's because she adores every aspect of music and it's her life and she wants to become a composer as an adult then that is awesome and she should go for it. Otherwise in my long long life this was the hardest exam I ever scraped a pass at, and music was my all and my everything (musical grade 8s at 15 etc etc) and all I did in sixth form. I swear I am still twitchy about it to this day but it is one of my proudest achievements . Deffo try 6 and 7 to see if she really wants to do it first.

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