Hi all,

I took my grade 5 theory on saturday, initially it was to be mainly to enable me to do higher practical grades. However I enjoyed it (and now miss it) so much I'd like to do grade 6! My teacher has only done grade 5 herself, so wouldn't know some of the stuff I'd need to learn. But I learnt the material for grade 5 (from scratch) pretty much on my own anyway, she just looked through the book to make sure I was on the right track. Would it be possible to self-teach (with all the right books and some musically advanced people to ask questions if I needed to) or would it just be too hard?

Thanks!!

It's certainly possible to teach yourself to grade 6 theory standard - I did it last year! I've just done grade 7 (awaiting results) and have looked at grade 8 but decided I really need some help now. Why not get some books and past papers and start having a go? (See previous threads for suggestions). There are plenty of people here who can answer questions and help you along. Good luck!

Thanks! I got the Music Theory in Practice, it looks hard! But I think when you pair it with the AB guide it's probably pretty self explanatory. Not meaning to sound complacent though, I'm sure it'll be a challenge! I think i'll ask someone to look over the exercises anyway to check I'm not wrong!

The book with the big 6 on the front is good too. Make sure you check the up to date syllabus and some recent past papers - I gather some things may have changed slightly eg question format, since the Theory in Practice books came out. I've been through the orange Harmony in Practice book as well for grade 7. It covers more than you need for grade 6 and 7, but really useful. Armed with that lot, you can't really go wrong. It helps if you play the piano and can play through the harmonies etc that you have written. (Oops, not sure if you do!)

I'll have a look and see what's around! I don't officially play the piano, but I know where the notes are and I can play a few chords.

Grade 5 and 6 are both pretty different but it would be possible to DoItYourself, i'm sure. I just took grade 6 and had a one-hour lesson every fortnight which meant i was able to take it just 7 months after passing grade 5, but i'm not sure that teaching it to yourself would be so quick (not saying i've passed!) because I found it so different and new.
But it really depends on what you're good at and how hard you're prepared to work. It's certainly possible.
Good luck!

How do you know whether your teacher would know Grade 6 theory or not? I don't have any theory exams higher than Grade 5 but I should hope that my music degree and 12 years of teaching experience would mean I know enough to both take and teach Grades 6-8 theory.