Anyone working toward Grade 8 theory exam for next year on their own??

i need some motivation to get started...

I'm trying to.
Not sure yet if I'll make it as far as 8, or whether I'll end up taking 7 instead though.

Which was the last theory grade you took?

T.

Hi Ifsy
Me too although I haven't done very much on it as yet. Finding it more difficult than Grades 6 or 7 - suppose I would do really wouldn't I, it ought to be harder!!!

I'm planning on doing grade 8 in November.

I passed my Grade7 this year.
Still contemplating to take it in November 2008.
But that really depends on how much work I did for it...

It seemed pretty daunting, but I would really want to take it.

My last grade was 5, but I've already covered the material for 6 plus a bit extra. So I need to work through the stuff for 7 before I can move on to 8. I'm going to see where I've got to after Christmas and probably take an exam at Easter. Either take 8 then (with the summer available for retaking it if necessary), or take 7 then so I'm fairly sure of passing /something/ and can then try for 8 in the summer if I do well at 7.

Did you study for 7 by yourself? How did you find it?

T.

I did Grade 7 on my own. To be honest I found it easier than Grade 6. I got stuck for a bit until I realised that I was just trying to make it harder than it actually was. When I got over that it was fine.

I submitted an application to do Grade 8 in November, after passing Grade 6 in April! Now decided to take Grade 7 instead. I will be changing my exam paper as soon as the confirmation comes through to me!! I found it to much of a bigger jump, and I am teaching myself! I passed grade 6 with professional teaching too, and I do miss that aspect. So for me, Grade 7 @ November + Grade 8 @ next Summer x x

My last grade was 5, but I've already covered the material for 6 plus a bit extra. So I need to work through the stuff for 7 before I can move on to 8. I'm going to see where I've got to after Christmas and probably take an exam at Easter. Either take 8 then (with the summer available for retaking it if necessary), or take 7 then so I'm fairly sure of passing /something/ and can then try for 8 in the summer if I do well at 7.

Did you study for 7 by yourself? How did you find it?

T.
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I had a teacher and passed with a 76. But I reckoned my overall grasp of Grade 7 theory isn't very strong.
Esp Q4 and Q5, where some of the questions are pretty subjective and require some deducing..

If I were to work on G8 by myself, I would have to first touch base with those my weak areas in the earlier grades.

Anyone thinks it's a good idea to work on those weak areas first?

I think it's a good idea to work on your weaker areas before moving on.
How was the spread of marks in your grade 7? Were there questions which you lost more marks for?

When I did my later theory grades I was pleased not only with my overall mark but also that there was no one question which lost me more marks than others. It made me feel that I had good understanding of the whole syllabus.

i think my weaker areas are on Q4 and Q5...questions like

-what era do you think this belongs too and why?
-which composer will likely compose this piece?

also I am having trouble remembering the range for instruments.
i'm doing some extra reading on music eras and such at the moment..

composing is also my bane. I tend to stick to very "safe" progressions.


any tips anyone?

For which era and why I tended to find it easier to say why it was not any of the alternatives if that makes sense.
There have been some good lists of features of music from different eras... maybe someone will find one of them. Some things you need to look at are texture, harmony, instrumentation.
For the possible composer you just need to choose the one that fits the era.

Safe progressions for composition sounds good to me. That's pretty well what I did and I only lost 2 or 3 marks on that question. I started with cadence points and then filled in the gaps. Then it was a case of juggling the notes to arrive at the cadences at the right time. If you can work a sequence into bars 5 - 8 it fills in that gap nicely and you can rework the beginning for the last 4 bars.
As well as sketching out a harmonic framework I sketched in the rhythm.

ah thank you sbhoa, I will keep those points in mind:)

Q1 12/15
Q2 13/15
Q3 15/20
Q4 19/25
Q5 17/25

That's how my marks were spread out in my G7 paper...lost marks mainly on Q4 and Q5.
but to be honest, i didn't really look over the paper.
Some family matters came up all within 3 days of the exam, i couldn't really concentrate on the paper.
I left slightly after 2 hours'.

still i am quite thankful to have passed the exam.

Grade 8...i shall plod on ....

Yes!! I just got my grade 8 theory result from this last term and I failed by just a couple of marks!! I'm sooo annoyed! So definitely going to do more work on my own and sit it as soon as possible in November!

Didn't you already pass G8 theory, Malone, or have I got you mixed up with someone else? *so confused*

You're right sarah, I have already passed it, but that was only just and was 4 years ago, so I was trying to get a better mark. A bit depressing to think I've got worse and I will persevere until I get that cheque from the AB!

Ahhh!

I guess the continuing work will improve your knowledge and understanding, and if the college will pay.... I'm not sure I could do it 3 times when I already knew I'd passed, but more power to you!!

What cheque? - hope this isn't being nosey.

You get a cheque if you get a distinction in the higher grade (6-8) theory exams, I think - something like that!

The cheque isn't from the ABRSM, it's the Hedy King Robinson award for theory.
In the Uk there is an award for distinction at grades 6 - 8 theory. How much you get depends on how many people in get distinction in the year you take the exam.

AWESOME!! This is definately another incentive to keep revising for my Grade 7 theory exam in November lol!

When do you get this cheque? I got a distinction at Grade 7 theory in February, but I haven't had anything?

Next year I think.
As far as I know they wait for the whole year's exams to be completed.

Wow, this is news to me - must try harder next time! (Grade 8 maybe November...)

Good luck!

I haven't summoned up the courage for grade 6 yet...

Oo, can't wait - **plans trip to Bahamas**

Yes, well, I would have done it normally, but the first time was on my own, well with a teacher, then at college it was offered, and paid for, so if we wanted to do it we could, if not, then no worries. But now I'm just so frustrated that I passed it with less work ages ago, and failed with what I thought was more beneficial work this time so was expecting something a little higher. I feel I have to do it again just to prove to myself that I can do it, get my confidence back etc etc.

can i tag along?

Of course you can I have a feeling though that the money involved probably won't even stretch to a meal out!

JMH, my cheque for grade 6 covered the cost of a couple of theory books for my (aborted) attempt at grade 7.

As to why the grade 7 attempt was aborted - that's a long and rather annoying story....