I heard somewhere that the step between grade 5 and grade 6 theory is quite big.....is this true?? It's just because I'm working towards grade 5 for Christmas, and was wondering if I could work through grade 6 to do instead, but if it's a big jump, then maybe not.

After grade 5 it's different.
Up to grade 5 is largely practical, everyday theory.
Grades 6 - 8 go much more into harmony and more knowledge of music generally.
If you've already been learning this then it's more likely you'd be able to pick it up quickly.

I got 98 for my grade 5 and didn't even understand the questions when I first looked at a grade 6 paper.

I just got the Grade 6 Music Theory In Practice book and so far it is completly baffling me. For me it seems like a huge leap, especially as i am trying to teach myself when i have had a teacher for theory until now.

It might be useful to get hold of the Theory Workbook (with a big 6 on the front).
There are not a lot of material differences but questions 4 and 5 have a different format now and the minimum compositon length has changed.
Some people also find some of the explanations clearer.

If you've done no harmony before you might find it useful to start by working through one of the harmony workbooks... I don't remember the titles but I'm sure someone will be along who does.

Grade 6 is completely different to grade 5. I'm just working on grade 6 at the moment and at times I wish I'd never started.

I completely agree. After grade 5, i really liked theory, but grade 6 is much more complicated and (in my opinion) all the worse bits of grade 5 taken to new and confusing levels. Composistion etc isn't really my thing, so i gave it up as a bad job after about a year's work.

I'm wondering if it helps to have an understanding of the piano for G6 and above...? And do non-pianists have to learn at least some fundamentals about the piano in order to make G6+ more comprehensible...?

I don't think it's essential.
Though my theory teacher did do some keyboard harmony with me which helped me to understand better how and why some progressions actually worked.

For G6+, is it advisable *not* to try and teach yourself, but to have regular lessons with a teacher and with access to a piano?

There's no way that I could have done it on my own but some people have managed quite well.

I don't think I'll be one of them I'm not sure the teacher who I see for occasional lessons teaches the higher levels but I think I know another teacher who does and who has a piano as well. Thank you for the advice.


Singerpianist - best of luck whichever grade you decide to go for

I play the piano and still can't really do it, although it might help a bit.

Not sure about theory (probably not doing it) But my teacher is pretty sure once I get my g5 theory sorted I'm moving straight onto g7 and am skipping 6. In practical my teacher considers it to be a small leap.

I've got the workbook for 6...and havelooked and went 'What?!'