Who's going for any theory exam this November?

I plan for Grade 5. Actually I'm doing it whatever happens. And that I hope is a certainty.

I'm still working through the G5 book, but it's all right, and I'm determined, so I'll be fine (I hope) when the time comes.

Pianoboe x

LIST OF TAKERS

Grade 1 - 2childmum's son, Mark Carline

Grade 2 - Mimimelody, Becca77

Grade 4 - Skylark, Car Expert, KixMusic's daughter, Eldatom.

Grade 5 - Pianoboe, Miss Ross, Robodoc, Notmusimum's daughter, Flutecake, Singerpianist, Looneytunes, Rachyroo, bflat, Rosie91, Nomad248, Chris H's son

Grade 6 - ben_walker446, Queen Jess, Violinandpianogurl

Grade 7 - AP + YAP (?), Hils

Grade 8 - Malone

Is that all of us so far?

I'm doing Grade 7 in November. Passed Grade 6 last season. It is a bit of a jump between the two, but I'm enjoying the challenge. 89 days to go!!

I'm hoping to sit Grade 5 Theory in November. (That's if I'm not swayed towards PM instead ).

I've not done a Theory exam before though so I have no idea what to expect, other than the past papers obviously.

I'm still working on it too, pianoboe, but so far I've been surprised at how much I've picked up over the years, and also having done Higher Music I had to know quite a bit already.

I know it's still pretty far away but - 'Good Luck' everyone!

My son is hoping to take grade 1 (he is 9). The idea was to go through it all this holiday but we are half way through and not done much - to be fair he know a far bit already from school music lessons, so we need to fill in the gaps and practise some questions - still not sure if we will make it!

Might have a bash at grade 6. Not expecting anything good though....probably fail it, but it's worth a try

Grade 5 theory: 5 pm. Wednesday, 7th November. Should pass. Working to make sure though.

I'm going to do Grade 4

"affettuoso : tenderly
affrettando : hurrying
amabile : amiable, pleasant
appassionato : with passion

(G4 Theory terms! I thought I'd try this way of learning them )"

Hope you don't mind me reproducing your signature, but it reminded me of how I learned some of the theory terms for Grade 7. I couldn't remember all the various terms for using a mute on an instrument. It seemed to be different for each instrument. So I looked them all up and then put them all on my screensaver. Then, whenever I wandered into my study all these theory terms would be floating by on my screen

I may do Grade 8 - not getting on very well with it at the moment so may defer until February.

I've got a probable grade 5 entry this term. She's mainly teaching herself, but is well motivated. I've told her to bring her theory stuff next lesson so she can show me it and I can give her some guidance.

I keep toying with grade 8 theory too!

I'm hoping to do Grade 4...

Car Expert

I think I know those terms now and I've changed my signature to the next batch Affrettando was a musical horse a few weeks ago as well so I'd already learnt that one Once I've learnt them, I'm transferring them to my profile so that I can keep having a quick look at them....

(Wasn't there a thread about "what's the saddest thing you've ever done")

Grade 8 in November...Again!

Rightio, looks like there's 9 of us so far...

I've brought my theory books with me to France, so I can study while here.

Anyone G6-8 got one of these new workbook malarkeys?

My youngest daughter's joining you Pianoboe doing Grade 5 theory. She's also looking a Pratical Musicianship. Like you she's only part way through the book. My eldest wants to take it as well but she's not even started G5 yet.

I have one for grade 8 and find them more useful than the theory in practice books. There is less text in it, more examples and more to to in it. I suppose that makes sense as it is a workbook.

The Josephine Koh books are quite useful too. And if you are new to proper harmony writing etc including cadential 6-4s , passing 6-4s etc etc then the A and B books from the ABC books of Harmony are really good for concentrating specifically on these.

I'm having a bash at Grade 8 in November.

I did grade 5 at age 64 got 90marks I have been through grade 6 old papers with my teacherwho is a hard marker fall down on the composition mostly. I am not going to take grade 6 as 3 hours I feel is expecting to much now I am 67 I have now started the work for grade 7 just for fun !

I am only grade 3or 4 practically elisabethann

11...

The closing date is some time in September so we've got a while really!

Malone - and they look nicer... I'm sorry but what is with the colours of all the others????

Car expert has handily informed me (on another thread) that:

The UK postal application deadline is September 21st, while the online application deadline is the week after on the 28th.

The Republic of Ireland postal deadline is the 17th.

So yes we have over a month to apply.

How much theory do you guys do in the lead up to the exam? This will be my first theory exam.

At this stage I would hopefully be on past papers.
I would want any theory students to have completed at least one set of past papers by the closing date and to have scored 80+ on most of them for me to be happy about putting in the entry.

That's organised . I'd usually decide to do the exam on or a few days before the 28th, and then start looking at materials and working towards it .

I'm really worried...

Apparently, for one of the courses I want to apply for at uni I need to have passed grade 8 violin by the UCAS deadline - January. I can't sit grade 8 until I pass theory, so there's no way I can do it . Oh dear.

You could do Trinity grade 8 rather than ABRSM, thus bypassing the theory requirement .

Good idea, I'll look into it.

I just checked the prospectus and it's only if I wanted to apply for Music (Performance) that Gde 8 is required. It's just plain old Music I'd like to do but still, it would be good to prove that I can pass the exam. Thanks YAP.

You still gonna do theory though? ^^

My teacher said she refused to enter me until I'd done at least one theory past paper with a pass or merit and then it would be okay. Thus, I'm going to sort it on my own, as as far as I'm concerned, she's only taught me intervals at G3 standard...and I've done the rest, so I don't think it's really up to her. I'm not the sort of person to enter for something unless I think I'll be okay to do it, and I think I could do pretty well on a past paper if I took one this second, as the only thing I have left to finish is the cadences and there's loads more melody writing, though I know what I'm doing there. All in all, I think I'll do okay, apart from learning all those words, which could be slightly problematic, but its only 1 or 2 marks, so hey. So I should be okay, I hope. What do you think?

Anyway, it's 23:15 here in France, so I'm off to bed. Good night all!

I look at past papers from last year, and the year before that! Get a couple of recommended books to do with the grade your taking, and revise, revise, revise! Start as early as possible - as soon as you know you are going to do an exam, prepare yourself for it there & then.

82 days until November 7th, 5pm!

My daughter (10) is going to do a theory exam this term, just not sure whether to do G3 or G4. She can pass G3 papers now and has a good understanding. She also works hard so at the moment she is doing about an hour of theory a day (its holiday time and she's an only child so does get a bit bored).

Would any of you take a chance and push for G4 (as there are over 80 days to go!) or just play safe and do G3? And, if we do G3 but carry on working will she get confused about how to answer the G3 questions if working at G4? (ie give too much or the wrong sort of information)

There is no real rush but she is keen to pass her G5 theory by the time she goes up to secondary school (she will start Y6 in September) as the workload will be greater then. She is also hoping to do her G7 trombone in the summer (she has done G6 with TG and liked the exam board but likes some of the pieces on the AB g7 list better! )so will need her theory to do this.

Any advice greatly received!

I think she would be better off pushing on and going for grade 4. After all, the aim here is to get grade 5, so she only needs a pass at grade 4. I think there is a possibility of her 'over complicating' some grade 3 questions if she is already doing grade 4 (my children have certainly done that!). Still several weeks of summer holidays to go. I've managed to cover most of the grade 4 syllabus with my daughter in a few weeks (admittedly she's a bit older - 13). Go for it!



I'll be having a crack at grade 8 in November..

And me! Shall we start a support group??

hillyb

Just got 74 on my first grade 6 practice paper...so might have a stab at it in November

Help! I remember what happened the last time there was a massed group of forummers taking a theory exam (but at least I got a shiny Grade VI certificate out of it ).

Hmmm....there's an idea....

I'd join in too - but I might have to wait until Easter 2008 before I take Grade 8 theory. Will keep in touch on here though - once I get down to some serious work after my holiday.

Yeah, go on! You know you want to!!

Go on, it'd be great to support each other through the winter months.

If you can support your daughter I would say push for G4 as it is worthwhile to have had one "practise exam" before the big G5!
My 9 year old daughter was in same position and passed with distinction at G4. She took G5 the term after and also got a distinction too.
It is also a good idea to start to learn those italian terms early, maybe 10 a day, as ours was a first introduction to learning foreign languages and provided the biggest learning curve.

I'm sure there's another thread running on this! (ie grade 8 theory)

You're probably right

I should be able to support her - if she lets me! - as I am a brass peri so the plan is that I will continue teaching her myself. I like the idea of the 10 a day italian terms. That could be a fun thing to do - I can see some reward options here (such as learn 10 a day, test them on a Sunday and she gets 10 per for each correct word - she doesn't get pocket money so shouldn't break the bank!)

I learn all the Grade 5 theory terms today in the car to Leonardo da Vinci's castle and back! Quite pleased with myself... Took a while though, and it was about 1hr 15 mins car journey either way. Ahh, happy, happy, happy!

Soo, how is everyone going on the theory front... I've finished all the topics in the book, but left about 1/2 questions on each topic, so if I forget it I have something to do. Onto practice papers! Is it worth getting any other type of theory books before September?

Pianoboe xxx

EDIT - If I've missed you off the list - TELL ME!!

I knew there was something I've been meaning to do. I will get back into theory, I will, honest.

<She says, typing from underneath a mountain of novels>

Calm child calm, calm. The world is not going to end because you haven't done your theory. Well, actually it might in November. But not now.

Can you place a question mark besides my name please? Thanks!

Car Expert

Sure will!

Why the questioning, may I ask?

I'm getting a new teacher in September, so they may or may not decide to enter me in November (as teachers are usually not keen on entering pupils for exams in the very first term). I got over 80 marks in the first past paper I did which my previous teacher marked, so that's a good thing. Am still working on past papers (finally got the hang of intervals ).

Car Expert

Hey, mate, I haven't started my first past paper yet! So you're steps ahead of me. But gotcha point, so we'll wait and see!

Can you put KixMusic's daughter down for G4 plese - we'll just go for it!
She really likes the idea of 10 italian terms a day with at test (and money!) on a Sunday, so it may be expensive for me after all

Sorted!

How old is your daughter?

she is 10. starts Y6 in September

I may possibly give grade 7 a shot, but that is only if I am highly intoxicated whilst doing my entries...