I'm slowly ploughing through this book. I like it, its informative and has loads of exercises, but hey its a text book - not much humour, it doesn't reply when I talk to it. Wondered if anyone else was using it and needed an online study buddy or such like?

Hi Muse

There are a few of us on here using Harmony and Practise, I must admit that I haven't put my head in it for a few weeks and keep promising myself to get back in it.

It would be great to have a study buddy, maybe it may make me make more of an effort.

Are you studying Grade 6?

ET

Officially I'm studying grade 6 but I am on the look out to pushing myself to do grade 7, I'm starting a university course in october, and I would like to have some grades before then - so I'm not overloaded with study LOL

But I am also studying grade 7 piano which takes up a lot of time. Even though I do enjoy learning theory - its difficult to juggle theory and practical exams. I do like to concentrate on one thing at a time! But alas I need to get stuck in really.

We could pm each other, or if others are interested perhaps a group? Or start or thread? Not sure really what do you think?

Hi muse, yes I've got the book and I'm using it to study for Grade 6. The way in which I'm using it is to start first with a topic in the ABC of Harmony book which covers the basics, and then I'm following up the basics with more detailed explanations of the topic in the Harmony in Practice book. It makes it a bit more manageable.


There's a Grade 6 support thread which Eldatom started called Who is Working on Grade 6 theory and we tend to chat on there about what progress we're making; I'm not sure who's doing Grade 7 though. Any specific questions we're stuck on, we've generally started separate threads so that we (and others) can search for the topic again at a later date.

See you again soon!

I've got is aswell and worked through it for a bit, but haven't done for a while now...

Hi muse - yes - I'm working from the Harmony in Practice book at the moment. I've just started on Part 3 in preparation for Grade 7 theory. I guess it's a good thing it doesn't talk back - or I wouldn't be able to concentrate It's a great book but I have to work in short bursts. The hardest part is playing all the progressions fluently without looking at the music - to be able to play by ear in all keys.

Thanks for the reminder. I am supposed to be working through it as well, and do actually like it. My next theory exam will be grade 7 but am not planning to take any more theory exams at the moment and am just concentrating on improving my playing (piano).

cambiata, I wish I could do that, I'm not that far advanced! I've been putting examples and answers into my Allegro Finale to listen to them quickly - Although it would help my playing and sight reading if I played the examples, I just don't have time with piano 7.

I am on the 4 part writing Exercise 19. But my answers always differ from the ones in the answer book - am I right in thinking that the answer book just contains examples of correct answers in some cases and not the only correct answer?

Yes.
This is where the eye of an experienced teacher comes in handy.
At least 2 of the first 3 questions on the grade 6-8 papers are like this and have more than one right answer (possibly all 3 at some grades?).

Grade 6 theory up is more difficult because we have to make more musical judgments about right and wrong answers - with help from harmony 'rules' - than in Grades 1 to 5 where there is usually only one 'right' answer. I found it very useful to go to a teacher, even though he is at a similar level to me, it helped me focus (and less lonely!), when I was dong my Grade 6. I have to say though that there are some strange answers in the orange answer book. For example, page 19, Exercise 33, chord iv has a doubled root and third and page 23 exercise 40, the chord v leading note in the Alto falls to the root of chord vi !! I guess we are allowed to break the rules when we know how to!

I have my first Grade 7 lesson next week

Interesting... I thought doubled thirds were ok, but we should avoid them and only double thirds when 2 octaves apart? I'm not sure about ex. 40, I'm not that far yet.

The stupid thing is, all the 'no no' chords are the ones I kind of like - they sound really interesting

Sorry muse - I wasn't clear - the example I was referring to has a doubled third and a doubled root which I thought was unusual - C C E E Usually only one note is doubled or if fifth is omitted you can triple the root.





and yes - you can double the third - as long as you never double the leading note

You can double a major third only when 2+ octaves apart.

You can double the minor third.

You can ALWAYS double the fifth (it's the only 1 you can double in 2nd inversion I think)

Think there's lots of rules? I just started counterpoint, AAAAHHHH!!!!

hey do you think tis book covers everything for grade 7 and grade 8 theory?