Are keyboard skills essential for grade 6 theory and above Options

[katemorrisviolin]

I'm contemplating doing some higher theory grades, purely for the fun of the mental challenge of it, but have no keyboard skills at all. As well as violin, I play bass recorder from the bass clef, and played classical guitar in the past so can hear chords in my head quite well....but is it unrealistic to expect to be able to progress to higher theory grades without some basic keyboard skills? Is it essential?
Kate

[Very Sane Tom]

I'm contemplating doing some higher theory grades, purely for the fun of the mental challenge of it, but have no keyboard skills at all. As well as violin, I play bass recorder from the bass clef, and played classical guitar in the past so can hear chords in my head quite well....but is it unrealistic to expect to be able to progress to higher theory grades without some basic keyboard skills? Is it essential?
Kate

Keyboard skills are not essential to learning advanced theory, but knowing the layout of the keyboard certainly help.

[BadStrad]

I am harmonically impaired - ie play a melody instrument, so hearing chords is hard for me, but I'm really enjoying higher level music theory. I tend to think of chords as being on a piano when I'm writing harmony, but I couldn't play them except REALLY slowly.

Go for it!

[BitterSweet]

Yes and no.

If you can play a chord on the piano - i.e. work out which three or four notes to press and press them all at once, then you've more than enough skills. You probably can also experiment with playing the chords on the guitar too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

You might, however, find something like Finale (a music writing programme) is useful for playing back things you've created to be sure the harmony works. In fact, the Trinity books recommend this method to non-pianists. If you have a teacher who plays, you could also ask them to check your work periodically.

[sbhoa]

Yes and no.

If you can play a chord on the piano - i.e. work out which three or four notes to press and press them all at once, then you've more than enough skills. You probably can also experiment with playing the chords on the guitar too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

You might, however, find something like Finale (a music writing programme) is useful for playing back things you've created to be sure the harmony works. In fact, the Trinity books recommend this method to non-pianists. If you have a teacher who plays, you could also ask them to check your work periodically.

I'm a pianist and though some basic study of keyboard harmony helped I never played back what I'd done for theory and my teacher didn't do so to check it. (got distinction at grades 6.7 and 8).

[BitterSweet]

Yes and no.

If you can play a chord on the piano - i.e. work out which three or four notes to press and press them all at once, then you've more than enough skills. You probably can also experiment with playing the chords on the guitar too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

You might, however, find something like Finale (a music writing programme) is useful for playing back things you've created to be sure the harmony works. In fact, the Trinity books recommend this method to non-pianists. If you have a teacher who plays, you could also ask them to check your work periodically.

I'm a pianist and though some basic study of keyboard harmony helped I never played back what I'd done for theory and my teacher didn't do so to check it. (got distinction at grades 6.7 and 8).

You're a pianist though. You will almost certianly have an inner ear for chords and harmony, and a sense of what makes sense way beyond those of us who play single line instruments or sing. I need the feedback to be sure I'm heading in the right direction because I don't play a harmony instrument to a level that's any use for advanced theory.

[katemorrisviolin]

thankyou very much for all your replies. Food for thought!