On Average..., ..how long does it take to do each grade? Options

[Piano_Princess]

I started playing the piano a year ago, and I'm taking my grade 4 next month....I want to be a music teacher when I'm older and therefore in 3 years time will need to be at grade 8 standard to get accepted into university for a music degree.

Just out of interest, how long has it taken everyone on average to do their grades.....I know it depends on the person and the practise, but I just wanted a rough idea on whether I'd make it grade 8 in 4 years or not!

Laura

[jojo]

Just out of interest, how long has it taken everyone on average to do their grades.....I know it depends on the person and the practise, but I just wanted a rough idea on whether I'd make it grade 8 in 4 years or not!

Laura

why not? with a lot of motivation/practice? go for it!!!! I am sure that it is possible to be done. I know I couldn't do it but that's because I hold a full time job, work overtime and look after 3 children!! so I only have 30 minutes a day to dedicate to piano and 30 to violin (more at times of luck), but if you don't have all that to hold you down then 'the world is your oyster'!

[sarah-flute]

"it depends" is the really unhelpful answer... if you practise a lot, enjoy it, work hard, and take every opportunity to be better, then yes it's possible. It depends on the work you put in, how good your teacher is, and your natural talent/aptitude for the instrument. I know one person who got G8 within a year of starting formal tuition (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) but then on the other side there's me who has been playing more or less for 18 years (with large chunks of time off) and will probably never reach those giddy heights!

[KixMusic]

I'd say that it depends on the individual's own drive, determination and abilty.

I have taught privately and peripatecially for the last 10 years. I had a young boy who started the cornet in yr 2 and passed G1 with disctinction within 9 months. He then continued this level of progress and passed G5 with distinction at the age of 10. He is now a music scholar at his secondary school and hasn't done a grade since his G5 which I entered him for. Although I still teach him, I am mindful of his obligations to the school and so try not to "get in the way" and just support his learning. I was, however, agast to learn that I had been preparing him towards G7 (which is where he SHOULD be at now as he is coming to the end of Y7) and his school based teacher was only looking at G6 stuff. This is a very bright young man who is in the NCO and is a talented little player. I have felt him drifting over the last academic year and in order to keep him focused I have entered him for a number of festivals - all of which he has performed very wel at. If he is not pushed now I fear that he will lose interest, which would be a great shame!

If you have the willingness to learn and want it badly enough then you should go for it and work towards that G8.

All the best!

K

[Andy W]

I know people who have reached a high standard of playing after a few years playing so it is possible but it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Good Luck (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piano.gif)

[Morgan's Munchkin]

It really does depend on how much work you put in, and also how well suited you are to the instrument.

For example, with me, I have played violin for many years but really struggle with it, and am only about grade 5, whereas I have played flute for little under 2 years and am working on grade 7. Personally I really struggle with piano, and have been playing it for ages but am only now doing grade 1.

With enough determination you can do it though. When I started GCSE music I had a grade 1 on one instrument and was predicted an E. Less than 3 years later I'm predicted an A at A level, hoping to have a grade 8, grade 6, grade 5 and grade 3 on my instruments and a grade 7/8 theory in the next couple of years, and almost certainly off to uni to do music.

It is possible (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[piello]

Sure it's possible. I know I would (much as I'd love to) never be able to 'cos i'm just not that sort of person. I've done pretty much a grade a year. On cello, I've been learning for 5years and am now grade 6. Piano I've been learning 7 years and am playing grade7 pieces classically and grade 4 stuff for jazz, which I have been doing for a few months.
If you have the determination, the time, the personality (as that comes into it, I think), and all the rest of it, then you can no doubt go on and become very successful; many many people do! and good for you if you succeed. Good luck! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) oh, and enjoy it!

[Ayshah]

Mindful of what has been said above, taking my children as a guideline, throwing in school commitments and teenage distractions, then answering your question, I would tentatively suggest yes. You can do G8 successfully in four years. You also do not have to actually TAKE the grades in between but work through them. Two of mine have jumped from G6 to G8, taking the G8 in the Lower 6th (Year 12). My youngest is currently working through G7 on three instruments and hopes to do the G8 also in the Lower 6th. Commitment, dedication and of course regular practise.

Good Luck

[BBTOTW]

For my earlier grades in piano it took me about a term to do everything, but from about grade 6 it took me at least 2 terms... For flute though, I did grade 7 in one term...Bagpuss was NOT pleased...

[matthew_o50]

I always aimed to do a grade on each instrument each year but I skipped several of the lower grades which give me enough time to look at different repetoire and develop in other areas.

[Claudia's Mum]

My daughter has done a grade every 2 terms. I looked back at my old certificates and the pattern was much the same. I think this is quite normal for people who practise as opposed to those who don't.

[Cyrilla]

For my earlier grades in piano it took me about a term to do everything, but from about grade 6 it took me at least 2 terms... For flute though, I did grade 7 in one term...Bagpuss was NOT pleased...

She was very pleased with your mark of 137, though!!!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[sbhoa]

My daughter has done a grade every 2 terms. I looked back at my old certificates and the pattern was much the same. I think this is quite normal for people who practise as opposed to those who don't.

I'd have thought that as well as the practice you'd need to have a fairly large dose of natural talent or be missing out on some in between development to manage that for much above the first couple of grades.

Or maybe I'm wrong and myself and most other people I know are very slow learners or totally bad practisers?

[Piano_Princess]

Great, well thanks for all of your comments! Let's say I'm a bit more confident now that it's possible for me to make it!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Laura

[SarahSax1986]

My daughter has done a grade every 2 terms. I looked back at my old certificates and the pattern was much the same. I think this is quite normal for people who practise as opposed to those who don't.

I'd have thought that as well as the practice you'd need to have a fairly large dose of natural talent or be missing out on some in between development to manage that for much above the first couple of grades.

Or maybe I'm wrong and myself and most other people I know are very slow learners or totally bad practisers?

I think the poster possibly meant that since grade 1 it has been on every two terms? I myself did 2 years then grade 1 and since then it has been 1 every year (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)