Grade 6 to Grade 8?

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Grade 6 to Grade 8?

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violindreams	Dec 6 2011, 06:38 PM Post #1
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 19 Joined: 5-December 11 Member No.: 365530	Basically, a few months ago my piano teacher suggested that after doing grade 6 I skip to grade 8 work. I was wondering if anyone has done this and if it worked out ok for them? I've just taken grade 6 so will probably be starting my grade 8 stuff soon. Thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

sbhoa	Dec 6 2011, 06:49 PM Post #2
Maestro Group: Members Posts: 18918 Joined: 31-October 03 From: Tameside Member No.: 24	If your teacher has suggested this it sounds as though you have taken grade 6 at a point when you are generally playing at a higher level than grade 6/7. Your teacher knows your playing.

violindreams	Dec 6 2011, 07:03 PM Post #3
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 19 Joined: 5-December 11 Member No.: 365530	QUOTE(sbhoa @ Dec 6 2011, 06:49 PM) If your teacher has suggested this it sounds as though you have taken grade 6 at a point when you are generally playing at a higher level than grade 6/7. Your teacher knows your playing. Also do you know if the gap in difficulty of pieces is huge?

owainsutton	Dec 6 2011, 07:07 PM Post #4
Prodigy Group: Members Posts: 1694 Joined: 28-January 09 From: Altrincham Member No.: 53883	QUOTE(violindreams @ Dec 6 2011, 07:03 PM) Also do you know if the gap in difficulty of pieces is huge? There's quite a range in technical demands between different Grade 8 pieces. Some could be Grade 7, but at 8 there's an expectation of greater expressive detail. Other pieces are much more demanding in technique.

fsharpminor	Dec 6 2011, 07:08 PM Post #5
Maestro Group: Members Posts: 12244 Joined: 7-June 06 From: Wirral (originally Keighley, Yorks) Member No.: 7089	It's a long time ago but I did Gr 6 to ALCM piano dip in two years. at the same time Gr 6 to Gr 8 organ (ABRSM) in a year and a term. So it's possible. Good luck !

Claudia's Mum	Dec 6 2011, 07:45 PM Post #6
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 751 Joined: 18-September 06 From: London Member No.: 7704	It depends also how long it has taken you to get to grade 6 and whether you want a pass or distinction at grade 8. Personally I think there is a HUGE amount of lovely violin repertoire at grade 7 level which it would be a real shame to miss out. Is there a reason why you need to get to grade 8 quickly?

violindreams	Dec 6 2011, 08:27 PM Post #7
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 19 Joined: 5-December 11 Member No.: 365530	QUOTE(Claudia's Mum @ Dec 6 2011, 07:45 PM) It depends also how long it has taken you to get to grade 6 and whether you want a pass or distinction at grade 8. Personally I think there is a HUGE amount of lovely violin repertoire at grade 7 level which it would be a real shame to miss out. Is there a reason why you need to get to grade 8 quickly? It's a piano exam, but the reason I want to skip is that I don't want to be taking grade 8 piano and violin and a levels at the same time as I will probably end up doing if I take grade 7 but don't want to do badly at grade 8

fsharpminor	Dec 6 2011, 08:33 PM Post #8
Maestro Group: Members Posts: 12244 Joined: 7-June 06 From: Wirral (originally Keighley, Yorks) Member No.: 7089	QUOTE(violindreams @ Dec 6 2011, 08:27 PM) QUOTE(Claudia's Mum @ Dec 6 2011, 07:45 PM) It depends also how long it has taken you to get to grade 6 and whether you want a pass or distinction at grade 8. Personally I think there is a HUGE amount of lovely violin repertoire at grade 7 level which it would be a real shame to miss out. Is there a reason why you need to get to grade 8 quickly? It's a piano exam, but the reason I want to skip is that I don't want to be taking grade 8 piano and violin and a levels at the same time as I will probably end up doing if I take grade 7 but don't want to do badly at grade 8 Yes that was partly my problem too. We rushed to do the ALCM in lower sixth, but took the Grade 8 organ at same time as A levels., and I hardly practised. Dont know how I got 125 (Pieces were 75/90)

Claudia's Mum	Dec 6 2011, 08:34 PM Post #9
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 751 Joined: 18-September 06 From: London Member No.: 7704	QUOTE(violindreams @ Dec 6 2011, 08:27 PM) QUOTE(Claudia's Mum @ Dec 6 2011, 07:45 PM) It depends also how long it has taken you to get to grade 6 and whether you want a pass or distinction at grade 8. Personally I think there is a HUGE amount of lovely violin repertoire at grade 7 level which it would be a real shame to miss out. Is there a reason why you need to get to grade 8 quickly? It's a piano exam, but the reason I want to skip is that I don't want to be taking grade 8 piano and violin and a levels at the same time as I will probably end up doing if I take grade 7 but don't want to do badly at grade 8 Oops sorry, you did say but I just saw your name Violindreams and assumed violin!

violindreams	Dec 6 2011, 08:40 PM Post #10
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 19 Joined: 5-December 11 Member No.: 365530	QUOTE(Claudia's Mum @ Dec 6 2011, 08:34 PM) QUOTE(violindreams @ Dec 6 2011, 08:27 PM) QUOTE(Claudia's Mum @ Dec 6 2011, 07:45 PM) It depends also how long it has taken you to get to grade 6 and whether you want a pass or distinction at grade 8. Personally I think there is a HUGE amount of lovely violin repertoire at grade 7 level which it would be a real shame to miss out. Is there a reason why you need to get to grade 8 quickly? It's a piano exam, but the reason I want to skip is that I don't want to be taking grade 8 piano and violin and a levels at the same time as I will probably end up doing if I take grade 7 but don't want to do badly at grade 8 Oops sorry, you did say but I just saw your name Violindreams and assumed violin! haha yeah I play both!

Lucysop	Dec 6 2011, 08:41 PM Post #11
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 116 Joined: 27-July 11 From: Hertfordshire Member No.: 291904	QUOTE(violindreams @ Dec 6 2011, 08:27 PM) QUOTE(Claudia's Mum @ Dec 6 2011, 07:45 PM) It depends also how long it has taken you to get to grade 6 and whether you want a pass or distinction at grade 8. Personally I think there is a HUGE amount of lovely violin repertoire at grade 7 level which it would be a real shame to miss out. Is there a reason why you need to get to grade 8 quickly? It's a piano exam, but the reason I want to skip is that I don't want to be taking grade 8 piano and violin and a levels at the same time as I will probably end up doing if I take grade 7 but don't want to do badly at grade 8 Hi there violindreams, Not sure if this helps but I did Grage 8 in singing, piano and clarinet in the Spring session alongside my A levels, it can be done. I found that going to practice was a welcome break to the studying....but that was quite a long time ago now. It worked for me, but appreciate it may not work for everyone. To re-iterate the replies of others, the leap of what they expect performance wise is quite different between Gd 6 & 8, However I skipped Grade 6&7 in singing but def did didn't skip 7 for piano or clarinet, although my first clarinet exam was grade 5... Good luck with your decisions, only you will know what work load you can accommodate. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

violindreams	Dec 6 2011, 08:45 PM Post #12
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 19 Joined: 5-December 11 Member No.: 365530	How hard did you find it going from grade 7 to 8?

Lucysop	Dec 7 2011, 01:22 PM Post #13
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 116 Joined: 27-July 11 From: Hertfordshire Member No.: 291904	QUOTE(violindreams @ Dec 6 2011, 08:45 PM) How hard did you find it going from grade 7 to 8? I didn't find it too bad going from 7 to 8, but would have struggled going from 6 to 8 in both as its not necessarily the technical difficulty of the pieces but the aural bits and also the technical requirements of the scales arpeggios etc and the sight-reading. The level of performance expected is significantly higher with Grade 8, I got distinctions in both Grade 7 but narrowly missed out on distinction in grade 8 in both - frustratingly narrow - 2 marks from ABRSM.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) I think you also need time to explore other repertoire between the grades as well to get a better insight generally and improve musicianship, but that is just my own optinion, others may have a different view. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

SaxLad	Dec 7 2011, 05:24 PM Post #14
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 354 Joined: 25-January 08 From: Hertfordshire (North of London) Member No.: 23734	Hi, I'm a Sax Player, so a bit different from Piano, but I skipped straight to Gr.8 after Gr.6 and got Distinction at gr8 so it is possible.

violindreams	Dec 7 2011, 06:06 PM Post #15
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 19 Joined: 5-December 11 Member No.: 365530	I think you also need time to explore other repertoire between the grades as well to get a better insight generally and improve musicianship, I tend to learn some other pieces that my teacher recommends in between grades and sometimes when I am learning pieces. Also, I will be waiting for the next syllabus to come out so will probably be learning some pieces at the same time as my scales etc.

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