The importance of a distinction Options

[FullofWind]

Should you only sit grade 8 when you know there is a very high chance that a distinction will be achieved? There will be musicians for whom this would be a mammoth task but if a child was capable of getting a comfortable pass, would it be better to wait up to two years until they were beyond distinction level? How are resits viewed by conservatoires if a child wishes to gain a distinction at a later date?

[barncottagecat]

It's all very well saying that a grade 8 distinction it doesn't matter, but doesn't that depend on what you want to do with your music? If you want to be in the NCO, NYO, selected summer music courses, other orchestras, JDs? (perhaps, I don't know much about those), then it can be very useful! - for the NYO application they ask for a copy of your exam mark sheet. If you are more interested in using grades as something to work for and as a record of your personal achievement, then I agree, distinction chasing doesn't matter.

[Halka]

... for the NYO application they ask for a copy of your exam mark sheet.

Has this changed? Last year they were asking for a copy of the grade 8 certificate (rather than mark sheet, I think) OR a letter from teacher confirming the auditionee was grade 8 distinction standard (which is what we provided). My impression is that these orchestras usually make a big point of saying that you don't actually have to have taken any exams.

It's nice not to have to put the teacher to trouble though, and to feel you really can prove the point independently of those who might be prejudiced!

P.S. I don't suppose lack of the grade 8 certificate, by itself, explains why she didn't get in!

[barncottagecat]

... for the NYO application they ask for a copy of your exam mark sheet.

Has this changed? Last year they were asking for a copy of the grade 8 certificate (rather than mark sheet, I think) OR a letter from teacher confirming the auditionee was grade 8 distinction standard (which is what we provided). My impression is that these orchestras usually make a big point of saying that you don't actually have to have taken any exams.

It's nice not to have to put the teacher to trouble though, and to feel you really can prove the point independently of those who might be prejudiced!

P.S. I don't suppose lack of the grade 8 certificate, by itself, explains why she didn't get in!

Yes this year they are asking for an upload of the mark sheet - still a letter from the teacher will suffice also, so that's not changed..

[Yet another muso]

... for the NYO application they ask for a copy of your exam mark sheet.

Has this changed? Last year they were asking for a copy of the grade 8 certificate (rather than mark sheet, I think) OR a letter from teacher confirming the auditionee was grade 8 distinction standard (which is what we provided). My impression is that these orchestras usually make a big point of saying that you don't actually have to have taken any exams.

It's nice not to have to put the teacher to trouble though, and to feel you really can prove the point independently of those who might be prejudiced!

P.S. I don't suppose lack of the grade 8 certificate, by itself, explains why she didn't get in!

Yes this year they are asking for an upload of the mark sheet - still a letter from the teacher will suffice also, so that's not changed..

Oh that's so frustrating! One of my pupils is going for it this year, and got 134 for grade 8 last year. Ok it's a decent mark but about 5-10 marks below what he deserved, not only that but many of the comments are both rude and untrue, a shockingly scathing report for a grade 8 distinction. I didn't complain formally because I didn't really think I had much of a case complaining about a pupil not getting as high a distinction as I wanted. However so many other teachers did complain about him that that session that I heard from the steward that there was an inquest and it looked like he might lose his job, so that reassured me that I was right in my view of the result. Still we had just happily moved on, celebrating that he got his grade 8 distinction and that nobody was likely to read this insulting report. Hopefully it won't influence their view too much and as soon as they hear him play they will revise their opinion!

[Ayshah]

... for the NYO application they ask for a copy of your exam mark sheet.

Has this changed? Last year they were asking for a copy of the grade 8 certificate (rather than mark sheet, I think) OR a letter from teacher confirming the auditionee was grade 8 distinction standard (which is what we provided). My impression is that these orchestras usually make a big point of saying that you don't actually have to have taken any exams.

It's nice not to have to put the teacher to trouble though, and to feel you really can prove the point independently of those who might be prejudiced!

P.S. I don't suppose lack of the grade 8 certificate, by itself, explains why she didn't get in!

Yes this year they are asking for an upload of the mark sheet - still a letter from the teacher will suffice also, so that's not changed..

Oh that's so frustrating! One of my pupils is going for it this year, and got 134 for grade 8 last year. Ok it's a decent mark but about 5-10 marks below what he deserved, not only that but many of the comments are both rude and untrue, a shockingly scathing report for a grade 8 distinction. I didn't complain formally because I didn't really think I had much of a case complaining about a pupil not getting as high a distinction as I wanted. However so many other teachers did complain about him that that session that I heard from the steward that there was an inquest and it looked like he might lose his job, so that reassured me that I was right in my view of the result. Still we had just happily moved on, celebrating that he got his grade 8 distinction and that nobody was likely to read this insulting report. Hopefully it won't influence their view too much and as soon as they hear him play they will revise their opinion!

Oh that sounds really unpleasant! Especially if you have to use the comment sheet and therein lies the rude remarks. I can understand the request for the mark sheet as it gives the detailed information that the certificate just doesnt. But if the remarks are unkind at that level, i personally feel thats just mean. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) Why would any examiner want to record such negative comments (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)