I passed my Grade 5 piano (music) exam when i was 14 years old.Iam now 36.I haven't played the piano in 15 years and after hearing grade 5 is the equivalent to an A level ( i don't really believe it ) im thinking of starting again.Thing is i just couldn't handle grade 5 theory and went through ###### with my teacher.After that became totaly fustrated with it and not played in 15 yrs.
Any ideas ?

I have an idea: Start playing again!


Well, that is if you want to. Perhaps you will not be so frustrated with playing now you are 36! It would be such a good hobbie.

Why not have a go? You'll not know unless you try.

It may be quite different this time round. You 'll find a different teacher (I guess) and unless you want to take grade 6 you don't need to do formal theory, maybe your teacher will be happy to cover the theory aspects aurally.

I've taught a number of adult returnees, and one thing is sometimes tricky - that is when the student tries to jump back in at exactly the same grade as he left off (or even, in one case a grade up ! it didn't work ...)

For most people, it's a good plan to pick up a few pieces at a grade or two down from where you left off. Just a stepping stone - you probably won't stay long with these easier pieces.

Find yourself a teacher, one who will discuss with you what you 'd like to do and the sort of music you like to play, and give it a go.

Maggie

I think you should give it a go I think you will really enjoy it. There is a thread on adult beginners and returners on the student forum here. You can come and join the rest of us adult learners.

Dig out your old tutor books and start playing through them again, just for fun - see how you get on.

Thanks.One thing that im trying to figure out is what qualification have i got in terms of O level ( Gcse) etc is it-i only passed in Grade 5 music.
I will definately have to get a more understanding teacher ( i have 1 in mind) i dont want to have go thru what i went thru last time. My sights are set on a Grade 8 ( degree level) but you have to dream ............

Just a thought for this time around, if you do find that you don't like your teacher, find another one; don't give up. And if you don't like THAT teacher, find another one. Alternatively, teach yourself! Its sad that you gave up piano for fifteen years because of a bad experience.

Why are your sights set on Grade 8 - which certainly is not out of the question! Have you thought of playing the piano merely as enjoyment? While exams are a wonderful way of striving forward, and can be a great motivator - there's nothing quite like having the freedom of playing what you like when you like, with no pressure of how good you want to make a certain piece. A fantastic hobby for a 36 year old! Or do you have something more substantial in mind?

QUOTE

Grade 8 ( degree level)

I don't think that Grade 8 is as near to degree level as you think
Closer to 'A' Level I think.

QUOTE

Grade 8 ( degree level)

Sorry, grade 8 is not degree level, more of an entry to degree level. According to the ABRSM and QCA an LRSM is about Batchelor's degree level, and an FRSM master's degree level and grades 6-8 correspond to various standards of pass at A level; grades 4 and 5 to GCSE (or O-level) level. Having said that in practice the performing part of the GCSE (I don't know about the others as I haven't done them) isn't really as hard as grade 5 done well; however, the GCSE does have listening and composing components too so it doesn't mean that you have a GCSE if you have grade 5 as performing is only one third of the GCSE course; same thing with grades 6-8 and A-level: if you do the theory as well at the equivilant grade you'd be getting closer to the A-level or GCSE but still not the whole thing.

Having said that grade 8 is a very worthwhile and respected qualification so is a good goal: who knows you may even go on to get an FRSM, now that is degree level!

Thats wot i meant-entry into degree level this is another thing that i cant understand-so many people think that grade 5 is an A level ????? i had an A level down for at least a grade 7

QUOTE (Yorkie @ Jul 3 2004, 08:20 PM)

i had an A level down for at least a grade 7

A level isnt all about what grade you are on your instrument, there are other things as well

I'd say definitely worth giving lessons another go. I have taught several adults who have had very negative experiences of piano lessons as children or teenagers. I think the most important thing is to find a teacher you really get on well with, so you look forward to your lessons. I find adults pleasantly surprised that the experience of having lessons nowadays is so different-I certainly think the style of teaching has changed a lot from 20 or 30 years ago. Perhaps you could also try some gentle theory, starting with easier material, to see how you get on- incidentally the AB stipulates you have to have passed the theory to take grade 6, but not all the other boards do, so there are lots of options available.

It must be quite upsetting to those people who have spent two years studying for A-level (many of whom have grade 6, 7 or 8 in an instrument as well) when people say that if they have grade 8 in an instrument they have A-level music: it's just not true, there's so much more to A-level music than just performing; I think that this is a danger of trying to say qualifications are of the same standard.

The nearest way to make a direct comparison is though UCAS points (bear in mind that an A at A-level music is worth 120 points): a distinction at grade 8 practical is worth 75 points and a distinction at grade 8 theory 30 points so if you have both of those then you would get 105 points (which is just above 100, the number of points for a B at A-level); had the marks been passes at the two grade eights and not distinctions the total number of points would be 75 (which is not quite a C). Even this comparison, however, is flawed as the best universities demand specifically A-level grades and won't accept UCAS points from other things at all.

The only basis on which the comparisons can be made are on the performing standard one would need to get a given mark on the performing section of the A-level. So for GCSE performing, which is rated the same level as grades 4 & 5; if one played a piece that would get a distinction in ABRSM grade 5 then one would get an A* for the performing component; however this component is worth 33% of the GCSE, so if that is all that one did (assuming that one gets 100% for the performance) one would get 33% in the GCSE and a very low grade (I don't know the grade boundries for the low grades); I assume the same thing would apply at A-level; I haven't done that though.

Yes,i would definatley take it up again as a hobby but it wont be for a while (until i decide to move house !).I live in a small house with very thin walls which is part of a terrace.The noise will go thru these 4 houses like a knife going thru butter thats been in a microwave ! In the meanwhile,i will up-grade my keyboard. The reason why i stopped in the 1st place was that i couldn't handle Cadences.They were (and still are ) a foreign language to me.I just became disolushioned after that and only played keyboards since

QUOTE (AnotherPianist @ Jul 3 2004, 07:42 PM)

QUOTE Grade 8 ( degree level) Sorry, grade 8 is not degree level, more of an entry to degree level. According to the ABRSM and QCA an LRSM is about Batchelor's degree level, and an FRSM master's degree level and grades 6-8 correspond to various standards of pass at A level; grades 4 and 5 to GCSE (or O-level) level. Having said that in practice the performing part of the GCSE (I don't know about the others as I haven't done them) isn't really as hard as grade 5 done well; however, the GCSE does have listening and composing components too so it doesn't mean that you have a GCSE if you have grade 5 as performing is only one third of the GCSE course; same thing with grades 6-8 and A-level: if you do the theory as well at the equivilant grade you'd be getting closer to the A-level or GCSE but still not the whole thing. Having said that grade 8 is a very worthwhile and respected qualification so is a good goal: who knows you may even go on to get an FRSM, now that is degree level!

To Paraphrase from the Diploma syllabus:

A DipABRSM is the standard someone should be at the end of the firts year of a performance set of modules in a course
An LRSM is the standard someone should be at the end of the third year of a performance orientated BMus degree
an FRSM is the standard someone should be at the end of a degree at a music college, before leaving for a professional performing career.

QUOTE (minsmusic @ Jul 3 2004, 11:06 AM)

Why are your sights set on Grade 8 - which certainly is not out of the question!  Have you thought of playing the piano merely as enjoyment?  While exams are a wonderful way of striving forward, and can be a great motivator - there's nothing quite like having the freedom of playing what you like when you like, with no pressure of how good you want to make a certain piece.

I quite agree with minsmusic. It is a year since I took my Grade 5 and I have spent it playing lots of different repertoire, including Beethoven, Debussy, Schubert, Satie, Chopin and Bach. I have just started playing "Of Foreign Lands" from Schumann's Kinderszenen which was my choice as I heard it played at a piano recital a while ago. It's really great hearing a piece of music and then being able to learn it. Although I am looking foward to eventually doing my Grade 6 it will be a shame to be restricted just to the exam pieces. However, I am already thinking ahead to pieces I want to play after I have completed Grade 6 .

33% at GCSE music is grade E, I think.
Edexcel say that the "standard" performance levels are grade 4 for GCSE, grade 5 for AS level and grade 6 for A level.