Well basically, I'm hoping to take my Grade 8 piano in November...I could possibly have been ready for it in the summer term but there's another music exam or two and GCSEs in the way...
My parents seem to think that Grade 8 exam achieved means no more piano lessons...because I won't "need" them. But i realllly want to do music at uni, and I am pretty certain that near enough two years off piano lessons after my Grade 8 before uni will be a really bad idea?! Because I don't think my standard will improve with no teacher..obviously... and probably it'll get worse....
If anyone could give me some input and things to think about about this...I'd be really grateful I have a lot more to say on the subject..
(I put this in students because I'm a student...I'd appreciate teachers'/anyone's opinions!!)

Even if you have no plans to study music at uni grade 8 is not necessarily a stopping point for lessons. I did grade 8 as an adult and saw it as more of a starting point than stopping point.
I know that some people do stop lessons at this point (or sooner) but if you have the interest and motivation to get this far then there's a good chance that it's because it's something you love doing. In music (as with other things too I'm sure) the more you know/can do the more you realise how far there is still to go.
I hope that your parents allow you to carry on with lessons if you want this whether you plan to study music at uni or not. Though if you do then they may see it as a better reason for carrying on......though I wouldn't personally agree that it's a better reason.

What does your teacher think? Does your current teacher teach beyond grade 8 or would you have to find a new teacher?

I think this is a common misconception. Of course you could just stop having lessons after Grade 8, if that grade is the be all and end all of your musical mission but if you want to continue at University then at the very least you would want to keep your skills 'ticking over'.

As an adult, although my lessons stopped when I was 14, perhaps only limited progress was made in the subsequent thirty-odd years. When I decided to down tools and start practising, I soon found that my self-motivation started to flag; I raised my game substantially when I returned to having lessons.

The guidance of a teacher is invaluable. You may find that the frequency of lessons could be cut down. I have been having a lesson every three weeks but recently I found that fortnightly is better, keeping me on my toes inbetween.

So if I were you I would definitely continue with lessons in some form. Furthermore, and here's the adult speaking, if you have some part-time job then offering to pay a little something towards lessons might make them more sympathetic to your request and help soften the blow!

It sounds like you have reached my standard of playing, but thirty years earlier - please do make the most of it!

I would keep going with lessons in some form - there's so much more to learn beyond grade 8 : and if you want to do music at uni, 2 years with no lessons won't do much good.

I got my grade 8 clari back in '91, and subsequently went to uni, and now I play/teach professionally. And I still have an occasional lesson, and I participate in masterclasses. You never, ever stop learning.

If your parents aren't musical, you should ask your teacher to explain to them that grade 8 is by no means the pinnacle of achievement in learning an instrument! People who don't play themselves tend to have the idea that at grade 8, you have reached the end of musical learning - I'm sure if your teacher explained that this was in no way the case they'd be more willing to have you continue lessons.

It is a hard one to explain to non-musical parents. I was in almost exactly the same position as you back in 1990. I stopped regular lessons at the end of the term I did my g8. This wasn't because I knew everything but had reached the limit of what I could learn from that teacher. I took a couple of lessons to prepare for the A level practical. This was adequate for my short term goals as I was getting plenty of mentoring through the groups I played in and wasn't going to study music beyond A level.

One analogy that might help your parents understand is to compare your G8 pass with passing a driving test. It is a qualification that allows you to claim a certain level of competancy but a lot of the real learning about driving comes after the test. Improving your skill can be done solo but taking pass plus and advanced lessons speed up the process and expose you to techniques you won't learn at all. For many drivers that 1st test is enough. For a pro driver the additional training is essential.

Not a perfect analogy by any means but 1 I've used in the past.

Good luck.

I love it when a student takes grade 8 and still has more years before they fly my nest - so much repertoire out there - I say it's not the end, it's the beginning!
I'm sure your parents don't mean it badly, they just think of grade 8 as an achievement they've been waiting for, for you, and the end of grade exams. Perhaps it would help if you and your teacher thought about a diploma before you leave school, say to your parents Uni would take you that much more seriously with one of these behind you?
Good luck, and I hope you are able to continue lessons.

Same here! Grade 8 was consolidating what was on the syllabus. After that I started really learning, and still am!

To paraphrse Churchill:

[Grade 8] ... "is not the end, it is not even the beginning of the end, but it is perhaps the end of the beginning".

Yes! This is where the fun really starts as all the skills you worked so hard to acquire unlock so much more! If you can't have regular lessons, having one now and then is also very helpful.

I wouldn't stop lessons after Grade 8, and I didn't once I had done mine. Especially if you want to do music in university. You can just look at repertoire, and technical exercises. Building up your technique will definitely be a help for when you get to university. Maybe you could just go to lessons once a fortnight instead. But don't stop completely.

As a Parent I used to think Grade 8 was the pinnacle of achievement and it is excellent but my daughter having got there I realise it's almost the basics for a musical career which is now really just beginning. May I suggest that you try to involve your parents in your ambitions by perhaps going on visits to universities / music colleges with them and talking to the tutors there - most colleges have open days and many allow you to go round as an individual and have some access to speaking to a tutor. Make sure you bring up the subject of standards and possible future careers. Parents are often won around by being invited in to the decision making process of their children's future.

Could it be that your parents only know that Grade 8 is the highest of the 'graded' exams - and, as a result, think that that is all there is?

In reality, reaching grade 8 standard is really just the end of the 'foundation' stage and it is where the real fun - plus repertoire - not to mention opportunities only start to open up. Grade 8 is simply a 'qualifying step' to start to embark on (maybe) a progression of diploma studies and I would suggest that if you are Year 11 and approaching Grade 8 then a first level diploma could be a realistic target for the end of Year 13. It is no longer the case (as it was many years ago when I was leaving school) that grade 8 is almost automatically enough to secure a place to do music at university or conservatoire and many applicants for the most competitive courses will be at least first diploma level if not beyond. If you are serious about studying music after leaving school you cannot afford to do without a teacher in the two years leading up to further education entry - it would be rather like trying to study for your 'A' levels alone and without a teacher, and then hope and try to compete for a university place against other applicants who have had good teaching and guidance in those two years.

I imagine that your parents are pretty supportive of your music for you to have got this far already, but that they don't - yet - know enough about the system and how it works, particularly about how diploma exams, AS/A2 exams and university entrance work. Talk to your teacher and ask him/her to help you to explain things to your parents.

You may be lucky - some local authorities pay for instrumental tuition for AS and A2 candidates as performance is a substantial part of the mark scheme. Will you get any assistance from your school?

I'd be devastated if there were no possibility for tuition left - I can't think of a piece I haven't played better for having a critical ear and mind offering its input. Yes, I can learn more by myself now, and am able to listen better too, but there is something about having someone stand outside of that process, listening in, which really does help. I also hadn't been having lessons all that long before taking grade 7 (had some background ability, but not formalise) so would have had to give up almost as soon as I started with tuition, if it had really been the case that grade 8 meant the end of lessons. I don't have regular weekly or even fortnightly lessons now - indeed, it can be tricky to find a slot when my teacher and I would both be available - but I couldn't give up the idea of having a teacher, there's still too much to learn, even after a second diploma.

I did grade 8 clarinet last July and I still have lessons, we have been working on repetoire and my technique. I'm also working on grade 8 piano at the moment, and I can't wait to do it because I have a massive book of Chopin that I can't wait to start learning pieces from. My piano teacher often plays pieces to me and says you could learn this now, so I think I'm reaching the stage where I can have a pretty good go at most things. I realy can't wait to have no more exams to limit me and I can just learn everything!

Just my 2 cents.

If you want to go on to music at the Univ - I do not know whether performance at a Conservatory or a more academic Music degree at a University- 2 years without lessons will most certainly kill any chances of getting in!

From what I have seen, Grade 8 is based on very specific musical extracts of different types, but lacks things like e.g. playing a full concerto.

You might get confused when you see Grade 8 or equivalent listed as the entry standard, but remember that is really only to guide as to the minimum expected level of playing. Most people with Grade 8 distinctions did not get a place in a performance degree this year at the conservatory auditions this year, at least the ones attended.

I'm still having lessons! About four a year.

My view for what it's worth is that Gd8 is merely the end of the beggining of your journey! A grd8 means your techincally and muscially capable enough to tackle a sizable chunk or the western music repertoire and make a decent job of it. See it as passing a driving test, you now need to become an advanced driver or professional!

Lessons don't really ever stop as the learning process never stops - i've been having lessons 25 years now - ok the frequency has dropped but its important to get feedback from a trusted professional source and keep your playing improving. Uni's require min grade 8 for performance based courses and for conservatoires you'll need Dip level and beyond even to get through the auditions - they are very demanding and will take only the best from all over the WORLD not just the UK!

Maybe if you get to FRSM level and 1st desk in a major international orchestra then you could drop to 3-4 lessons a year - but even the very best still keep up for development reasons! Might be time to rethink why you feel it might be ok to stop!

I know a professional singer who has sung quite substantial roles at Glynebourne and Covent Garden so is well above the Grade 8 singing exam standard. He still takes singing lessons and talks about how helpful his singing teacher is.

Keep up your piano lessons. I wish I had been able to. Explain carefully and kindly to your parents - who
may well understand if you can make your point clearly. One other small point - or not so small depending on their circumstances. Were they perhaps feeling relieved that the financial burden of lessons was finally coming to an end? I'd be inclined to make sure they know how much you appreciate what they have done for you over the years. That might help them to consider carrying on for a bit longer.

There';s absolutely no reason to stop lessons just because you've done your grade 8, it's just very common for parents to think that once you've done the exam you don't need them anymore. I did my grade 8 nearly 3 years ago, and I still have lessons, there are so many different options after having done the grade 8 exam, such as diplomas, BMus/BA degrees, repertoire expansion, etc. For me, doing my ABRSM grade 8 was just the beginning of my musical career, I'm always told by my teacher "James, stop playing like a grade 8 cellist!" I think that when we're in school, people always see grade 8 musicians as being really good, but now I look back they really aren't anything special unless they are really young, like 9 or 10. So yeah, basically don't feel you have to stop lessons, they give your practice and playing structure, plus you could take a DipABRSM if you wanted. It's always nice to have something to prepare for

I can't imagine 'life without my teacher's input' at whatever standard I will be (he's an excellent pro musician so he'll be able to help me at any level I may reach fellowship and beyond....... )

The royal schools require "grade 8 with distinction" to get in. ~ They will give you further training.

University, im not sure about. But get the picture its no where near the end.

I guess your parents see you playing a famous piece by the top composers at the top level and think you have achieved 777 Jackpot.

My teacher is grade 8 and I have seen teachers with letters in their name. I can see the different playing abilities easily.

I havent even taken my grade 3 exam yet.. so im sure you will see what I mean

In my yoof I did Karate for several years, and for a long time I would look at the blackbelts and think that was the pinnacle of all achievement. I recall vividly my instructor saying that his teacher's view was that a black belt was a good starting point for teaching someone! I was dumbstruck, but I can now understand the point.

I never did reach black belt in Karate, and I have not yet reached grade 8 on piano . While I it is something to aspire to I certainly don't see it as the end point, more the real starting point. Rather like having a bag of musical tools sufficient for you to actually really start learning.

Assuming your teacher still has things they can teach you, why stop lessons?

N

i'm doing grade 8 piano in november too, i'll be in year eleven then
i'm definitely going to still have lessons! i used to think that grade 8 meant that you could play anything, but then i realised how much amazing stuff there is out there that is still way too hard. i might get a new teacher after grade 8 though, because i'm only my current teacher's second pupil to take grade 8 so i might want someone a bit more experienced
what pieces are you doing?

I used to think Grade 8 was the most mere mortals like me could hope to achieve; though I was aware that after Grade 8 there was the Advanced Certificate and LRSM but I thought you had to be some kind of super-genius who started in the womb to ever achieve that standard. One High Scorer's Concert I played in for either Grade 1 or 2 included someone who'd done Advanced Certificate, I was about 11 at the time and thought I'd never be able to play like that. For the record, I still can't but I can now see that level of achievement as feasible and that if I keep plugging away at it I can get there too. The post-Grade 8 world does still have a sort of 'here be monsters' feel to it, but then so did post-Grade 5 theory until last year.

My daughter took Grade 8 Recorder last session. We never contemplated giving up lessons after Grade 8.
Her teacher made it known even before the exam that there was lots more things he wanted to cover with her.

Strangely and totally out of the blue she was given an offer which I know she would have jumped at had her lessons stopped or teacher run out of ideas.

I couldn't ever imagine not having lessons, no matter what level I achieve.

Lots of stuff that I want to play is at or above DipABRSM level, so I can't see myself ever stopping!

I think lessons should be regular, i.e weekly if possible, until you reach about Diploma level.

After that I think lessons should still occur but just lesson regularly, a lot of the pieces you will learn you can manage on your own, you just need the occassional lesson to sure you are not making any major errors or to get help on a section you find slightly tricky. At this kind of level you can manage a lot more on your own without the help of a professional musician.

having said that even professions need to attend the odd masterclass or similar in oprder to make sure their skills are kept up to date etc...

Lang Lang goes to Barenboim a few times a year!

I passed my Grade 8 in november 2008 with distinction and automatically my mum thought that this was the end of my lessons. However, once I explained that it was only just the beginning as they is still so much exciting music out there that can be explored, she soon understood. Of course you have your basic grounding but take the opportunity to explore new repertoire without the stress of exams, esp. if you want to do music at uni.

I quit lessons age 15 just before doing my grade 7 piano, I kept playing on and off for a few years but my standards really slipped, i took no notice of dynamic/tempo markings etc. and skipped difficult parts in the music. Having a teacher who you see occasionally would keep you on the right track.