Hi, to all,

I was just wondering if you think that the theory is getting harder, as the years progress.... I think that the Associated Board have a very high standered. I have just done my theory grade 1, and I lost five marks on just a simple copying of a part of a extract... Nevertheless it stoped me from getting a distinction... My mark was 85/100 !!

Manpreet

Hi Manpreet. Well done on your theory mark. I think to lose 5 marks on the copying out question means you probably forgot something quite important - the timesignature, key signature, something like that. They do expect it to be neat and accurate. I don't think the standard has got any harder over the 12 years or so I have been teaching theory. The associated board ran a session a while ago on theory and how it is marked - they really do try and give the marks if at all possible. Good luck for your next grade.

Hi Margret,

Sounds like a useful course; I was wondering, since you have done this if you would be kind enough to answer a question for me. On the higher grades (or if the course only goes up to grade 5 the grade 5 composition questions) how many of the marks would one obtain if one wrote a technically correct piece of music that's not necessarily subjectively liked by the examiner? Put another way how many (if any) of the marks are for the examiner to award for subjectivity: 'liking' the piece or considering it to be good? Does the requirement for subjectively liking the piece increase as the grades get higher or not?

I wouldn't have thought that entered into the examining criteria at all. What does anyone else think?

The AB don't run many courses on theory marking do they. I wish they did occasionally!