Erm ok this may seem weird but I am a little concerned that most of the music students at my school have achieved higher grades eg. six and seven and I have only just completed four and five (5-Piano, 4-oboe). Also I have not even started studying music theory. Other students (both at school and in the forums) seem to have a good general knowledge of music, compossers and peices whilst with no one in my family is musical and having short lessons I am woried that I will not be able to achieve higher grades and will not be able to grow musically. Is anyone else out there experiencing similar dilemas or does anyone have anything that they can offer? xxx

none of my family is musical, im doing gcse music, started theory in feburary and look at me, im grade 2 cello and only started singing. Just don't let it get to you and you'll do fine

You never know you might even catch up. It doesn't really matter what grade your on at any age.

I don't know how old you are, but you don't need to worry. I mean when I was in Year 11, I onlyt had a scraped grade 3 pass under my belt. Now, I have a grade 8 merit and 2 grade 6 passes, and am studying Music at university.

Don't compare yourself to others, learn your instrument at your own pace.

Are you going to start to learn theory?

im exactly like you! Although in my gcse class everyone seems to be grade 3/4 standard on various instruments, people at my orchestras are so much younger than me and at such higher grades! i don't think I was naturally ever good at violin- its an instrument i really have to work hard with. Compared with piano when I got to g5 after 2 years

Oh forgot to say... i've never done a theory grade either. I get enough of the stuff in gcse music. but i'm good with composers & stuff because of the repetoire I do for violin- always classical stuff <3 When I was little I always had the older teachers and I all I ever played was classical music which is why i've grown up to be familar with composers.

You might find that if your teachers talked about the music you have been learning and you paid attention you know quite a lot of theory.

You are likely to know note names and values, time signatures, key signatures and quite a few common terms ans signs for starters.
Also as you play piano you could well have picked up some understanding of simple harmony.

It really doesn't matter what grade you are honestly! We are always told at uni that they don;t mind what level of piece we play (within reason of course!) as long as we play it well it's better than struggling along with a harder piece and playing it badly!