Hi. Just wondered why people take diploma for their instruments. I took dip for piano because that time I was still in school, and I took my dip like taking 'just' another exams, something like 'grade 9'! Without much reason and thinking. But, even though I had a diploma in piano, the music center which I am teaching doesn't need piano teacher, thus I had to teach my second instrument, violin, which I started learning when I am 17.

However, now just after gd 8 violin, and being a part-time violin teacher, I was still thinking whether I should go for another exam. I pushed myself up till gd8, feeling very very tired since I have to do my post-grad study, work part-time and also to practice 2 hours a day. And it is not convenient for me to have lessons! I knew if I were to take diploma now, I would forced myself to practice 3 hours (or at least 2 hours)a day and I know my study would be in jeophardy if I do that. My future career 100% wouldn't be mainly music, because I am doing another field of study. The most I would do is to teach few students as a leisure part-time job.

Can anyone help me? I have been thinking so much that I didn't even touch my violin 13 days after my exam, I feel so strange. Quite at a loss now , not knowing what to do. Should I just carry on with my technical studies and concentrate on my studies first???

Hi Happygirl

You are right that if you want to take a diploma it will involve a lot of regular practice and commitment, and I would imagine having lessons for it would be rather important. If it'll be difficult to fit in with your other studies, and if you are only planning to teach violin as a casual part-time hobby, I reckon a grade 8 distinction would be more than adequate - particularly if you already have a piano diploma. You could always take a violin diploma once you have finished your other studies and have time for regular lessons, if you wanted the extra challenge.

Don't do it - TOO MUCH STRESS!!!

I agree, I don't think you should put your main study in jeapoardy, for the sake of a part-time job, especially since Grade 8 is sufficient to teach to a high level (and having a Diploma in piano means you must have good musical skills anyway).

Thanks everyone, I guess I wouldn't do it now, and maybe not at all. Taking exams needs guts and the stress is terrible for adult I guess I'm just taking exams as a challenge for myself! Now, I'll play 1 or 2 technical studies everytime I manage to practice (maybe 4 days a week?) and that's all. Yeah, now I can't play my grade 8 pieces as well as I used to for the lack of practice, nevermind, I'll concentrate on my studies and keep music as a HOBBY

Nothing to stop you picking up some pieces from the Diploma syllabus and gently working on them for "fun"! You never know - when you eventually take the exam those pieces might still be on the syllabus (which seems to evolve repertoire-wise at a geological pace, thank heavens!).

I think you're doing the right thing - there's only so many things you can do at once and do well so save the diploma for when you need a good goal to progress your hobby.

I agree with Fen it would be a good idea to pick some pieces from the diploma syllabus just for fun and it would give you an idea of what standard would have been expected. If you are busy then I wouldn't recommend doing it as you need to make time to take this and also for a part-time violin teacher it probably isn't compulsory to take a diploma. If you were going to teach the violin full time then I would recommend it as it would make you qualified in that instrument.

The only reason I am working towards the DipABRSM in piano and oboe is to get my standard higher I wouldn't use the diploma for teaching as I have a full time job as a security IT Technician, music is more of a hobby for me.

Some of my other musical friends discontinued with the piano when they reached grade 8. Now they regret it as they wished they had continued. So when I reached grade 8 I wanted to keep on playing but I knew if I stopped doing exams and still played, I probably wouldn't maintain the standard. I decided to work for a diploma because then you have goal to work towards and you will also notice how much progress has been made.

That is one only thing of which I am worried about 'saving my diploma' for next time or not at all! I did look up the diploma syllbus for ATCL, but so far didn't manage to buy any of those pieces. But I reckon the choices of pieces for violin is far lesser than for piano. I could get the pieces from my teacher, but i am afraid she will ask or push me to take diploma if she knew I am working on them! So, I prefer to get them separately.

But one thing I can say is, it is indeed very hard to get one disciplined to practice without 'exam' going after you



Same with my friends, they regretted not continuing with diploma after grade 8.

I feel like I only 'start' to get musically matured when I did my piano diploma not after grade 8 though.