about two years ago, i took my fifth grade theory exam and got a score of 71 (not very good, i know ) but my teacher recently told me that she was starting a class for eighth grade theory, and it was up to me whether i wanted to join or not. i would like to go on with theory, partly to redeem myself and partly because i'm pretty interested in going on with theory. but i don't know if i should take this class and take the eighth grade theory examination, considering i did poorly on my fifth grade. should i go on and take it, or should i hold back and just concentrate on something less?

Is she starting from a grade 5 theory level, working up to grade 8, or is she starting from grade 7? If it's from grade 5, go for it .

Having taking Grade 5-8 already, I can say that you'd better brush up on your Grade 5 skills first before moving on! The skills they test in Grade 5 (i.e. nonmenclature, keys, intervals, basic chords, clefs) are assumed to be a natural part of your musical vercanular by the time you hit Grade 6. For example, you'll be dreading those perfect fifths and octaves when you have to realize a choral score in 4 parts! Doing grade 8 involves immense creativity (especially in the trio sonata question and composition sections) and the analysis of the scores require pretty specific knowledge about orchestral terms.

Can you pinpoint which parts of Grade 5 you aren't sure of? Get those skills engrained and you'll be ready for the next step!

Cheers and good luck!

What do nonmenclature and vercanular mean?

The names for things and use of language.

I would agree about finding out what the starting point is.
When I began with grade 6 theory the first thing my teacher had me do was to complete a set of grade 5 past papers to make sure the foundations were there, even though I had score 98 on grade (though that was about 3 years earlier).

AND she always marked me down on (careless) errors like direction of note stems which is a grade 1 topic....

if you want to go into theory go for it! but i got a rubbish mark on grade 5 (68 i think, yea i no its really really bad) and then i went onto grade 6, which i've now failed twice! (taking it again in about 2 weeks HELP!) but anyway, just be sure that ur going to work hard. Its good to hear that you have a choice in doing it, which is something i dont have.

Why are you being made to do it? It's a little unfair for people to make you keep taking the exam without helping you enough with the preparation first .

If I was taking a pupil on who wanted to Grade 8 theory, they would work through all the material of GRades 6 and 7 before starting. I like the AB workbooks, they are well structured and use plain english. It is also vital to have both Eric Taylor's books on Music theory, and make sure you understand each area.

Next make sure you have a good book on Harmony and Counterpoint. I was brought up on Annie Warburton, but several forum members recommend Dorothy Pilling's book instead. NExt make sure you have a good book on Orchestration Walter Pistons book is excellent.

Finally make sure you have a teacher who is up to it. Anyone with an AMusTCL or a degree in music where musicology was a major option is probably a good bet.

Another good book for Grade 8 theory, which took me from grade 5+ to 8 was Butterworth's Harmony in Practice. It's a big thick orange book, and slowly progresses from things which are part of the grade five syllabus to grade 8 plus harmony. I also used Eric Taylor's books on each individual grade as a reference, but the Taylor books have less exercises where you can actually write in the book, which is a shame. Also the Butterworth comes with a separate answer book, which is always helpful.

I got 75 for my Grade 5, 80 for Grade 6 and 85 for Grade 7. I am doing Grade 8 next month, hopefully I will get 90! =] but I ain't betting on that.
Build up your foundation especially bout chords and harmony. About 70% of Grades 6-8 is about harmony. You must know your figured basses and all the kinds of chords such as augmented sixes and seventh chords.

wish me luck for my exam next month
Pretty worried about question 2 though and hopefully not too hard italian/germen/french terms come out!(I hate those!!)

Good luck....
Not seen you on Runescape for a while.