It's me again! As a new clarinet student, I was wondering about music grade exams - how much point is there in doing exams at my age (I'm 25)? I appreciate that they are a good way of measuring progress, but are they essential? If, for example I wanted to join a wind band in two or three years time, Barry -clari mentioned in my previous thread that I would need to be at grade 5 standard, but would I need to actually have the grade for them even to consider me, or do I just need to be able to show them I'm at that level?

Thanks!

You'd just need to show that you're playing at grade 5 (or whatever grade) standard to join the bands mentioned on the link I gave you previously Sianie- no formal qualifications are required. The main reason you'd need to be of a particular standard to join is simply because you'd struggle with some of the pieces if you were less advanced than that, it's as simple as that. A number of bands do have 'training bands' attached to them for people of a less advanced standard, it is worth asking around. And bear in mind, most wind bands will be able to take anything up to fifteen or so clarinets, so you should eventually find somewhere to play.

Happy clarinetting!

Barry (clari)

No exam are ever essential but I'm 32 and have just done my Grade 7 and am now working towards Grade 8. Only because it gives me something to aim for though ang although I hate the hour or so before I do the exam I quite enjkoy the challenge. There again I always was different.