I wonder if anyone knows whether the new Trinity Guildhall syllabus from 2007 will have a grade 5 theory requirement for grade 8 practical exams? I cant find out any information on their website but I know that Guildhall used to have this requirement.

Thanks for any info

Twiddle

I went to a meeting about this yesterday and there is no requirement for any passes at theory for any of the practical grades.

klavierboy
Did you find it a useful session? I am due to attend the London one in June. Do they give away any freebies? Was their a question and answer session? Thanks for any info you can give me.

Thanks very much Klavierboy - I DO wish they would get this sort of info up on their website - the precise scale/scale exercise requirements are also still missing from the website as far as I can see.

Anyway it's interesting to see that they have dropped the Guildhall requirement of grade 5 theory for grade 8 practical - wonder if they have also simplified the scale requirements (though there was a lot to be said for all those whole tone, diminished, pentatonic and blues requirements despite the challenge of learning them!)

Twiddle

Hello Margaret and Twiddle

I did find the session very informative. There were some freebies ie Grade 1 pieces book; repertoire lists for piano, woodwind; samples of the new supporting tests, a DVD, a plastic Trinity wallet and a pencil!!

They seem to be trying hard to make an appeal to a wide range of learners and learning styles and increasing the choices available.From lists A and B you must chose 3 pieces to encompass a range of styles. Pieces will be marked out of 22 and separate marks given for accuracy and fluency(7), technical mastery of the instrument(7) and communication with the audience(9).

The requirement for scales has been reduced. Pianists have less scales plus some exercises but other instruments can just do only the exercises. As an example to ilustrate this Grade 8 piano scales are F#, Eb and B majors, minors(melodic and harmonic), chromatic on F#, Eb, B; B major and melodic minor in double 3rds. Arpeggios are the same keys as scales with dim7th starting on F#, Eb and B and dom7ths in those keys. There are also 3 exercises to do

What I particularly liked was the choice for the remaining 2 tests. Up to Grade 5 you can chose either aural or sight reading or improvisation or musical knowledge which amounts to questions about the music. After Grade 5 sight reading is compulsory.

The aurals have been given a face lift and no longer do candidates have to sing.When asked about changes made to music candidates are given the original music and have to point out where and what the changes were just to give one example.

In improvisation you can chose to improvise given some notes or a rhythmic pattern or even a chord sequence

The 3 pieces can give 66marks, technical marks are 14 and the remaining chosen tests are 10 each.
The pass mark is 60, merit is 75+ and distinction is 87+

If you go in June, Margaret, there may be more freebies available because they are working hard at the moment to get all the info out and it is not yet in print

Overall i was quite impressed. There were some opportunities for questions and answers but it was cut down so as to not let the meeting be high-jacked by those with an axe to grind.

I went to the Manchester session yesterday.
It was interesting but with it being a work still in progress there is not quite enough information for me to decide one way or another.
A couple of us decided to give it a road test by taking grade 5 next year. (How do I get into these things??)

Klavierboy
Many thanks for your reply. Sounds very interesting. I received my copy of Flourish today (from Trinity Guildhall) which also gives lots of info. I shall certainly be entering some pupils next year.

I havent got my copy of Flourish yet but I am going to the workshop on Sunday. Are there limited spaces at these workshops? Does anyone know if you can just turn up? I have booked my space but know of 2 others who might to join in.