Hey there,
I'm wondering how quickly you experienced ones reckon it would take me to learn from Grade III to Grade V in Theory in order to catch up to do my Grade VI Singing exam, which requires a minimum of Grade V in theory..? I've got Grade II covered and found it easy and interesting. Would like to work on the others between now and end of year and try to take the Grade V exam either at the end of this year (Nov 06) or early next year (March 07). Im in in dreamland to think I could wing this?? Really don't know how hard it gets. I'd be happy to get professional lessons and stuff, wouldn't think I could teach myself this stuff.
What do ya think??
Thanks a mill!
J

An adult student of mine covered it in a similar space of time.
She worked mostly on her own and just asked me to go through things she wasn't too clear about and I markes past papers for her.
She used 2 or 3 different workbooks for each grade so that she had lots of practice examples.

Good luck... and welcome to the Forum.

No, you're not in dreamland at all! I have students who come to me to learn theory so the can enter for grade 6 practical and they usually do grades 1 - 5 in about 6 months. It really would be worthwhile getting a teacher to guide you through quickly but be prepared for lots of work! For what it's worth, it might be an idea to do maybe grade 4 in November followed by grade 5 in March, - so that the first and only theory exam you do isn't the one you need to pass. I'm sure you're teacher will advise, it may be possible for you to do grade 5 in November as you have already done 2 grades.

Good luck Joan. You can do it!!

Same as noodle, yes, you can do it. I've got someone at the moment who needs to do Grade 5 theory. He's had 21 half-hour lessons, we started at the beginning of the Grade 2 book and he's now at the end of the Grade 4 book. I was a bit worried before he started as he's a drummer, and I was afraid he'd have problems with everything except rhythms , but he's a bright kid and has no problems with it at all. Am hoping to put him in for Grade 5 in November (as long as he's willing to have a few lessons in the holidays) I'd recommend a teacher too, you'll progress more quickly, and will have someone who can sort out any problems quickly.

Joan, you've posted this in two separate places. I've put a reply in the General music forum. Rules say we're not supposed to cross-post.

Hi

Yes cross posting isn't allowed on the forums but I've merged the two topics now so all replies will be in the same place.

Thanks

And Welcome to the forums Joan!

Yes, you can do it, Joan! It may be hard work, but you've already done grades and found them interesting rather than terrifying, if you're willing to put the work in you should be fine.

Yes that sounds no problem, as everyone else has said.

I'd suggest getting the Grade 5 workbook, 4 sets of Grade 5 specimen papers, Part 1 of AB Guide to Music Theory (it's pink) and lots of manuscript paper. When people come to me to do Grade 5 theory I don't bother with the earlier books as that is the long route to the exam. A good teacher will fill you in on all that has gone before simply by looking in depth at each section in the Grade 5 book.

Distinction here we come!

I did grades 1 to 5 in a similar time period. I read the pink and blue AB Guide to Music Theory books a couple of times, then worked through the workbooks from grade 1 to 5. They are very well written, and so it is easy to learn as you work through them.

My piano teacher marked my workbooks, and she taught me the parts that I hadn't understood. I then worked through many past papers.

I loved it, so put in lots of hours of practice. I wish that I had started to learn the musical terms much earlier. They were only in my short term memory, and consequently I have now forgotten most of them. I'll have to learn them properly some time.

Thank you all. Feel really motivated to do this now. Also, won't do the cross posting thing again! Sorry!
Really grateful to you all for your advice. Also, thank you all for your welcomes to the forum. It's great. This is going to be an interesting year! Cheers again. Joan x

I've had students do similar things with theory. Fairly recently one did grade 3 one term and grade 5 the following.

We used practice papers between the grades plus some exercises from the workbooks as needed.

Hope it goes well Joan! I think, as others have said, that it should be perfectly do-able in the time.