I managed to get a bare pass in G8 piano at this spring term. Personally, I intend to attempt the exam again, aiming to get a merit if possible, before the syllabus expires next year (spring or will last the whole year of 2007 ?) But my teacher suggests that I should set target for the Diploma (Trinity) (as ABRSM diploma will be too hard for me) instead of keep playing those 3 pieces for another year and it is not worthwile if I finally get another pass only).

What would you suggest? I completely have no idea what a diploma grade would involve. Grateful for your valuable advice please. Thanks.

I got a bare pass in the spring too.

For me I think that resitting for a better mark is not the best use of time.
Am working on filling in some gaps in repertoire and moving on when ready.
Still having lessons.
My teacher has talked of diploma some time in the future but it's a wait until I'm ready.
I think (for me) improvement will come better by not resitting grade 8.

Have you discussed it with your teacher if you have one?

You've passed. Why bother resitting? If you intend to do a diploma at some point, you need to have scored at least 100 at Grade 8, not 130. If you have a spare £68, donate it to charity rather than put yourself through the stress of retaking an exam you've already passed.

There's an embarrasment of riches in the piano repertoire, so get out there and enjoy it!

Oh, and congratulations on passing Grade 8 piano . Grade 8 is a real achievement.

Whether or not you decide to retake Grade 8 (and I for one wouldn't do that, but that's just my opinion) doing a Trinity diploma is no easier than doing an ABRSM one. And neither of them is "grade 9" by another name. If you're not up to one yet, you're not up to the other either.

Sbhoa's advice is very wise.

How about the Trinity Performer's Certificate? It's meant to be a kind of in-between thing to do after grade 8 as a sort of practice for a Dipoma. That way, you'll be learning all new things, as you would by doing a Diploma, which is more constructive in the long run than re-learning pieces you've been playing for a while already, you'll have something to aim towards, but the requirements aren't as heavy as those for ATCL/DipABRSM.

Hi



I passed grade 8 in spring too...not as high a pass as I had hoped, as I was really aiming for a merit...but oh well...

I am not having lessons anymore, partly dues to stress/school and partly due to other stuff. However I am continuing to play and to learn new pieces.

I agree with what has been said, that you should be happy to have passed, and that the point of the exam is to act as a checkpoint of approximate g8 standard. You have already reached this, so it might be better to simply expand your repertoire, play more and enjoy more. This way you are really improving, whereas retaking may signify improvement, but could equally as well simply be because you have already taken the exam before.

Although I'm not having lessons right now, I still plan to go back to them in the future (have to see how busy I am in L6!), and may take Trinity Performers Certificate at some point...as well as grade 6 theory.

Thanks very much for your advice. I agree with you that learning something new is the best use of time.
Please do share with us your progress when ready for the next level. Thanks again.

I would not worry about how far you passed or not at least you have passed and that all that matters. Maybe your tutor is right and you should go for a diploma. It will be a lot better then re taking the exam and goin under all that pressure.
Hope you find my help ok

It really irritates me when people who barely passed Grade 8 start talking about taking their Diploma. The difference between the two exams is enormous - as somebody else mentioned, it's not like some kind of Grade 9. In my opinion, if you didn't get a Distinction or a high Merit at Grade 8, then the Diploma isn't for you yet. Half of all people who take the Diploma fail.

If I were you I should concentrate on doing lots of repertoire and enjoying your playing. Don't think about exams for a year or two and see where your playing goes. After that, maybe you could consider working towards a Diploma or Performance Certificate, but I don't think you're ready for it yet.

I agree with katyjay. A Trinity diploma is just as difficult as an ABRSM one. I know plenty of people actually studying at Trinity with me who didn't pass. Remember that a first diploma is the equivalent standard to someone who had completed at least a year at a conservatoire, so is a high standard.