My son has Grade 5 theory, and Grade 3 flute and piano all with distinctions. I have mostly taught him myself, but have had the back-up of his piano teacher. The piano teacher doesn't want to teach Theory beyond this, so I have been talking to someone I vaguely know who is an experienced music teacher. She has advised that Grade 6 Theory will be basically impossible until my son has done at least Grade 5 piano, because he will have no understanding of harmony and will find harmony difficult to learn if he hasn't played pieces containing it. She doesn't know my son and is basing this opinion on her extensive experience. Is she correct, do you think?
Advice please. Thanks
Full Version: Would He Cope With Grade 6 Theory?
Some keyboard harmony might be useful, I found it helped.
I used Dorothy Pilling's Harmonization of Melodies at the Keyboard.
I don't see why he can't start looiking at this now.
How old is he?
I used Dorothy Pilling's Harmonization of Melodies at the Keyboard.
I don't see why he can't start looiking at this now.
How old is he?
I took (and passed) grade 6 theory when I was playing at grade 4 standard on the Eb Horn. It was hard work but certainly not impossible.
QUOTE(Belinda @ Aug 17 2006, 07:22 PM) 
My son has Grade 5 theory, and Grade 3 flute and piano all with distinctions. I have mostly taught him myself, but have had the back-up of his piano teacher. The piano teacher doesn't want to teach Theory beyond this, so I have been talking to someone I vaguely know who is an experienced music teacher. She has advised that Grade 6 Theory will be basically impossible until my son has done at least Grade 5 piano, because he will have no understanding of harmony and will find harmony difficult to learn if he hasn't played pieces containing it. She doesn't know my son and is basing this opinion on her extensive experience. Is she correct, do you think?
Advice please. Thanks
No, she is wrong. Grade 6 theory requires an understanding of harmony to AS (i.e. end of year 12) level. Lots of AS students gain this understanding without being able to play the piano very well - or not at all.
Your son needs a teacher able to train him in this harmony. It is not difficult stuff, but the teacher does have to know it. Not all teachers have this knowledge; whether they do or not depends on how and where they trained.
I'm 13 and I took my grade 6 theory this year. I was lucky and had a very good teacher for it ( sadly now retiring so I have just changed teachers for gde 7 theory)
I had a 1/2 hr specific theory lesson weekly and did at least another hour at home each week.
I'd be considered reasonably bright and play piano plus 2 other instruments.
Your son would I'm sure cope with grade 6 theory - it's like that old joke " How do you eat an elephant ... one teaspoon at a time!"
Just start and work steadily through - the problem will arise if he or you set a 'fixed' time to get prepared in. Just take the exam when he's ready.
I found it's quite a big jump up from gde 5 theory
I had a 1/2 hr specific theory lesson weekly and did at least another hour at home each week.
I'd be considered reasonably bright and play piano plus 2 other instruments.
Your son would I'm sure cope with grade 6 theory - it's like that old joke " How do you eat an elephant ... one teaspoon at a time!"
Just start and work steadily through - the problem will arise if he or you set a 'fixed' time to get prepared in. Just take the exam when he's ready.
I found it's quite a big jump up from gde 5 theory
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