I am helping a pupil prepare for her Grade 5 theory exam - she passed Grade 5 Piano recently. She has been working through the ABRSM graded workbooks. Some of the Grade 4/5 theory (well quite a lot actually) is new to me. I took Grade 5 theory in 1975 I think and the syllabus seems to have grown since then, or maybe my memory of it has shrunk. She seems happy with the content and completes the exercises with no problems. I am slightly worried that I am learning some of this stuff for the first time alongside her and have never entered a candidate for a theory exam before.

Does anyone have any tips on either teaching the theory or what to concentrate on as likely exam topics? I have some past papers to look through. How strict are the examiners on neatness, for example. Is a pass, at 60% I believe, pretty easy to achieve? Any tips for the actual exam day?

I'd be really grateful for any help on this one.

Make sure your pupil doesn't realise you are learning alongside, as this could damage your credibility!

Neatness is important. Notes need to be written on each line, or in each space accurately, stems, beams, etc, should all be tidy. Neat handwriting, too, is important, it needs to be easily legible, although apparently spelling can be a bit inaccurate, as long as it is clear what is meant.

Going through past papers is vital - to give an idea of the type of questions asked and the level of difficulty. I would suggest that your pupil works through at least the papers for the last couple of years (the style of questions does seem to change from time to time, so it's important to be up-to-date) with you, and perhaps also for homework.

It should be fairly easy to obtain a pass (assuming this is their only ambition) if theory has been covered anyway during lessons - connecting it to actual music being played is vital. I've never seen the point of teaching theory as a completely separate subject. You can make up so many additional exercises from the music your pupil is currently studying, so this would be a useful thing to do. I do use the AB books, but tend to make my own worksheets, tailored to each pupil. This can be a bit of work, but does ensure that they really do understand what it is all about.

Hope this helps - good luck.

Definitely agree with being neat. You may mean to write a treble clef, middle line 'B' , but if the note head is too big and it touches other lines, for example, it becomes unclear what note you are writing!

Certainly, as the theory exam approaches, it's worth getting your pupil to do some past papers in examination conditions, so she gets used to the style of questions/the time limit.

The pass mark, incidentally, is 66% kittyboos, not 60%.

I've recently started teaching theory and thoroughly enjoy it with good results.
However before starting to teach it, I kind of put myself through a refresher course making sure I could understand and do the work involved.

I also went and tried my Grade 6 theory so I could be one up, if you know what I mean. (It also boost my confidence).
One day when I get the time I'll work on the theory up to Grade 8.
The only thing though, Grades 6,7 & 8 are quite different to the others- different kind of work involved.

I was in a similiar position about 3 years ago + went to a AB seminar on theory (don't know why they haven't repeated it as I found it extremely useful). Someone recommended a book called Take Five and Pass First Time by Christopher Dunn which goes through everything in a very easy to understand way. I now feel confident about teaching theory.

There is a good series of work books called 'Theory Time' by David Turnbull. They are excellent and provide the answers.

I use them with older pupils and Adults who want to move on between lessons. With the right pupils, they are ideal.

I check their progress weekly/fortnightly, and answere any questions. The books are so well explained that the pupils can do a lot themselves which leaves more time for playing etc.

I use at least three sets of past exam papers and make sure that pupils' marks are in the 90's regularly before they take the theory examination.

Can I congratulate my pupil Stephen who passed Grade two AB theory with 100%. !!!! I think his mum should have the certificate for all her hard work and encouragement.

Kittyboos, yes you are correct. The exams changed in 1992 and the format and layout has been updated and improved since then.

Pianola - how did you find the grade 6 theory? I'm one of those who did the necessary grade 5 years ago in order to sit grade 6 practical.

I've just started work on grade 6 theory myself (intending to take dip.abrsm), and although I'm getting on fine with it, I have to admit it's more difficult than I expected! I assumed that having grade 8 practical would mean I'd know most of the theory I needed to pass, but it's obvioulsy not that simple!

Anyway I'm not sure whether to enter for the Christmas exam session or not - how long did it take you?

At the minute I'd feel confident teaching grade 5 theory, and any practical grade, but of course the master plan is to have reached the highest possible level so I'm able to teach my pupils to any standard in either theory or practical. I know many teachers in my area who have a "cut-off" point as to the standard they will teach to, but I'm really serious about my teaching and want to take it to the highest level I can.

xxxx

Hello Amanda!

I started working on my Grade 6 Theory in September last year and tried the exam right at the begining of November, therefore I took a little under 2 months.

I think with me it helped that I'd done the old A level music which delt with figured bass and harmony, so I dug out my old A level file and went over that.

Also I found a retired music teacher that was willing to go over past papers that I would do.

I must say that I took a bit of a gamble doing the exam so soon, but I worked at it and although I found the actual exam long and quite hard, I managed to pass with merit.

Good luck with it Amanda.

Thanks Pianola!

Always good to get another's experience!

I can harmonise the figured bass OK - from A'level music


I have plenty of past papers and work books, so I'll carry on and see what I think in a couple of weeks when the entry deadline get closer!

Thanks again and well done on your merit!

xxx

I have a cut off for the standard I will teach but I don't think it shows lack of comittment to teaching.
In some ways I think it can show the opposite..... I won't pretend I can teach something that I'm not comfortable with and know my limits. The limits may well expand with time and experience.

Recently another teacher asked me if I'd be willing to teach one of his pupils grade 6 theory... Just typical that I'm still working on it myself I suppose I could have "got away" with it but there's no way I was even going to try! Imagine his face if we both ended up taking the exam at the same time

It really annoyed me that I couldn't have taken that pupil on, though I know I did the right thing by sending him to a more experienced teacher! I know my own limitations, which is a good thing, but I'm looking forward to the day when other people will be referring students to me instead of the other way around! Goodness knows how long that will take, but I intend to get there

(Eeek! Just re-reading my last post again... I hope the way I worded it didn't sound bad! I didn't mean to imply that having a cut-off point meant a lack of commitment. I should have phrased it differently!)

Thanks salrec! This was my first post and I've found it really encouraging to receive advice from other teachers.

I would hope for better than a pass. My pupil is studying GCSE Music and will be covering some of the Grade 5 syllabus at school and she's a very bright girl. Just a bit untidy sometimes!

[quote name='*Pianola*' date='Sep 15 2006, 09:58 AM' post='392040']
However before starting to teach it, I kind of put myself through a refresher course making sure I could understand and do the work involved.

Thanks Pianola. Yes I think a refresher course is definitely the answer for me! I know all about trying to find the time though. Teaching music is sort of a part time thing for me and I have not given enough time to my own professional development. One day I'll pluck up the courage to take the diploma!



[quote name='parkere' date='Sep 16 2006, 12:24 PM' post='392710']

Thanks parkere and lesley. I will check out the book references and get on with the past papers.

If your pupil is taking G.C.S.E music she shouldn't find too many problems with the grade 5 theory. As far as I can remember, lots of the subjects will be covered in class so she'll be well equipped

If you discover any secrets to writing notation legibly along the way - let me know! Even in my neatest writing, I'm still having trouble with it I suppose before I started teaching I'd been unused to writing on manuscript for about nine years - the last time being A'level.

It's something I never thought about until a few weeks into teaching, when I noticed one of my young pupil's treble clefs looked rather more convincing than my own I'm better now but I still need to practise before I submit anything to an examiner!

xxx

If she's not in one of those classes where most people are starting from scratch....

Hmmm.... A piano student of mine goes to the same grammar school I went to. Apparently they won't let anyone take G.C.S.E music unless they have a grade 4 or higher. I don't remember that being the case when I took it, but I'm not sure if that's just school policy, or a general requirement for anyone taking the subject?

xx

School policy I think.
I know of plenty of school where there is no minimum requirement.
Those with no instrument or musical background find something to sing for the performance element.

[quote name='amanda41' date='Sep 19 2006, 03:41 PM' post='393969']
[quote name='sbhoa' post='393914' date='Sep 19 2006, 12:40 PM']
[quote name='amanda41' post='393905' date='Sep 19 2006, 12:10 PM']
If your pupil is taking G.C.S.E music she shouldn't find too many problems with the grade 5 theory. As far as I can remember, lots of the subjects will be covered in class so she'll be well equipped :)


[/quote]

If she's not in one of those classes where most people are starting from scratch.... <_<
[/quote]


I work for a Music Service here in rainy Norn Iron.....

I'm in the unenviable position of teaching a class of grades 1 -5 all in the one group in a forty minute lesson!!

Its impossible. I've tried every miracle cure but it doesnt exist.

Any ideas??

I took my Grade 6 Theory in Nov 2004. I was taught by a teacher at a music centre in Hong Kong. I remmeber the first lesson with her that she told me she had never taught grade 6 theory - she teaches mostly grade 5 and grade 8. She was trying to convince me to take grade 8 but then i didn't really want to!

It took me one month to learn all the stuffs - with about 10 lessons in total. I did not take GCSE music or A-level music either. Last time i had my group music lessons when i was in primary six!

She hate the AB books on theory because there are too many words! So we used some books published by a Malaysian company and i still got through the exam with merit.

But now i have forgotten nearly everything in Grade 6 theory (and maybe even grade 5 too!). The thing i can remember is that I had to memorise many "rules" in writing harmony. My teacher asked me to memorise all of those and i would be able to pass. The bad thing is this theory exam has become a memory game for me!

Good luck!

Matthew

I'm currently working on my grade 6 theory after my friend showed me some of his A level work. At GCSE, my teacher has said that about grade 2 theory is sufficent. I imagine that most in my class would struggle with grade 1 though.

Mathew, do you still know the harmony rules? Thats easily my weakest point........

Some I remember.

Don't double the third (unless it's a minor chord)
No consecutive fifths or octaves (that is between ANY 2 parts!).
Leading note must lead to tonic.

Sbhoa has mentioned the main ones. But i am really sorry to say that i am really really really really bad at theory! (My standard has now dropped to grade 2 i think!).

It has been so long that i gave the books to the others!

The main reason is i don't need to recall any of the knowledge at uni cos im not doing music.

However, i believe many teachers here know the rules and they might be able to help you on this.

Matthew

Thanks sbhoa!