Hi guys,

Another Grade 5 question from me (sorry! ). I'm due to take my grade 5 classical guitar this march, and when looking through the ABRSM syllabus book, I found that for grade 5 practical musicanship there were three things which I am not prepared for:

1) Sing and then play from memory a four-bar melody (shouldn't be too hard).
2) Improvise with voice or instrument an extension to a melody over an accompaniment played by examiner.
3) Perform a short free improvisation based on a given motif (I have no idea what a motif is!).

My teacher never told me I'd have to do this. And, though my improvisational skill aren't too bad, there not that good either. I'm total not ready for this part of the exam.

Is this what is really required or am I mistaken?
Any advise woud be a great help.

Thanks,
LG

No you are not mistaken.

A motif is a short musical idea so you would get a bar or two to base your improvisation on.
Improvising over an accompaniment means you will have to bear the harmony in mind.

You might want to get hold of the Musicianship in practice book (book 2 for grades 4 and 5).
It's like the aural training books.

Are you entered for the Practical Musicianship exam as well as the guitar one?
These tests are not part of your instrumental exam.

Yeah quite right...
Grade 5 guitar and grade 5 practical musicianship are different exams.
I couldn't imagine your teacher would make such a mistake..Or wouldn't know..
Think your probably just doing the grade 5 guitar are you??

I think I am in fact mistaken. I was confused between the Practical Musicainship and grade 5 classical guitar. I'm taking grade 5 classical guitar, not the Practical Musicainship. Silly mistake, I know!

*goes red through embarrassment *

I don't know what the Practical Musicainship exam is for, but I'm happy I don't have to improvise!

Thanks for the help,
LG

I don't know much about Practical Musicianship but the exam can be used instead of Grade 5 Theory to move to higher AB grades.