I was just wondering what people think about skipping grades in singing when you have played another instrument... I understand that for some people it's a great thing - they are at a certain standard, and they need challenges... but for others it's as though they are just collecting certificates with no noticeable improvement in their voice.

I ask because a friend (sort of) of mine, started singing a few months ago, took her grade five with me, and failed one of her songs (but passed all the same, with the same mark as me.)
The lesson after my exam results I asked my teacher if we could slow down a bit and learn lots of songs so I could improve - I wasn't happy with my result. My friend though, pretty much got her mum to get our singing teacher to put her straight in for her grade 7... (she wanted grade 8 but my singing teacher wouldn't budge...)

I know it's ridiculous to compare us - we're very different people, and she has a lot of musical experience, but wouldn't it be more worthwhile to spend a bit of time improving the tone of the voice...? The girl is still at the point at which simple breathing techniques are a struggle, and as a consequence her voice can sound breathy...

I am trying not to sound too critical and I wouldn't mention it to my friend for the world... but I don't see the point in rushing through getting the highest certificates possible in the shortest space of time!

Then again, perhaps I'm just bitter that she will be considered better than me - and not wanting to brag - I really don't think she is...


But what do people think of the whole practice of rushing through exams...
Again I must stress that in some cases it is certainly the best course of action... but in others?

If you all think I'm just being bitter and nosy then by all means just say... I know I probably shouldn't have this much interest in someone else's singing...

Oh well.. opinions...

I'm certainly no great shakes when it comes to singing, but it sounds like you've a very sensible and mature attitude about your singing. You're right, it isn't all about getting certificates in double quick time, it's about becoming a better musician and singer. If she's still shaky on breathing then she's doing herself no favours (IMO).

I can see no reason at all in rushing through exams. It is far better to build a solid technique and to expand repertoire as you study. If she is having problems with something as basic as breathing correctly then she needs to slow down a bit and work on techniques before thinking of more exams. Some folk can be lucky and pass exams because of their sight singing and aural work if they play another instrument already but that does not make then high grade singers in any way. Slow and steady in the was, especially when singing!

There are some people who are just plain talented, pick things up naturally, and can skip lots of grades, to be fair. But someone who's struggling with breathing correctly doesn't sound like one of them.

Yes, MUSICALLY, people can be more advanced if the play another instrument. But they cannot achieve the level of technical ability desirable for the upper grades in a short period of time. I know people boast of having achieved 0-grade 5 in months, then go straight in for grade 8. Yes, it's do-able, but not PROPERLY. My teacher tells me she has auditioned people with licentiate level diplomas who do not have full command of their technique. Then, heaven help us, they start teaching! You are wise to take your time.

Lucky045, I'll offer you one bit of advice.

Don't worry what your friend is doing. There's never a point in comparing your music-making to other people's.

Progress with your singing, enjoy it for its own sake, and if and when you and your teacher feel that an exam is appropriate go for it.


Best of luck in your musical journey.


Katyjay

I was able to jump from grade 5 to grade 8 with relative ease, but then I had been playing the Oboe for several years and there is a lot of technical overlap. I have pupils who jump one grade eg Grade 3 through to grade 5, but thats after a years worth of teaching.

There is more to singing than exams, and technique needs to be built over time, but taking grades is not like doing a steeplechase.

Yeah, I agree with all of you - I think skipping grades can be a good thing, but isn't always...

And Katyjay is definitely right that I shouldn't compare myself... it's difficult though, but I shall endeavour not to.

as long as your friend feels comfortable with the standard of singing that she is doing, then you have no need to worry. although, she should be careful no to out-stretch herself

I skipped gr. 3 and gr.6 (flute). Gr.6 because of the gr.5 theory taking forever and so when it came to the practical I was working at a higher level.

Skipping grades worked out fine for me, not to say it's going to be the best option for everyone though.

There are arguments for and against skipping grades. I went straight to Grade 4 in singing because I was about that standard. I skipped 1, 2 and 3.

But I'm working through the other Grades one by one so my voice can benefit from the techniques and challenges introduced at each stage. I have sung Grade 8 songs with my last teacher but my technique is not Grade 8 standard yet. If I tried to do Grade 8 I'd either fail or scrape a pass (if I was lucky!) and gain nothing in terms of working on my technique and building strength. I've just done Grade 5 and got a good mark (126) so that shows that my technique is about Grade 5 standard. By the time I sit Grade 6 I hope it will have moved up a notch and I'll get a good mark in that too!

My brother went straight from nothing to Grade 8 in double bass as he had been playing for a few years and wanted to audition for RWCMD. He passed, and got into RWCMD. He'd been playing in amateur orchestras for a good few years so was not a beginner by any standards and only wanted that exam so he could apply for college, but if he'd just taken up the double bass, never played with an orchestra and wanted to go straight for Grade 8 I'd have thought he was mad!

A good teacher won't put a pupil through for an exam he or she is not ready for anyway. You should be guided by your teacher!