Hi, I have browsed the forum for about 3 days now, and made some posts.

I am currently:

Grade 5 Piano - Grade 6 in November
Grade 5 Guitar - Grade 6 when I'm ready
Grade 5 theory - Grade 6 when I'm ready
Grade 0 Tenor Saxophone - had 3 or 4 lessons

I have very little knowledge of college/university diploma things.

Please give me some info

I had heard of dipabrsm? (diploma ABRSM?)

Any exams you can take for composition? Performing? Arranging?

Any one have any ideas of some music (preferably free online stuff ) that is pretty simple and I could arrange for either Piano + Solo Instruments or just solo piano? Nothing too complex.

Thanks in advance!

Hey Will!

It's great that you are so curious about what you can do in the future, it means you are very conscientious and take a keen interest in your own personal development!

There are lots of threads on here about the things you want to know, I can summarise a bit of what I know for you if you like....

1. After Grade 8 on any instrument there are lots of choices you can make, and you can be as flexible as you like. You can do a DipABRSM (which I think is a lot tougher than Grade 8 so you will take a while to prepare) in your instrument, and with either a performance, teaching or direction pathway. The ABRSM has syllabuses you can ask for and take a look at....

2. In terms of theory, you can go all the way up to Grade 8 if you like, and after that the LCM does Theory diplomas at various advanced levels (go to http://mercury.tvu.ac.uk/lcmexams/)

3. Composition is more difficult, you could study it at university or music college, or take a Diploma from the LCM like I am studying to do... I don't know if anyone else knows anything better about composition diplomas? As far as I know it is the only one available. They do graded exams in composition too although they are very different from anything else I have seen, but very thorough! A friend of mine studied for Composition at the LCM for a degree, and she loved it

4. Hmmmm arranging.... I'd be interested in that myself if anyone knows of any places I could check? I studied Orchestration at University which helped, as did my composition skills. You will find you will want to arrange things once you start composing anyway I think, or at least I did, it's a great skill to develop especially if you want to teach. You could always pop to your local music library if you have one, and pick up a few simpe and interesting looking scores to arrange?


Hope this helps! All of the ABRSM Theory and Practical exams count towards UCAS points too now I think...

Practical and theory from grade 6-8 count towards UCAS points

I do believe there is a list of online free to download music sites there. That would probably be a good place to get arranging material, also take a look in second hand music shops/ebay for some real bargains. Another thing to do might be to take a tune you know well and just harmonise it, I think it helps if you know something well at least when you're starting out.

And you can always post around here for advice, and I expect you could probably find someone who is competent on any instrument you care to name who would be willing to check out playability of your arrangements. You'd probably benefit from working with someone who knows a particular instrument when you write for it.

thanks a lot, Ill post some of my finale stuff here when its finished.