Hi,

I'm an 18-year-old student who has just finished her A levels and intends to go on to medical school. My problem is that, in the tradition of most students, I will be completely skint for the next 5 years. Heaven knows how I'll even pay my living expenses - let alone afford weekly music lessons... But I really don't want to suspend my music studies for that long. I've just passed my Grade 5 singing (125), and I also have Grade 5 theory (97%) and Grade 6 piano (110). Having done AS and A level music, as well as being exposed to lots of classical music from childhood, I feel I have a pretty good musical knowledge.

So I am thinking of teaching myself through the next grade, and entering myself for Grade 6 in about a year. I will research new songs and techniques on the internet, go to concerts to inspire myself, tape my performances for self-evaluation and join singing and drama clubs at university to widen my experience. I have a copy of the ABRSM syllabus and I know where to get the songs on the list. I'm just wondering if it's enough...

What do the experienced teachers on this forum think of my idea? Is it possible to teach yourself to a satisfactory standard? Also, I'd like to know if there are any good book/CD courses to study that can help me... I want to improve my all-round singing skills, not just pass the next grade or 3. I'm broke but willing to shell out £30 or 40 on a book/CD/learning aid thing, if it will take me through the next few years... Can anyone out there advise me, or give me some tips?

Thank you so, so much.

singingsiren
xx

I don't think this is the reply you are looking for - but I am in a similar position to you. I have been playing for 30 years and never took a single grade. My children are now going through the grades and they have 'forced' me to put my money where my mouth is!
At the next round of exams I shall be entering myself for grade 5 practical musicianship. If I pass then, then yes you can be your own teacher, if I fail then I hope you have better luck than me.
If I remember I shall drop you a note and let you know how I got on and what I would do differently if I did it again.
Good luck,
Neil.

Why not just have a go? Are you self-critical (like, enough to recognise when you're doing something wrong)?
Would you need weekly lessons?
Could you find enough material for sight-reading?
What if you found a teacher just to check things over close to the exam? In your situation you should meet someone who can help you.

Quite aside from that, do you really want to be bothered with music exams as a way to continue with music during your medical studies. Why not sort out a few pieces at Grade 6 or 7 level and play for pleasure?

Good luck, anyway...
i

Thanks for the helpful advice... Good luck in your practical musicianship exam Neil, I'm sure you can do it

Yeah, I think I'll probably have a go... I think I'm self-critical enough, I usually know when I'm doing something wrong. My problems are mainly in the areas of diction and vocal projection, and they *are* improving (the examiners now say "a little more projection needed" instead of a lot like they used to).

I think weekly lessons are a good idea... any less and you inevitably progress more slowly, which can make you lose interest a little. I've always had weekly lessons, paid for by my school (which was nice enough to pay for lessons for all AS and A level music students). They were only 15 minutes each though, because of having too many pupils and just one singing teacher. She was always complaining to me (her oldest student) about having to work 3 hours with no breaks before rushing off to another school, eating her lunch in the car on the way...

Sight-reading... hmm... I've always been pretty good at that, usually getting about 19 or 20. Maybe joining choirs and generally studying new pieces will improve my sight-reading skills without me having to make any special effort. Alternatively I could get the sight-reading practice book.

Getting someone to check my progress before the exam is a really good idea, thanks . Yeah, I do want to continue exams. I like them I enjoy getting the results certificate afterwards, and knowing I've achieved something. They're the only progress check I really trust... friends and family don't have the skills to analyse your performance, and just think you're wonderful anyway, but examiners are mostly unbiased.

Has anyone else got opinions on whether (or how) you can "be your own teacher"?

singingsiren
xx

Hi singingsiren

I too am a medical student and have to finance my way through school.
Are you living at home or away?
What I would suggest is that you find somewhere e.g. restaurant/hotel where you can get a weekly slot playing piano for about £10-20 per hour. You'll find that that kind of thing will go a long way to financing yourself and will also help you in your playing. A great series of books to get, and that contain a good selection of music, are the 'popular piano solos' (in 18 volumes!!) from wise publications (they are the books with the colourful covers that have pictures of a grand piano in various unusual settings!). The books are about £8-9 each and are well worth the investment. - You'll recoup the money pretty quickly if you get a regular spot. The pieces range from about grade 4-7 standard and all the arrangements are very good indeed.

If you haven't already done so take out your full student loan each year it will never be a problem to repay when you are working (unless you decide to get married, buy a car, house and start a family all at the same time...).

With regard to music lessons, at your stage you want to go for quality not quantity. I would suggest a lesson every 3-4 weeks for at least an hour. I would invest in paying a very good teacher who will inspire you - you can check out your university's music department and ask around for a good teacher who is popular amongst the students and not somebody who is simply there to absorb money.
I would suggest that it is better to pay £40 per lesson for great teaching that will inspire you and will get to the root of technical and musical difficulties quickly than £10 for four lessons that are glorified play-throughs of your pieces.
Despite your best intentions and no matter how smart or well motivated you are, weekly lessons (even in different instruments) will kill you - find somebody that will have the flexibility that you can book lessons close together when you are less busy etc.
Never let your music become a burden or worry - let it complement your studies. If your going to a reasonably traditional course (as opposed to these wacky off-the-wall DIY problem based learning setups) then you will have a lot of time in your first year to make progress providing you work hard, don't get plastered every other night and are disciplined in your music study. I firmly believe (from my own experience) that investing in a great teacher who will get you to practise in the right way and will show you the correct technique etc. for certain passages will do far more than one who is mediocre. You are in charge of your own education now - go to all the seminars, masterclasses, concerts etc that you can. Play all sorts of music from classical to pop songs. Sell yourself as a pianist when you feel comfortable that you can do so and you will get work that will finance your way through university.

Hope this has been of some help

Dangermouse

Hi Dangermouse...

I'm living away from home, or I will be anyway. (Live in London, will be in Leicester - assuming I get in!) Thanks for the tip about playing piano, I don't think I'm good enough (I passed Grade 6 by the skin of my teeth) but I might try it anyway. There's a topic in the general forum where people have been suggesting piano pieces - Chopin and the like - for someone to play in a restaurant. Maybe I'll take some ideas from there for my repertoire, as well as buy the books you suggested.

I will be taking out the full loan... I'll need all the money I can get. I'm a bit poor, but not poor enough to get my tuition fees paid for me. Ah well.

Yeah, I'll take the opportunity to go to lots of concerts. I thought I'd immerse myself in musical activities at college as well, choirs and musical groups and stuff. Apart from everything else, they're probably free.

I'll try and take into account what you (and everyone) said, and not let it get on top of me. I do like the idea of the occasional top-up/pre-exam booster lesson. Thank you people...

singingsiren
xx

I tough tmyself grade 5 flute after my teacher went to have a baby...I don't know how different it would be for singing but you could do what I did and just have say 3 lessons with plenty of time before your exam so then you can have a little guidance and will be told the mistakes (if any) that you're making.
Alex
xxxx

i live in leicester and i have a very good singing teacher who lives right by leicester uni. she's not that expensive either, in fact shes very reasonable, and shes very encouraging and supportive and a really good teacher. it was singing wasnt it?

As you have had lessons already you should have a firm foundation for your technique so you won't damage it by trying to learn repertoire yourself. Joining choirs is a good (and free) way to keep the voice going, but it will do absolutely nothing for your technique - choral singing can ruin your solo voice if you are not careful, as you have to sing into yourself rather than project in order not to stick out.

Go for it! I put myself through grade 8 singing while at university, with only the help of my friend who was my accompanist - and the only helpful thing she ever said was "Try to sing in tune"!!!! I am sure I would have got better marks if I had had a teacher, but it doesn't really matter now! I started lessons again many years later when I was working and could afford it, and my voice is now infinitely better than it was when I took grade 8.

Singingsiren,
This may work out. Assuming you will be joining University choir or drama clubs..music related classes etc., why dont' you try to consult your singing prof or his/her assistant that you are entering yourself for ABRSM singing...and ask if (they are nice enough) you could sometimes make office hours appointment to do outside of class work with them. Maybe you could arrange something with your teachers...of course you wouldn't go to them every week for lessons..they could definitely charge you if they took that as a side job. But say practice on your own and go there once a month or so and sing to them the pieces required for the exam and have them help you out on technique/analysing etc. Most prof/teachers are nice enough and willing to do that i know. And they und Uni students are poor hehehe. If that is too much trouble to ask a prof...you could always find a private teach to do that..since u are an adult...time management is completely on your own. So you dont' really have to go see your teacher all the time if you think you can manage. Your teacher then is just there to really guide you when you need help or need to check things out. So you wouldn't need to go to your private teacher weekly either...but of course u'll have to pay her whenever u pay a visit =)

good luck

Thanks everyone,

Well, I was going to Leicester... but now it's Nottingham. So I can't see her, I'm afraid. Thanks a lot for your help anyway

xx