Well here we are a mere 3 weeks from the impending Grade 5 theory exam. Things are not going too well. Still much to do, with not a lot being done at home, in spite of a promise that study leave woud give her loads of time to work on it. Fumbeling away hoping for the best. Put on hold the Grade 6 pieces she had been working on (obviously!) and haven't heard her play for 6 weeks as we concentrating on the theory.
Suddenly announces tonight that if she passes the theory, that instead of sitting Grade 6 in Nov as planned, that she would like to miss it out and go straight on to Grade 7 in March! The reason for this I ask? Well I've already learnt 3 of the pieces so I'm going to be too bored of them by Nov, I'm ok with the scales (NOT!!!), and I don't think the aurals going to be that hard she replies. I remind you, I haven't heard her play for 6 weeks, and the pieces were no where near finished at that point. How do I break it to her gently that this is nothing short of musical suicide. This is a 16 year old piano pupil.

How about being non-committal, and suggesting that you give her a mock exam after the precious Theory exam, making sure that she only has about a week to warm up the scales and pieces.

Then show her the G7 scales, pieces, and aural - and give her a G7 aural test for good measure.

Persuade her that an excellent G6 mark might look more impressive than a scrape on G7.

Maybe you need to (quite forcibly!) emphasise the jump from G5 to G6, (never mind G7!)and the time that should be allowed to really get to grips with the technical demands of the higher grades. I took on a student last August who is adamant that she will do G8 having ony passed G5 practical...more for the UCAS points I think, and it has taken ages for herto fully appreciate the completely different requirements at this level in comparison to G5. Meedless to day, I have so far refused to put an entry in.

Tell her that it will be far better to get a good pass at grade six rather than to risk a poor one at a higher grade for which she will not be ready to take. Also point out the small number of hours of lessons left between now and November! That should change her mind. If not just refuse to enter her for the higher grade. She could make a self entry then if she really wants to.

I would just say that's fine if she knows the pieces - there are plenty others on the list to learn as well and then she can choose the ones she likes best for the exam, and if she's very confident with her scales and aural, that's great. Don't even consider the option of Grade 7 with her - if she pushes for it, you could suggest she can always jump to Grade 8 after Grade 6 if she gets a high Distinction, and that lots of people miss out Grade 7, but most people find Grade 6 a really useful exam to take as it is very different from Grade 5.

Just an opinion: Don't comment until grade 5 theory exam is out of the way. After that, if she doesn't want to take grade 6, then fine, do something else; Why target grade 7 in March? Why worry about numbers at all? Have a chat with her and ask not just what she wants to do but why?

Once you've got the motivation sorted, then she has to be realistic about what she CAN achieve.

Just tell her straight. You're the teacher after all; she's the sixteen-year-old pupil, who might think she knows it all, but it's your professional judgment that counts. If she doesn't accept that you have reservations, you'll have to explain that your professional reputation is at stake too. It's not just a case of her paying her money and taking her choice.

LR

Is she wanting to have Grade 8 by the time she goes to University? I have a lot of students in that position, and often end up with them doing one grade out of 6 and 7 rather than both. It is slightly different for flute though, as Grades 6 and 7 are very close in standard. There is a bigger gap on piano.

Just a thought.

I get the feeling that the problem really lies with big sister. She is at uni actually studying music as a degree and is intending making a career out of it, so she had completed all the grades by 16. My pupil doesn't seem to want to make a career out of music as well, so I cant understand the need to be at any particular level within a tight time frame. Her sisters getting married in the summer and doesn't live at home so it's not even as if she's pushing her on from the wings!