Hi, I am worried people think I am too young to do my grade 6 at 11 (years old) every one else on here is a lot older and I want to know if you think I am too young because in my orchestra they don't know what grade I am and I am only one grade behind the senior clarinettist and they won't promote me because they think because I am the youngest of our section I am stupid do you think I am too young-
a)to be promoted?
pass my grade?
Thanks!

Personally I think that you should be proud to be taking your grade 6 at the age of 11. Its a big achievement and you should be able to show your orchestra what you are made of. I dont think you are too young to be promoted or to pass the grade. Music is about talent, not age, if you can play at that standard, why be left behind? I have the oposite problem to you, I feel as though I am too old!! I'm 15 and although I am taking my grade 6 electronic keyboard exam, I feel as though mt friends are a lot better than me. So dont let people tell you that you're too young!!!

Dizzy, you're certainly not too young!!
In my circles (Violin teaching) it is not uncommon to do 5,6,7 under age 11.
I did my grade VIII at 11 and everyone said I wasn't that good - but I showed them with a good mark. Be happy and go for it - I can believe it, so will they!
T_D

I'm constantly amased at you youngsters who are obtaining high grades at such young ages. Grade 8 is considered along with A Levels which youngsters don't take until 16-17, so getting advanced grades at under 16 shows real commitment and dedication.

Why should people think you are too young?My daughter took her grade 4 at 9 and is doing her grade 5 at just turned 10.I think you should be proud of your achievement as not only does it show natural talent but a real commitment to working hard for the exams.I know how hard my daughter has worked to get her exams so well done!!By the way,I am 40 years old and started learning the violin a month ago and boy is it hard!!I'm enjoying it though.

hey i took ma grade 6 piano at 13 and people thought i was too young but if you enjoy and do it for your own benefit then theres nothing wrong! just don't do anything for the wrong reasons and have fun playing!

Well I don't think your young at all!
You should be proud of youself!
The secret of music is not if you are
too young or too old it's about understanding
thats all.

Thanks for your encouragement! By the way some of you sound really amazing and so do your kids!!!

GEe...as what most people above have pointed out, I don't think you're too young at all! I took my Grade 6 exams just this year...and I'm 14. Well, most people around my age are doing Grade 8 exams..so considering that you're 11 and you're taking Grade 6, you're not too young at all! As for the orchestra thingy, relax. Playing in a orchestra is not just about being promoted!

For me,I passed grade 8 at 16 years old,an old lady!!!of course,compare with you,I am old.but now,I am become a piano teacher in school,I got a colleague passed grade 8 with merit at 12 years old,but now she is 20 years old,still remain in grade 8 stage.

Hi your definitly not too young! I was 12 when i passed my grade 8 trumpet with 127, and many people around me (including myself, now i come to think about it!) thought i was too young, but i'm doing just fine at the moment! Where your at in your musical career is brilliant for your age, so dont feel down. Any part in an orchestra is just as important as any other! dont wory about that!

Just have lots of fun!

Wow, I would love to of been at grade 6 when I was 11, but I was only just starting grade 1 on the piano and grade 2 on the violin when I was 11.

You should be proud of your self being so far on at your age. I had only just started playing the flute at the age of 11. I am now 17 and am doing my grade 8 in April if everything goes to plan that is. Dont be ashamed of your youth if you work hard but are able to have fun at the same time youll do gr8 afterall theres no point in playing an instrument if u dont enjoy it!

as some might say, 'you go girl!' I wish I had the chance to even take my grade one. I had a school which for some reason if you couldn't read music they wouldn't teach you to play an instrument, so I have come around to playing the Clarinet late in life and just for fun (started when I was 16, had to give up due to it not belonging to me and leaving the Air Cadet band and have just been given a Clarinet of my own) and I would love to be able to take even the lowest grade to prove to myself it can be done.

I have admiration for anyone who can achieve anything at such a young age and achieve it well, so as much as there is such a thing as 'never too old' there is also no such thing as never to young.

I just hope all that makes sense now!!!

Try out the pieces and scales. If you're fine with everything, then do the grade! That simple.

But remember you have to have taken Grade Five Theory or a similar exam in order to do Grade Six. Better check that up.

11 is a good age. I personally did my grade six last year (17) . My sister's giving it this year, and she'll be 14.

Try out the pieces and scales. If you're comfortable with them, then do the grade!

Eleven is a good age. Just remember that you have to be qualified for Grade Five Theory or a similar exam.

No, dizzy, you're not too young. One of our local wunderkinds recently passed her LRSM at age 11:

http://www.abigailsin.com/MyCV.htm

Hi dizzy et al,
I had the great pleasure of hearing an extremely gifted young Korean pianist in Sydney, Australia last June who performed a very musically demanding programme most superbly. She has already obtained her FTCL diploma in piano performance at the tender age of 10! I'm not sure if this unassuming young lass has a website of her own but she certainly deserves to have one. :-)

Go for it Dizzy! What have you got to lose?

I did my Grade 6 piano exam at the same age as you. My "friends" and teachers at school were all a bit skeptical but I came out with an distinction - and that REALLY rubbed salt into the wound!! It's not kept me back...thanks to determination and hard work I'm now doing a BA Music Degree at University!

If you want to do it, and you're prepared to put in the extra hard work and dedication to do it, then go for it! You've got nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

I wouldn't worry about not being promoted to Senior Clarinettist because of your age. If they promote you it should be because they feel that you're good enough to do it, and not some 'oldest first' game. If they don't then they obviously haven't realised what a talent they have. Maybe you should have a look at joining a local orchestra or group around your area, away from your school. It allows you to meet new people in a similar situation to you, and you get to really play your heart out!

Best of luck!

Hi everybody!

I am 26 and preparing piano grade 1 exam . I am ambitious and want to (and believe I can) improve quickly. My goal is to have a technical level equivalent to grade 8 within 3-4 years (?) . Is that too ambitious for an adult learner? How many years in average do students spend between two successive grades.

The grade is of course just a way to keep myself motivated and my real goal is to be get a good technical level so I can enjoy playing my favourite pieces, discover new repertories and may be (why not!) be able to express myself by writing music.

Many thanks in advance,
Saez

I heard that as u get older its harder to learn to play new instruments. I started piano and 14 and found it quite a bit harder than learning clarinet at 7. I think its just a case of working hard and being dedicated. Short regular practices are always the best ones and if u do plenty of sightreading u can gradually work your way up to grade 8 standard.

Hi

I did Grades I and II piano last year at the age of 37. I would really like to continue to do an exam every 6 months but I'll see how it goes and how confident I feel at the time.

Caroline

hi saez,
you are not to old to start learning to play the paino and take exams. i started playing 10 months ago and have just sat my first exam before chrismas which i did well in. I have found it easier to learn now that i'm older than i did to learn the guitar when i was ten. I am now 19 by the way. some people find it easier to learn to play when their older because they are more motivated. providing you are willing to put in the work you should be able to do an exam every 6 to 9months.
best of luck with learning.
musicalmillie

If you want to do it go for it! I would say set yourself realistic targets however even if you over estimate the time it takes. Me and my music I'm aiming to be at least grade 1 equilvent in Jazz Clarinet in two years, but if I get there sooner then all the better.

I am also an adult learner so yes I can say it's tough work, I also have to compete with the fact that I'm dyslexic, can't read music and much of my free time during the football season is spent refereeing. So you have to fit in your music around your lifestyle. Young learners have such an advantage when it comes to learning music, school is the only thing they really have to worry about and music fit into that whole scene. There is no worry about working nine to five, paying the bills, making sure the kids are fed, ready for school etc. So again make a realistic time scale for yourself and if you meet it sooner then bonus!

Quote 'My goal is to have a technical level equivalent to grade 8 within 3-4 years (?)'

Why not, as an adult in my 20's a few years back, i took up the saxophone and completed grade 8 in approximately 3 years. I did however skip the odd grade. So yes you can do it. good luck!

Hi Saez

Of course you're not too old at 26 - after all I'm not too old at 36! Music is for life, you know, not just to collect certificates (although they're nice to have too).

Seriously, though, the speed at which you will pick up technical skills and be able to pass grades depends a fair bit on how much commitment you are prepared to put in - and one of the advantages of being a more mature student is that you are probably a lot more committed to the learning process than someone younger - you have had to make a positive choice and go to some considerable effort to start the process. I've been having singing lessons for a year now, the first music lessons I've had for a quarter of a century, and just passed Grade 5 with Distinction - and I'm going for Grade 8 in March which will be fourteen months after I started...... This has given me a tremendous boost, but most importantly it's helped my main interest, which is choral singing, and the extra technical skill I'm gaining will go on long after I stop doing exams.

Enjoy your playing, but don't make the exams the only goal you have - they are a means to an end, not the end itself!

Cheers

Katyjay

you are never too old to start learning a instrument.As long as you enjoy it then go for it.As for reaching grade 8 standard in 3/4 years, it is possible as long as you are really motivated and practice loadz!!!!
Good luck in all ur exams!!!

It´s a good idea to set yourself goals and you will find out as time goes on whether they prove to be rather ambitious or not. However, I do think you need time between exams to seek out and experience different repertoire and enjoy your music rather than perhaps putting yourself under pressure to take an exam every six months or so if this is what you have in mind. I agree that regular practice and plenty of sightreading would help you achieve your ambition. Good luck.

I teach two kids slightly younger than me- they are very enthusiastic and one did her grade 3 after a year of tuition, she practised like crazy though! I know its a recognised fact that adults are generally much slower in learning, but i'd say if you work hard, you should be able to make just as much amazing progress as she did!
Perhaps you might want to bear in mind, that the average pupil takes 8 years to gain grade 8, with the later grades taking longer than the first couple. I did my first 5 grades in a few years- then finding it took me three years after grade 7 to take my grade 8!
But certainly no age is to late to learn, and how can anyone be to optimistic?! Just dont feel let down if you dont acheive your 3-4year goal, it would be phenominal if you did! Even 6 or 7 years would be amazing.
Anyway, good luck and have fun playing whether you reach your goals or not
Becky

Thank you all for your advice and encouragement!!

As I said, the grades are only a mean to keep myself motivated to practice and improve the technical stuff. I enjoy playing piano very much even at my current level but I think that with a better technique it can only get better

Go for it!!!!

I know who started sax. on her 40th birthday and she didn't even know the difference between a C and a D!!!! And six months on she is ready to take her grade 1 but needs a bit of encouraging.

It is never too young to learn!!!

mousey

Hey - I am in the same posision may be we could give each other some tips! Dizzy!

I don't think anyone is too old.


I am 47 and have just passed my grade 3 piano and I am aiming for grade 5 by the end of 2005.

I do find it harder to keep up with how much there is to learn, and would be grateful for any tips for older learners in improving my capacity to learn the scales and pieces.

Hi there, I returned to the recorder having not done much with it at school, and went in at grade 5 last year and received a merit. More importantly I started playing the harp 10 years ago and started playing a lap harp just for fun,teaching myself. After a couple of years I found a tutor, moved onto the clarsach and then the pedal harp and am now studying for grade 5. I'm 56years young. I think it is difficult juggling home, work, family and practice but it is possible. You progress at how much time you can put into practice. The one thing I really miss is having other people to practice and play with. Apart from more nimble fingers I think this really is the biggest advantage stydents at school have over those students who are not at school ot university.

All the best, I 'm sure you will get to where you want even if at times it is difficult and a little slower than you imagined.

Sandra

Hi everyone. I started my piano lesson at ago 30.I have gone through G9 toronto conservatory of music. I am aiming for ABRSM exams. We are never too old to learn as long as there is enthusiasm, motivation and dedication.

PS: I am 46 years old now. It is never too late.

Hi im 16 and have got grade 3 violin grade 3 piano and grade 5 clarinet.I was wondering what grade should you be at at my age coz i think that im quite a way behind.I do think i am of a higher standard than these grades but ive not really spent my whole life taking the exams,ive played fun pieces as well!!!I would like 2 study music at uni so i was also wondering if i was at grade6/7 and i played a grade 8 piece for the uni audition would they mark me down coz of the amount of exams ive taken
Please help!!!!!
Thanx
Natalie

Hi! I would love to study music at uni, but I really dont think that Id be able to cope with the workload because my aural skills arent very good. Im 16 and at the moment Ive got grade 8 piano, grade 4 sax and im just taking my grade 6 on my clarinet. However, Since I was 10 Ive just spent most of my time doing grades (well on the piano anyway) and music takes up a lot of my time. I dont think your'e behind, you've just been enjoying playing music, which is just as important.

There has been a fair amount of discussion on this forum about this.
Trouble is that most of it seems to come from the seriously high flyers who are covering a grade a year all the way up to grade 8. I think that to do this you must either be very talented or be spending all the time doing exam pieces (which may mean that you can pass exams but have very little experience of music otherwise).
As grades 3-5 equate roughly with GCSE grades I think that grade 5 at 16 is not low.
Do most people really manage to get grade 5 by the time they leave primary school and grade 8 at 12 or 13? Unfortunately reading posts on this forum seems to give that impression but I am not so sure that this is the norm.

Back when i was at school most youngsters did'nt start to learn instruments until secondary school at age 11/12. It was acceptable to obtain one grade per year so most had grade 5 or possibly grade 6 by the time they were 16. I think this was a balanced approach to grades as students could enjoy playing more and not have to worry to much about exams. It also meant that students who were serious about music could study the higher grades whist at college studying their A-Levels. By the time they were thinking about uni, they would probably have grade 8 practical, possibly an A-level in music and grade 5 theory. I think that this is a good way at pursuing a career in the music industry, rather than rushing students through all the grades at say the age of 14 and being burnt out by 16 and quiting music entirely due to other pressures.

Of course you're not too old. I started my first violin lesson at 13 and began the clarinet and theory at 15. I learnt the clarinet in my school band then and have my own private tutor.(I am 18 now) I am currently learning grade 8 theory only after 4+ yrs of learning theory! I suppose some things seem easier when one gets a little older and become more perceptive. Although your fingers don't seem to be as flexible, a little more time and patience will do the trick!

hello...

I think you must have started a little late but thats not a problem if you're willing to work hard to push yur grades up. I've got friends who started grade 2 at around 14 and is now at grade 6 (she's 17 now)...I've also got a friend who did like one grade a week (seriously!) when she first started at about 15 yrs old. It was just pure passion for music; i mean, she was all that eager to learn that she must have forgotten to sleep...
All the best!

I passed grade 8 guitar last year at the age of 46. The examiner was very kind! I found the experience of setting out and completing the work for the exam. very fulfilling. I would strongly encourage all adult learners to persevere - it makes you feel young!

Another mid-forties learner here. I started clarinet about six months ago having had no prior musical education or experience. It's encouraging to find other adult learners here

There was an interesting article on the bbc website a few days ago revealing that musicians lost less brain cells than non-musicians - so keep up the good work, there's hope

Mike A.

Age is no barrier , my son passed his Grade 8 piano with distinction at age 11, As long as one shows interest and enthusiasm we should always strive to achieve more

My son took his grade 8 at eleven (having started playing the violin when he was almost 8) and got a distinction, so don't think you are too young - go for it!

Seems to me that a lot of people are judging themselves against a grade rather than the more subjective ( and I feel more important ) issue of enjoyment.

"I want to do grade such and such in 'x' years...."

I don't know about yourselves, but I got little pleasure in constantly practising exams pieces, to perfection, just to pass an exam. Further, ( sorry ABRSM ) I found the pieces to be quite dull, dour and tedious. However, I do get a great deal of enjoyment in playing pieces ( that I choose ) - that in no way I could perform to exam standard.

So, what do you want - and why are you playing the piano? To get grade x, y or z or to have pleasure in learning.

Ask yourself this question.....are you going to earn a living from the piano ( and thus need professional qualifications ) or are you doing it for a hobby. If the answer is hobby, then I think the emphasis should be on enjoyment - and I challange anyone to say they actually enjoy exam preparation.

The gauntlet has been liad...!

I am currently living in Spain and teach piano privately. Many of my students are adults aged between 26 and 75 years and I must say that they are all, without exception, a joy to teach. They are all at different standards, some are complete beginners and others much more advanced. It´s true that you are never to old to learn - I think my oldest pupil ever was 78. I hope that comment about musicians losing less brain cells is true!!

Hi Fedwen

Congratulations at passing your grade 5 Recorder exam last year. You say that you miss out on playing with other people - have you heard of the Society of Recorder Players? There are branches all over the country which hold regular meetings to play together in large ensemble groups. Many of the members also form their own smaller groups. There are playing days, courses and an annual two day festival hosted by branches in various parts of the country - this year it's at Winchester. Go into the website at www.srp.org.uk for more information about all aspects of recorder playing and find out where your nearest branch(es) meet. You'll find members are very friendly and welcome newcomers to their meetings.