I am currently a year 11 student, planning to do G8 piano about this time next year. My question is, would it be reasonably possible to then acquire a diploma of any kind before I go to university?

Yes

Nice and blunt there, Ben. You know what I like

you can, if you work really hard.

the gap between grade 8 and diploma is great.

Not impossible, but would it represent a huge challenge, I think. The work load in the sixth form increases greatly, and it takes a long time to put a diploma programme together, especially for piano.

To give you an example, I have a flute student taking DipABRSM on Wednesday who passed Grade 8 with distinction in Year 10 and is currently in Upper Sixth. Around half of her diploma programme was already in her repertoire when I began teaching her just over a year ago.

I took 13 years to get there after Grade 8 and still didn't pass all of it - but then I wouldn't say I've been improving steadily since 1994! I took grade 8 saxophone last year and got 141 marks, then clarinet DipABRSM this year (an instrument I'm much better at) and failed the recital. That illustrates the gap between the standards somewhat. But some musicians your age and younger do manage it!

No.

Would it be possible for you to sit Grade 8 piano in the summer, and then devote one full year to prepare for the diploma?

It is certainly possible to go from Grade 8 to diploma in under a year if:
1) you can already handle pieces of Grade 8+ standard well; AND
2) you possess good knowledge of materials covered in Grade 6 and 7 theory; AND
3) you are prepared to practise at least two to three hours daily between now and summer 2009.

This amused me!

My answer is that we have no way of knowing!

It's more than a question of how quickly you can learn pieces; it's how well you can polish them, and this, for me, was what took the most time. It took me about a year and four months after Grade 8, and a huge amount of time was put into sticky little sections, where the difference between getting notes and timing right, and making it sound professional, was the issue. You might get away with skimmimg over bits like this at Grade 8 with accuracy alone, but not at diploma level. The subtleties need to be there.

Now, if you'll excuse me...

WOOP WOOP ** STANDARD RESPONSE ALERT ** STANDARD RESPONSE ALERT ** WOOP WOOP

The first thing to do is READ THE SYLLABUS. Find out what a diploma actually involves - both the AB and TG diplomata are about more than just playing a few pieces and scales; from memory the LCM ones do too.

I don't know what standard you're actually at, but it's a huge leap from Grade VIII to associate diploma level, so to bridge the gap in a year you'd either have to be well beyond Grade VIII next winter, or be prepared to put in an awful lot of effort during the year, not only getting your performance up to standard, but preparing for all of the the bolt-ons that a diploma involves.

I tend to side with Mr Bouffant and Deborah here. Read the syllabus, and think in you heart of hearts "am I up to doing the rest of this stuff" in the two years after I take my Grade 8?

Now I don't know you from Adam, and the answer may well be yes. However proceed with caution. Take DipABRSM for example. Deborah, I know is an extremely accomplished musician who was felled by the Viva Voce first time around. I scraped my LRSM Quick Study by a mark despite being "a good sight reader".

Now if you have the organisational and research skils and necessary musical maturity to do it then fine. But DipABRSM is far more than Grade 8 with a bit tacked on, as is ATCL and ALCM.

Hi,

I did grade 8 sax Christmas 2006, and got 141 (ABRSM). Since I had worked hard getting the technique and scales good, I decided to carry on and took Sax performing diploma (DipABRSM) in July this year, which I passed first time, and was only 3 off a distinction. I've just taken grade 8 soprano sax on 21st December, so YES it IS possible!!! Saying that, I am really passionate about playing the sax, and am highly motivated. I do work almost full time, and have a hubby and 2 children to look after, as well as a bit of evening teaching etc.I REALLY enjoed working towards it, and am currently deciding on the next project...possibly grade 8 flute!

GO FOR IT and the best of luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is there any reason for needing a dip or is it just to see if you can?

There is nothing wrong with the latter BTW, just keep things realistic.

I'm wary at recommending that young people takes their first diploma, but never say never. Your general contributions to the forum suggest you are capable of the written work, and as long as you do not clam up, you should cope with a viva. This leaves your Quick Study and Recital. Now if you are excellent at sight reading and you have the right guidance for the perfomance than go for it. However do remember you will be trying to obtain this whist studying for A/S and A2s at the same time. Again if you are the type of person who thrives on exam stress this should cause you no problems. If you are not, then think again.

I first began studying for a diploma whilst at university - I found I had much more time to spare than I had during A levels, so unless there's any particular reason for needing it sooner, you could always continue during your degree course. (I eventually gave it up due to illness, but came back and studied for a different one a decade later!)