Seriously Natalie all 'requirements' can be bent. For studying music what you probably need is not grade 8, but to convince the college to audition you and then do well in that. High grade exams are one way of convincing the college to look at you, but there are others.

If you talk to the admissions tutors (before they get snowed under) and your school tutor/advisor/whoever you may well find that having only grade 5 clarinet, if backed up by a statement that you are playing to grade 8 standard (and other instruments), but just haven't taken the exams yet, will be sufficient to gain an audition. At this stage you can even enter on your UCAS form that you plan to enter the exams (well you do!) and there is nothing to stop you changing your plans depending on if your offer requires the grades or not! Use your personal statement well, (possibly emphasis speed of progress) and make sure your head teacher knows what your aims are so he/she can tailor the reference accordingly. Don't be confuddled, but do explore different ways of achieving your aims and scheme a bit...

Has anybody mentioned above the possibility of taking a year out before going to University?
You could have a great time after your A levels doing all sorts of exams and it would take the pressure off doing a music exam at the same time as A levels.

I think it is a huge huge advantage in life to have a clear idea of what you yourself want to do (particularly if your ambitions are realistic). At every stage of my life (O' levels, A' levels, university, choice of career, direction of career) I have been uncertain, and affected greatly by what other people think or expect - that' just my nature. It really hasn't given me a great sense of direction. At the age of 33 I have almost "happened across" a job I genuinely like doing. If you have a clear sense of direction you must treasure that, because it's not a gift everyone has.

However having a clear sense of direction doesn't mean you shouldn't listen to advice (even David's!) - you can always reject it, as long as you consider it first.

I am not a teacher or a mega-musician, so the value of my thoughts on your music exams is limited - but for what it's worth, I thought learning piano as well as a more "linear melodic" instrument was a fairly traditional and respected route for a serious musician, with the combination of those instruments contributing to overall musical development. I doubt there is any limit to how much time you are prepared to devote to learning your different instruments. The real question to me seems to be not whether the instrument commitments will clash with each other, but how this will all tie in with your A-levels, particularly Sociology and German. If they didn't matter at all, presumably you wouldn't be taking them, so it's probably worth discussing with your A-level teachers on an ongoing basis what their views as to your academic progress are, given your music practise commitments. I would have thought the situation could be subject to ongoing review - if you start falling behind on your A-level work, you always have the subsequent option of dropping one or more music exams and doing it early next year (surely more palatable than dropping A-levels and re-sitting them), but if you and your A-level teachers, with a realistic appraisal of what you need to achieve by August, remain confident you are on top of your academic work and on course for the A-levels, there wouldn't seem to be a problem at this moment in time. Personally I would have a breakdown within 3 weeks of attempting what you are doing, but I'm not you. There seem to be people in most sixth forms who have such a passion for what they are doing that they manage a greater commitment than time would seem to allow. One example is Beth Tweddle, competing within the top few gymnasts in the world, whilst sitting A-levels at very academic school. It's just a guess, but I bet she doesn't spend 4 hours a day watching TV like most teenagers.

When I was in 6th form, I was working for G8 piano (anyone who recognises my name will see I'm still working for G8 piano!), directing the music for the school's annual musical, and doing 4 A' levels - needing A-grades in most of them to get into uni. I was also teaching 4 pupils.
I didn't feel confident enough in my own abilities to enter the piano exam. I'd have either flunked that or one of the A' levels, and it was a case of priorities for me. Although it has to be said, there was not the complication that exams count for UCAS points then - although medical school probably wouldn't allow piano to substitute for biology...
As it stands, I got into uni, and am still here (yay!) and my experience of doing the musical has helped me get involved with the musical society here. I'm still working for G8, and hope to take it in March, and I now have 8 pupils!
Best of luck to you Nat, just hope your exams don't clash with each other!

~Suzy~

I agree with Sbhoa. I have to wonder why it is necessary to take three piano exams in one year, when it is possible to work towards just the last one?

When I was working through my piano grades, I moved straight on from Grade IV to Grade VII and skipped Grades V and VI altogether. I also remember having to take Grade VIII piano and Grade VI cello at the same time as my GCSE's, and I remember that something had to give! It turned out to be my schoolwork! It just isn't possible to devote sufficient time to everything, and the thought of having to work through three lots of piano exams alone in just one year, not taking into account the other exams, seems far too much for anyone to take on.

Sometimes I think if we take on too much, we end up failing certain subjects, which can be very depressing! I would think it would be far better to be a little more realistic in what this person is hoping to achieve in such a short time. Is it really necessary to take all these exams together?

Sue

thanks for the support from most people!

i talked to my teacher and ive put the following grades on my ucas form
working for: grade 8 clarinet, grade 6 sax and piano

im not doing the theory.

Well done Nat- I'm sure that's a great solution... and glad to hear you sounding happier!

I'm really pleased you've sorted that out Nat - that sounds like a GREAT solution, and it's going to look really impressive on your ucas form. You can also relax a bit more now without worrying about all the exams! I'd also like to congratulate you for not losing your enthusiasm - if that many people were coming down like a ton of bricks on me I'd just give up altogether I think!

Theory is something you'll learn when you're doing the music course anyway... are you still going to study the material? It might be worthwhile just working through a few of the theory books to give you an extra headstart at uni... although this is entirely up to you...

Good luck when you take the exams - I'm sure you'll do really really well.

Great. Nat. Work hard.

yeah work hard...u'll manage it...i'm gonna fill in my ucas form next year....i hope i can put down: grade 8s for piano and singing, grade 6 organ and possibly grade 8 theory....

If the 'daughter' wants to do it and is not too stressed by the idea - then she should go for it.

Speaking as as an adult student. Wish I'd had the motivation to go for it when I was that young!

Do what you feel is right for you Natalie.

I've joined this thread late, but I just wanted to tell you about a student of mine who last term took 5 science A levels (double maths, biology chemistry and physics) and two Grade 8 exams (flute and singing). She passed with As in almost everything, distinction in the singing and a high pass in flute (which would have been merit but for a disasterous aural - even singers flunk it sometimes).

The key to her success was organisation. If you are setting out to achieve an impossible-seeming target, then being ruthless about practice time, homework and social life is a must. If you haven't already done so, Nat, then draw up a timetable and allocate specific slots for your homework and practice. Review it each week and see how well it has worked out in practice, adjusting it as necessary. See if you can work out interim targets with your clarinet and piano teachers (and sax teacher if you have a different clarinet and sax teacher) so that you have something to measure your progress by.

Above all - don't panic. I recognise the feeling of "must pass this then otherwise I can't take this then", but try not to let it get to you.

And best of luck! Follow your dream.

thanks for the support andante in c!

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Sep 26 2004, 10:52 AM)

thanks for the support andante in c!

I haven't yet posted since my original post, and what I want to say is this:

All you people who are saying that she can manage it may possibly be right, as she has a lot of potential, but to be quite frank it is BECAUSE of the people on the forum who say 'go for it' that she is going to do so, and does anyone want that on their conscience if she ends up inable to attain the grades she needs for university because she had too much on her plate

good luck clarinetlover....i'm facing the same problem and i certainly have to give up my social life...

question- ive put on my UCAS form tht im working for grade 8 clarinet, gradr 6 sax and grade 6 piano. if i dont take any of these will it ruin my chances of getting in or not?

im still not sure i can do grade 8 clarinet, i might even do grade 6

where do u want to go...which uni?

dont know yet

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Sep 26 2004, 02:32 PM)

question- ive put on my UCAS form tht im working for grade 8 clarinet, gradr 6 sax and grade 6 piano. if i dont take any of these will it ruin my chances of getting in or not? ive decided im not doing grade 8 clarinet, probably grade 6.

You haven't got grade 8 on application, which is when they'd need that exam, unless you can prove you're that standard. And your not lying by saying that youre working towards grade 8 and grade 6, because you have been. If they ask you in your interview, just say you're still working towards them!

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Sep 26 2004, 02:36 PM)

dont know yet

which uni have u planned to go?

im not saying because last time i told a person 1 uini i was thinking of, this person laughed so im not telling anyone, im sick of being made fun of

cambridge or oxford..... no one should laugh at u..just becuase u wanna go there...

im not applying to cambrigde or oxford-no way! id never ever get in

is it somewhere in london...or where exactly.... Imperial College?

QUOTE (liebe_klavier @ Sep 26 2004, 02:53 PM)

is it somewhere in london...or where exactly.... Imperial College?

noooooooooooooo

im not saying!

fine then... i bet it's a good one...

its not bad, my teacher went there. but SOMEONE laughed when i told them where it was

Hi I sent you a personal message a while a go but I just want to wish you the best of luck in whatever you choose to do because I know that whatever you do you will succeed in. You deserve to get great marks whichever exams you do because I know from your comments on forums that you really are dedicated and that so many people respect you.

Good luck for uni, whichever one it is!

yeah thanks nicki, i keep meaning to reply but my memory is getting increasinly worse! sorry!

good luck...i won't force u to say anything...

Perhaps you should point out to the someone , that different universities are good for different reasons. Beside whats the point in going to a University, however good, if you don't like it?!

im sure you can all guess that the 'someone' is David!

oh ....i can...

oh of course

i really shouldnt have said that, i feel bad now

Don't worry Nat, we all know David's reputation and I for one was not being entirely serious anyway!

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Sep 26 2004, 03:54 PM)

QUOTE (liebe_klavier @ Sep 26 2004, 02:53 PM) is it somewhere in london...or where exactly.... Imperial College? noooooooooooooo im not saying!

Pleeeeeeeeeease?

dont u start!

im sure David will announce it next time he is online

what...don't force people to tell us something that they don't wish to say...

I can't remember. But yes, it wasn't a top-20 University and I would advise people to go to nothing less - I have the same bias against universities which accept UCAS points instead of grades (only 3 of the top 50 accept points) - the fact is that with BBB or so, and a grade 8, you can get into most of the top 20 for Music (universities, not colleges) and if that doesn't work there's always ways round it, like gap years

David- you don't seem to realise you have made things worse. you keep saying i have no confidence, well do u expect me to have any at all after this

David, i'm sure that you did all this in Nat's best interests, but to be honest it isn't really any of your business and I think you should have asked her permission before you started up a whole thread about her. It doesn't seem to be helping her much-maybe you should just leave the whole subject alone.

QUOTE

you should have asked her permission before you started up a whole thread about her

Well he did try to disguise her identity and Natalie was the one who decided to tell everyone it was her (OK, some people had guessed before but it hadn't been obviously stated)!

I do agree though it seems to be going a bit far to start a whole thread on here just to prove to someone that you're right!

93 replies all discussing me, i do feel honoured! *hint of sarcasm*!

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Sep 27 2004, 09:04 PM)

93 replies all discussing me, i do feel honoured! *hint of sarcasm*!

Did anyone even say it was her yet? Because I didn't, and just because Nat think's it's about her doesn't mean it is

stop being pathetic, i text you on ur phone and you said "of course it's you"

I'm applying to some of the Uni's Nat is, and I think they're good institutions. And besides, I haven't got much hope of getting into a high one anyway!

1463 hits and rising!

shouldn't you be contacting Simon Cowell and rushing out a CD entitled "essential clarinet" or perhaps "Nat on the 'net".

It's simply not true that only 3 of the top 50 universities accept UCAS points. But perhaops you are talking only about music? Your source?

Source is UCAS