Hello all,

I have a question that has no definite answer but I'd like an approximation please
I have started to sing a month ago with a tutor. She is great and is helping me lots, but I'm hoping to apply for a degree in music that requires Grade 8 singing..... I have just started. I have the voice, my tutor said it will be very hard work but i can make the July exams for grade 8 singing......

I'm asking you all since you have more experience than me, Do I stand a chance? I have 0 Musicianship too....... and from a month ago till next year in october (2005) am willing to study full time all day everyday if I must.
The reason for me wanting to squeeze in everything by oct 2005 is that I'm 26 now..... 27 when I start uni again.... 30 when I graduate for the second time dont want to be much older than that when I finish.

Any constructive feedback is very much appreciated.

i reeli don't know and i think it really depends on your process....i personally needed roughly about 2 years to get to grade 8... it will be hard for you for this time...it's a really big jump...but i think your voice would be way mature than mine...i'm now 17....

Have you done your grade 5 theory? I think if you work as much as you can then it would be possible, but I'm only grade 1 (and I don't do singing exams)so I'm not really sure! And I kind of go by the rule that you can do whatever you want so long as you work hard for it! (sorry if that's not very constructive!) I don't think many instrumental teachers tend to put false hope into their pupils, irrelevant of however old or young you are, so if your teacher thinks you can do it, and you are willing to put the work in, then go for it! Good Luck!

I just wanted to say dont worry about being older when you graduate, Ive just graduated from a music degree at 29. I worried about it so much when I started thinking that 28 was going to be way too old to be graduating (i took a year out which made it even worse!). In the end it made no difference at all, music is a lifelong learning process, and Ive learned more in the few months since I left uni than I did when I was there. Its like passing your driving test, you dont actually learn to drive until after youve passed. A music degree is a good experience but dont think that you'll know everything there is to know when you graduate........the hard learning starts afterwards I also found that the work for the degree takes up so much time that you end up neglecting some areas of your music education. For me it was the piano, which I didnt have time to practice properly during my degree and Im trying to 'catch up' on now.

As for grade 8 singing, it would depend on your ability at the moment. If your singing teacher is confident that you can do it after hearing you sing then I would believe that you could. I do think that you can learn aural skills to grade 8 standard in a year, it just means you have to practice regularly and consistently, dont practice for a week and then take a week off or your brain will have forgotten it

Keep us posted on your progress

xxFlame7

hey crazy cow...how come you are not doing any grade exams....

I started having my voice trained at 11, and got grade 8 at 15, so four years. As you have a more mature voice, it'll probably take you a quite a bit less time if you work at it.

Crazy cow is right...

have you done your grrade 5 theory?
because it enables you to move onto grade 6 and above

you can take the grade 5 theory in March if u work really hard! grade 1 - grade 8 is a big step!
but determination and ambition makes u acheive

I don't know.
I practically HATE singing!!!! I really can't sing in my aurul...actually I could do the aurul from G.1 to G.6( a little problem remembering the tune in G.5) and I can't hear the lower part of the 2 part phrase in Grade 7 but now...........in Grade 8 theres........3 PARTS!!!! Oh help!

u can't hate singing...people just sing everyday....no matter is pop or classical...anyway...i think Samanosuke should get her grade 5 theory done first...you can't get anywhere beyond grade 5 practical if there isn't at least a grade 5 theory...

QUOTE (liebe_klavier @ Sep 29 2004, 03:53 PM)

hey crazy cow...how come you are not doing any grade exams....

[QUOTE]
I do take grade exams, but not in music! (and I've only started lessons last september for GCSE music, so I've only done 3 so far!) Sorry, I know it sounded really confusing!

This really does depend on your experience as a singer and your individual standard. Yes, you must either pass your Grade 5 theory or switch to Guildhall exams in order to avoid it!! I am sure you are talented ande academic enough , as an adult musician, to do it in a reasonable time. A yr might be a bit hasty-rather be really secure and ready for Uni then rushed and underprepared. Don't forget alot of sight reading and also keyboard skills are essential, there is alot involved. Additionally lessons are very expensive. I advise you to take you time, only go as far as your voice, brain and wallet will allow!lol. There is a long life in singing, if you make it. Particularly classical; singers don't hit their professional peak until mid thirties. No rush!!!

Take care and feel free to email or post comments to me if you have any problems!

Nazan

You can also take the Trinity Board G8 Singing Exams without doing Grade 5 Theory, but you would be advised to take ABRSM G5 whatever!

Music is one of those things that the more you apply yourself, the more you get out of it, all within the bounds of your physical abilities / endurance etc, which you hope to increase.

So I suppose the answer is anything between 5 and 50 years though your voice will probably be past its prime by then!