Just wondering if many NON-PIANISTS have taken grades 6, 7, 8 Theory. The impression I get from the forums is that the majority of people doing the higher grades do play the piano.

Taken grade 6, will be taking grade 8 at Christmas, I think.

I've taken grade 8 and I'm, really, a non-pianist!!

i agree, i think more pianists do the higher grades, as it affects us alot more, I.e a flautist doesnt need to worry about harmony (or as much as) a pianist / organist does. If you see what i mean.

I'm a guitarist. I took Grade 5 to be eligible for the higher practical grades but got bitten by the theory bug! I should be sitting Grade 7 Theory in November.

Despit the fact I play piano now, I took Grades 6 - 8 theory in 2003, before starting piano lessons 5 years ago. It was tough, especially Question 2 in Gr 8, as you are asked to complete a piece for piano...

...and yes, all my fellow higher grade theory students were grade 8+ pianists...

Having said that if I wasn't a pianist I would still have done the higher grades of theory as it gets more important in university

I play violin as my first instrument/ principle study. I aslo have taken my Grade 6 Theory and now I am working on Grade 7. I just started my piano lesson 2 months ago only.
I do not think that taking Grade 6 or higher Theory will be an issue or matter for a non-pianist. In fact, you will much appreciate the music itself!
Harmony is a thing that you need to well master in Grade 6. Whereas Figured Bass is important for Grade 7 (my personally point of view). For Grade 8, I still have no overall idea for that.
Anyway, good luck!

i don't play the piano, and am trying to teach myself it but its not one of my main aims.

I took my grade 5 like 3 years ago and since have worked through g6, currently doing g7 and hope to actully take an exam whether g7 or g8 in november.

I think i carried on with it because i am actully interested in harmony/melody etc. and know that it would help me get into university.

but generaly i think many musicans do play the piano to a small standard..

The prerequisites for reading music at Reading University were piano to Grade 5, an instrument (which could be piano) to Grade 8 and A-level harmony. Looking at the syllabus for Theory 6, 7 and 8, my general reaction is that there is a certain amount of overlap with the my BA course, but rather little that I knew before I started it, and one or two items that I still don't (and don't feel the lack). Of course, the syllabuses are very sparse, and I suspect that adequate preparation requires either specimen papers or the extra knowledge of an experienced teacher.

I looked aghast at the requirement to have "Some knowledge of the styles practised by composers from the time of Haydn onwards" (at Grade 8), but then realised that the ABRSM is not particularly keen on 20th C. music, let alone 21st, so one is not likely to be asked to distinguish Suk from Mahler, Schoenberg from Webern, or Judith Weir from Jonathan Dove.