Hi Everyone

I'm new here

Any tips for doing well for grade 8 exam (taking next year probably) ... I just got back my grade 7 results, pass by one mark ... 101

Lol ... I know this isn't good ... but let's say, I m going thru' a rough time when I was doing the exam ...

Congrats for passing Grade 7. I am sure you put in lots of effort, though you didn't get the results you expected.

What does your comment sheets say? What are the areas for improvement? You can read through the comments and marks, and find out which sections/aspects you are weakest in, and work on them.

For example, I figured out that supporting tests e.g. scales and aural tests can make a difference in the marks I get. Doing well in those tests also helped improve my playing of repertoire in the long run. I have failed G6 and G8 in the past, and it was obvious in my comments sheets that the examiners were unimpressed by my poor scales and unresponsiveness during aural tests. So I worked on those, and am glad I did.

I will be working towards Grade 8 next year too. Let's work hard!

A pass at 101 is just as good as a pass at 119, so dont worry about it, people dont usually ask what mark you got, but what grade (P, M or D).
I haven't reached those heights yet, so my post ends here

Well done for passing despite other pressures.

My tip is not to jump straight into Grade 8. Work your way up to the new repertoire - your teacher should guide you on this. Also, start practising the new aural tests early as they're a lot harder than Grade 7.

I know there’s probably a bigger jump between 7 and 8, but for what its worth, I only scraped a pass in grade 4 and then just three months later only missed Honours (Trinity’s Distinction) by one mark at grade 5.

Good Luck!

Mole

Thank you ... actually I really did try ... but after the exam, I just kinda knew there r things I didn't pull thru', still, I was pining for a merit but when it comes out, I was between a mixture of relief (at passing) and anguish ... Haven't got back my mark sheet yet, but I kinda know (even before hand), what are the areas I will get nail in ... sight readng, aural and perhaps sight singing plus some rattled performances due to nerves ... haha ... let's work hard towards G8 2getha n share the good news here

Hi there ... thanks U make a good point also Lol ... I'm sure U will reach those heights one day as long as U've a passion for music, good luck and all the best ...



Thanks Haha, I think so too ... guess I will have to work harder on my weaker points... aural and sight reading confirm being among them... my teacher and I forsee my weakness quite some time ago (when I was in G4,5 ...) but didn't really focus much on them, as we thought will get better over time (but it didn't ) ... so I kinda "deserve" this mark in a way, but will try to balance my time better between work and practise, and invest more effort into improving my skills ... btw, what are the more difficult things to look out for in G8?



Hi Yup, I'm sure there will be more challenges when it comes to playing and listening test for G8 ... hope I'm up for it ...

Well done for ur G5 exam ... u miss distinction but still got merit right (was it call merit)? I'm sure U will get the distinction U want for the next grade... good luck and all e best

Well done. The aural is alot harder, singing the bass line and saying what the chords are. I failed it in my exam so ill just say all of it. Make sure your technique is up to scratch, and make sure your scales are smooth and musical, cresc up and dim down, and each note even. Brush up on your sight reading, it's easy marks for you to gain. Good luck.

Oh dear ... looks like I have to work a lot more harder on my aural ... generally my scales are okay now, but sight reading is the killing point for me Lol

Any tips on how to improve on sight reading?

Practise it. A lot
Just find any pieces you've never learnt in the past, pick a few lines, and treat them like sight reading tests. You must have some old exam books, you could use the pieces you didn't choose?
Everyone says to "look ahead" in the music. It's easier said than done, but do try to do that. Go at a speed where you won't hesitate too much, but not too slow, unless that's the tempo stated. Also try to make a habit out of noticing dynamics, that should get you some easy extra marks.

I find a good way to practice sight reading is to accompany people. I think that's why mine keeps improving. I don' t know how old you are, but if your in school and theres singer or someone accompany them alot, it will imrpove your sight reading in general and musicianship, and aural skills, and will make sure you keep on going. Stopping is a definate no. And remember dynamics, will always make it more musical and give you a plus.
Good Luck.

Haha... I'm 21 ... no longer in school, I learn on a part time basis, sometimes I'm scared to practise in front of people as my sight reading sounds really bad ... but yup, I'm working on it and looking for a new teacher to train along with me ... hopefully will do better for G8 ...

Don't worry about practicin in front of poeple if it goes completely to pot just laugh about it.

Lots of people find sightreading difficult so nothing to be embarrassed about My sister sings so she'd get me to accompany her from time to time (including during the period of not playing the piano thing) and if it looked tricky I'd just make sure the bass line was filled in and try to fill in the cues... If you keep on working at it then by the time the exam comes it'll be fine.