My teacher was discussing skipping Grade 2 and going straight to Grade 3 once I've (hopefully passed ) Grade 1, so I'm wondering if this is worth considering...

I was wondering if anyone has done this particular jump, and whether it might be too much of a leap technically/theory wise? Would I be risking missing out on a lot of stuff? I would plan on working through all the Grade 2 pieces alongside whatever I'm doing anyway to make sure I tackle them...

Advice much appreciated

Yes..I did 1,3,5,7 and am working towards grade 8 now.

I have a student who's going straight in at Grade 3.

It's a good thing that you are working on the grade 2 pieces, and your teacher sounds as if he/she knows the best route for you. The choice at the end of the day rests with you though. If you feel grade 3 is too big a jump, go for grade 2 instead.

I found the biggest leap (technically and in theory) came after grade 5. I worked on the grade 6 pieces alongside the grade 7 in case I felt I couldn't manage grade 7. I just scraped a pass!

It really depends on you. Every pupil is different. Some just soak everything up and understand things instantly that usually take a bit more time. You may be one of these pupils! If you do very well in Grade 1 and your teacher thinks you're up for it, give it a go.

However I prefer my pupils to spend some time consolidating and moving on gradually so that exams aren't a horrible shock to the system. There is so much lovely repertoire available for your level, I think it's a shame not to learn some party pieces!

If you start learning the grade 3 pieces, there is no law to say you can't stop and go back a few steps. Be open to moving either way and remember that if you do start grade 3 and find it too tricky, there is no shame in taking a few steps back to consolidate. That your teacher feels you would be able to make the leap is an achievement!

Cheers for this... I'll see how I get on with the exams and the grade 3 pieces. I've already been doing some Grade 3 Aural in lessons as a taster. It does seem a bit of a shame to miss out on the good G2 stuff, but the thought of playing Top Cat! as one of the exam pieces before the current syllabus year ends seems like immense fun

I've been doing a lot of reading and think I'd be OK with the theory if I invest a bit more time. I will order some G3 theory past exams and see how I get on with those I think. I've hammered my way about 3/4 through this book:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Musi...0395&sr=1-1 and don't get much wrong. I'm reading the AB pink book #1 as well.

Yes, grade 6 is one I would be reluctant to miss. I'd rather do 5,6,8 than 5,7,8.

Top Cat is 2009/10 so you have 2 years

Absolutely not. It is absolutely essential to take all the grades, in order. It surprises me that this is not enforced by law. Anyone that skips a grade should be flogged and forced to practice Hanon for 8 hours a day.

You made me smile MadTom - and that was hard after 1 1/2 hours of harmony!!!!

OH NO!!!! I've never had any intention of taking any piano grade. Maybe one day I'll take the grade 8 but it is not on the cards right now....I guess I'd better start my 22 hours a day Hanon punishment!!!!

What's the rush?

Presumably the benefit is that you may progress quicker. I guess the downside is that you may not spend enough time on certain techniques introduced at G2, and hence risk a lower score at G3. Also, if you jump and you start to struggle, this can be demotivating. I'm also at G1 and intend to keep ticking along, taking one grade at a time. That is, until my teacher tells me I'm a natural virtuoso and should jump straight to G8.

Ok, so I'll just keep plodding.

No rush really, it was just an idea/discussion. I suppose playing the higher stuff would be more satisfying personally but that's about it.

I don't think it's a case of being in a rush, rather progressing at the same rate and just not doing all the exams. After grade 2, I was going to skip grade 3 (at teachers suggestion) after working on lots of other grade2/grade3 level pieces, but decided against it due to "fear" of not having enough time to learn the grade4 pieces and scales etc at the required pace. Now wish I had skipped it, as the said TopCat! is driving me bonkers

How can that drive you bonkers? It's a really fun piece of music, and the swing feel is quite interesting I think a lot of the old cartoon themes would be excellent to add to your repertoire Turn up in a pub and bash those out and it'll raise a few smiles!

Oh I was thinking ahead about the possiblity of my son skipping 6. (He's just about to take 5.) There's no real reason except that I didn't want him to feel that he was on a conveyor belt and had to tick all the boxes. Still, it's a long way off yet, and he'll have to do loads of stuff in between anyway, as he's only at about G2 theory level




A reward, surely, not a punishment?

Sorry I've deleted your smilies, Tom, but I got a message that my post had more emoticons than is allowed

I did Grade 1, missed Grade 2, and am about to take Grade 3 in 3 weeks time. It's OK.
Bev.

Top Cat drove me potty aswell.

I plumped for the alternative list C piece Jack's Asleep in the end which is a jazzy little arrangement of Frere Jacques although this piece presents a different set of challenges

I haven't skipped any Grade so far in my illustrious piano career (Grade 1 & 2 ) but I did skip a couple of clarinet grades when I was first learning, went straight in at Grade 5 skipped 6 then did 7 & 8. I don't think you miss out on anything but I'm a great repetoire explorer, never happy unless I've got at least 7 pieces on the go some of which are far too advanced for me at the mo (Bach 2 part invention number 4 is my current pet "I WILL be able to play this one day")

I think I'm just addicted to buying music

Lois

Grade 6 is when the marking criteria change (see "These Music Exams" for details). It becomes a case of examiners almost presuming you can play the notes, and marking you more on your expression and interpretation. Many a high level grade 5 pianist has come a little unstuck at grade 6.

Thank you - I knew that there was some sort of transition after grade 5, but didn't really know what it was, and it's the point where I bowed out myself, many years ago. His teacher is very hot on expression and interpretation, so if there is any unsticking, it won't be her fault, but it's a fair way off at the moment

It's fine to skip so long as your ready. I agree with Daisy chain that the biggest leaps come after grade 5. I really noticed that and it took me over year to bridge the 5-6 gap (which included the theory) whereas grade 7 which I'm doing in 3 weeks has only really taken me about 6 months. However, I think grade 8 will take a lot longer.

Grades can be taken at the maximum of a 3 year, more often 2 or even 1. If you are learning faster than that, skip grades or be held back.

Of course it's not necessary to go through all the grades if one is an able student. The RCM and RAM and therefore by inference ABRSM don't enforce it. You're just being silly

Yes but the Police do enforce it, and they have TASERs just in case, not to mention the possibility of the Armed Services as backup.

Would that be police who enforce Tempo, Articulation, Style, Ease of performance and Rhythm?

Hmmm.. now why does that remind me of someone?

Perhaps it is the same police that insist on all baroque trills beginning on the upper auxiliary ??

Had somebody different in mind actually...