I'm looking at starting my piano grading shortly. I have never played a piano at all (only messing about), in fact the only instrument I have played is a recorder years ago.

I'm going to be using a prokeys 88 sono digial midi piano/synth to practise on with semi weighted keys.

So a couple of questions:

1. How long would you expect me to get to Grade 1 level?
2. Do I need a teacher, or can I just read the books and pass?
3. Do I have to sit the exam on a proper piano, and if so how much effect will the keyboard have on not passing or being different?
4. I have no idea about singing for the aural? I've been told I'm not tone deaf, and can sing in tune but I don't know if I can sing a note just played or whether it's right etc.

Thanks for your help

1. It takes, on average, about a year to 18 months to reach grade 1, although lots of people manage it in less and equally many take a lot longer. After that, it takes around a year per grade.

2. You don't need a teacher, but you really should get one as you are almost certain to develop bad (and possibly damaging) habits if you don't. You could probably pass grade 1 if you're completely self-taught, but playing the piano is about being able to actually play it well, not about the passing grade exams and the two are not necessarily equivalent!

3. You would have to sit the exam on an acoustic piano (it could be upright or grand depending on the centre). Practising entirely on a digital piano/keyboard will effect your performance slightly as keyboards' weighted keys are never really like proper piano touch even with the top-range ones. However, if you had a teacher, you would have regular practise on a (hopefully) decent upright, so the real piano would be less of a shock to the system in an exam. You can progress well with a digital piano but, when you get to the higher grades, you will really need to think about getting an acoustic piano with a proper action.

4. For grade 1 aural, from what I can remember, the singing is just echoing short phrases played by the examiner, so you should probably be able to manage it without too much problem. However, a teacher would be able to give you proper guidance on this.

It has taken a year per grade for me - although (and I don't mean this to be a cop-out, I do think it's true) - everyone is different. And another thing, it's not necessary to take all the grades once you've started. Many people skip a few here and there.


again.

Anything from a few weeks to a couple of years depending on how well you understand music already, how well co-ordinated you are, how determined you are ....

You could read books, teach yourself, and pass, but if you have serious ambitions to be a good pianist then you need a teacher, a good one, and the sooner you find one the better

You have to sit it on whatever is provided at the exam centre. Usually that will be a traditional acoustic piano. At grade one it should not make much difference.

Most people can learn to pitch their voices accurately, even if the tone quality that results is not great! You'd be the exception if you couldn't.

I started in February 2007. I could read the treble clef but had no previous experience of the piano. I sat Grade 2 in December 2007. I think how long it takes depends on how much time you spend practicing! I spent 30 minutes a day initially and then moved up to an hour a day, sometimes more. Having a teacher is crucial. I had tried using books for a few weeks before I found a teacher, and was wondering why it was so hard but had bought a book called "easy piano classics" which was about grade 4 level.


I've just sat grade 4 piano and the aural has sight singing in it. But you only have to sing 5 notes and if you can't do it it's not the end of the world!