Well I've decided to take the plunge and enter for Grade 8 theory. It's something that I've wanted to do for a long time and I've finally had the time to sit down and work everything out! I'm entering for TG rather than AB as the TG material helped me understand things that I've struggled with for years, all the way through my music degree etc. Is anyone else taking their grade 8 this time round?

I'm planning on entering. I've been having trouble with ABRSM grade 8; I didn't even think of looking at TG. I've just had a look at the example papers and it looks far more acheivable. I find the ABRSM paper involves way too much composition. I need grade 8 to get into uni, which is why I'm so worried about it.

Good luck!

Good luck to you too! Which uni is it?
Yes I only recently found the TG theory books and I much prefer them, although I'm still using the AB books for teaching my pupils.

Cardiff. I'm hoping to be going this time next year (as a mature student). I don't have music A level hence needing grade 8 theory to get in.

I'm just awaiting a response from my teacher on her opinion on doing the exam with TG but I'm really hoping she agrees it's a good idea. I hope she does as I wasn't getting very far at all with ABRSM and I was losing hope! So thank you for reminding me that ABRSM isn't the only option!

just bought the grade 8 book...hasn't been opened yet though, looks far too scary

i will have to take the plunge soon!!

I've been looking at the theory prerequisites for teaching diplomas, and ABRSM will take Trinity grade 8 theory in exchange for their grade 6 - they consider AMusTCL (Trinity does theory diplomas, this is the first level a la DipABRSM) equivalent to ABRSM grade 8. Some universities asking for grade 8 theory specify ABRSM, so it's worth checking this if that's why you're doing it.

If the grade 6 ABRSM book looks intimidating, I recommend working through the Trinity books first. I went through the grade 6 and 7 ones in about two months and the ABRSM workbooks are far more approachable now. The ABRSM grade 6-8 books are more textbooks than workbooks, with an awful lot of block text (too much in my opinion) and fewer exercises, whereas the Trinity books explain things more succinctly and clearly and have lots and lots of practice questions. The Trinity books discuss topics which are found in the ABRSM books, but in slightly less detail - once you've done the groundwork in the Trinity books the ABRSM books look much less scary. Even the grade 8 looks approachable now!

Having just looked at the list of Trinity exam centres that offer theory exams, I may have to rethink this! I live in Manchester and the nearest centres for me appear to either Doncaster or York! And that's dependent on numbers.

Perhaps it's worth asking a more local representive - the worst they can say is 'sorry, we can't'.

My teacher has said she's fine with me doing Trinity Now all I need is a reply from the uni.

I've looked at the exam centres too. Are you sure they don't have one closer? As barry-clari says, if you ask the worst they can say is no! Once I'd finally found the list there seemed to be loads! I don't really mind where mine is as long as I can get to it with public transport. I went a long way for my grade 8 practical because I was away the date of the one near me!

ABRSM will take TG grade 5 in place of ABRSM grade 5 as the pre-requisite for grade 6-8 practical exams won't they? So does that mean that TG theory grades 6-8 all fit between ABRSM theory grades 5 and 6?

Yes, they will accept TG grade 5 instead of ABRSM grade 5. I think TG grade 6-8 does provide an interim between AB grade 5 and 6, having worked through the books myself it would seem to be that way. However, the TG books do explain simplified versions of concepts that are covered in AB grade 6-8 as well, such as neapolitan 6th and modes (Aeolian, Dorian and Mixolydian). The TG grade 6 book also manages to explain the essentials of figured bass in about half a page, and as figured bass seems to be something a lot of people struggle to get their heads round I think this makes it a very useful tool.

I think the main difference between TG theory 6-8 and ABRSM theory 6-8 is that the TG books explain most of the same concepts but in less breadth - the facts and specifics are similar, though introduced more gradually in the TG books, but with the ABRSM papers the questions are broader and worth more marks, whereas the TG ones are broken down into smaller segments. This is very useful for learning the concepts but the ABRSM papers require to apply the knowledge in a wider context with less prompting, which I think is why TG higher theory grades are considered less demanding than ABRSM. The AMusTCL is a completely different style to the TG graded theory exams, with set texts and much broader questions, some requiring answers in essay form. This is probably why it is considered closer to ABRSM grade 8 theory and thus accepted as an equivalent.