Hiya - I am hoping that somebody will know of a good theory teacher in the Buckinghamshire area? I need someone who teaches grade six and above...

I don't know of anyone around who teaches above grade five and have looked on MU website, but no search results!

Would appreciate it if anyone had any ideas

have you checked out Musicteachers.co.uk?

Ahh, great thank-you

There are a couple on there, quite high prices though!

I shall give one a call - it's time to get this grade six under the belt!

Yes grade 6 is certainly a different ball game ! After stumbling around the G6 and harmony books for a few months have decided to do the OU A214 Understanding Music course, which I hope will give me a solid grounding in Music Theory. I then hope to carry on with the AB grades 6 - 8.

Certainly a lack of G6 teachers does hinder any progression past G5.

Good luck.

...me too.

Yeah definitely - I did grade five years ago...so hopefully haven't forgotten all of that!! I really only need it to do the diploma in teaching. So want to get it over and done with.

Been reading William Lovelock's book as I find it easier to read and understand than the AB book - but as soon as I read something it's gone again. I also got the AB Workbook which has been quite useful.

I am thinking about entering myself for next session as an attempt to motivate myself!!

I had a look at that OU course recently, it looks alright, but they're quite expensive aren't they?

Actually - that's another question...can I enter myself if I am a registered?

Whereas I don't hold too much confidence in many instrumentalists who are largely self-taught (with a few exceptions), isn't music theory fairly easy to teach yourself with the various workbooks available?

I think it's nice to have the reassurance of a human being rather than ticking against a list of answers, to be honest. I'm sure some other people feel the same?

I'm working from books at the moment but I like the fact that my teacher tests me to make sure I do actually understand what I'm doing and why

You can always use Tesco clubcard vouchers, also I think that you can apply for financial help and they also do a budget type scheme.

It is a wonderful course and it certainly showed me the way from Grade 5 and it takes you up to a theory level of Grade 8.

Next year is the last chance to do this course and the summer school is something that you don't want to miss.

Go for it!

ET

IMHO Grades 1-5 yes Grade 6+ no

Not at this stage, as there are no clear-cut answers and thus the workbooks have no answers in them for you to check you have understood. You can do the whole workbook and be as clueless as you ever were and not know it.

Just a thought, if everyone who has taken the teaching diplomas needs at least grade 6, 8 for the higher ones, how come none of them can teach this higher grade theory stuff? My first teacher had a diploma and clearly knew naff all about theory, even at grade 5 stuff.

I got a distinction at grade 6 7 and 8 theory but I wouldn't feel awfully confident teaching theory at this level.
I think that it's at least partly that unlike theory up to grade 5 this is not what I'd call 'everyday' theory.
Some people may have done the required grade theory soley to gain access to the diploma and been satisfied with just enough to get a pass mark in the same way as many do with grade 5. Ok... a pass is a pass but even with 66% in theory you can have an awful lot of gaps in your knowledge and understanding and still get that certificate.
The later grades (for me at least) were where I learned skills and concepts that I don't actually use on a regular basis.
I'd be prepared to help somebody if there were no other options for them but I'd need at least to do some good revision.

You may well find it profitable to look up William Lovelock, whose books got me through all the theory required (quite extensive) for my first diploma.

One of the reasons I find it so strange that you need to get your theory exams to take teaching diplomas. If I ever have to realise a figured bass when I am teaching the viola I shall let you know.

But it does give you more understanding of harmony and structure which are things that are useful in teaching. Being able to give a little information on how a piece is put together is a good thing and knowing a bit more about that than you need for grade 5 is useful.

Thanks guys

I guess a lot depends on what you already know. I did the first year of a music degree and we did a lot of that sort of stuff, just not in quite an identical way. I'm not sure there is more to be gained from knowing that a piece is structured "in the myxolydian mode starting on D" or that it's based around a certain structure of tones and semitones. It's a good basis for writing analytical essays on musical construction, but it's not a very useful piece of information if you want to improvise an extension, add a piano part, etc.