Hi all, i'm new here.

I need to get Grade 5 theory to get on a Uni course next September. I don't currently have any grades, although i'd say i'm up to about Grade 2. I have problems with the scoring and notation but i'm trying to work around this by using a popular guitar tab editing software to teach myself about values and stuff.

I'm thinking of taking piano lessons, as i have a piano and think it'd be more helpful to A) play more than one instrument (i currently play guitar) and B) teach me practical theory.

Just a thought then: do you think it's possible to get a good level of practical playing ability in the piano and to attain grade 5 (maybe even grade 6 at a push) by the summer exam dates? I have maybe 8 free hours a day to do with what i like..

Thanks in advance.

First of all, to the forums!

My own personal opinion on it is that it would probably be far easier to push the Theory up to Grade 5 within the timescale than to learn a new instrument to grade 5/6. I'm not saying that it would be impossible to do, but just that it would be easier. It really depends on your current ability, and how quickly you can learn.

You don't mention what style of guitar you play. From the requirement to have theory, and the TAB editor comments, I'm assuming it's electric? Have you considered the Rockschool exams, and would the University recognise these as a suitable substitution for the practical requirements? It might be another avenue to investigate.

Also, are you taking guitar lessons at the moment, and can the teacher work theory into those lessons? If you can apply the theory to your current instrument, it might help it 'stick' a bit better in your mind.

Just a couple of other things to think about

Either way, make a plan with various goals at realistic intervals, and have a fallback option if you're not meeting these goals (i.e., if you're not achieving at least Grade 2 standard in 3 months time, then pushing to Grade 5 might not be possible, so time for Plan B!)

Hope this helps, and I'm sure you'll get a few other opinions along the way


Mosschops

Yes i play electric guitar and currently teach myself. I do have the 'Popular Music Theory' books, but i'm shying away from them because you have to know how to notate drums and write essays about popular musicians, which i see as completely irrelevant to my theoretical knowledge. I also don't like the way they use minor scales as basis for other theory, i prefer relating everything to the major scale.

I was kinda more looking to learn the piano anyway whilst studying theory out of books and whatnot.
Just wondered if anyone thinks it's possible to get to grade 5 theory by then with maybe an hour a day's worth of work on it, working (possibly) alongside a practical-teaching piano tutor.

You might need a bit more than an hour a day. You will need to know about melodic and harmonic minor scales for AB grade 5 theory. A good place to start might be this book which organises everything quite clearly into what you need to know for each grade. The AB also publish past papers with model answers that would show you if you are on the right track. Even if you aren't planning to get regular lessons, I would strongly recommend that you try and set up a few sessions with a theory teacher, just to make sure that you are on the right track. It is possible to teach yourself from books, but having someone else to explain the tricky bits and give you some tips does make a huge difference.

I would be very wary of trying to teach yourself the piano - the chances of you developing bad habits that are really difficult to break are so high if you try to do this on your own. Again, do consider getting some professional help, if only on an occasional basis.

Good luck. What course are you hoping to study at Uni?

Music Technology.

I wanted to do straight Music, but any decent Uni wants Grade 8 practical or equivalent and to be honest my actual technical skill on guitar is only at about Grade 4 at the moment (RGT.)

My thinking was Music Technology and then Music afterwards. I just really want to know everything i can about music and musicianship and sound, but my ultimate goals are anything and everything at the minute - anything from guitar tutor to school teacher to shop owner to session/gigging musician.

EDIT: Also, for the exams do you get spare paper? I can work out pretty much anything for the Popular Music Theory LCM exam booklet by writing it down because i know the scale spellings for each...i can work it out pretty quickly too. Would there be enough time in the exam for this? I've got a pretty shocking memory so without scrap paper i'd be screwed.

Yes you do.
If you've not done any (or much) theory yet I'd suggest starting with a grade 1 workbook and going from there. If you can get at least one set of past papers marked at tthe end of each stage it will tell you whether youare ready to move on and if not where you need to revise smoe more. I wouldn't move on unless you were getting a consistent distiction mark (90+) on a set of papers.
If you think you may already be at a certain level then maybe starting with past papers for that grade will be a good starting point.

Yeah thanks a lot mate. Good advice. Just to ask, is there anywhere you can get a paper marked on the internet? Like put the question and your answer up and have someone mark it?

Just cause if not i've gotta either rely on asking random forum people or pay for a tutor. I think i'm grasping it enough at the moment.

Grade 2 at LCM Theory grade consists of :

Writing treble and bass clefs, including key sigs, time sigs in the keys of D, F, C and G major and their pentatonic versions. And also writing the same thing with B, D, A and E nat minor and the m pentatonic versions.

You've got to name intervals, scale spellings (eg 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 8).

You've also got to name the tonic triads from the above scales, and also the min7th and dom7th versions.

You've also got to know semiquaver, quaver, minim, crotchet and semibreves and their appropriate rests, and how to write and construct measures and bars using these.

Dotted 8th, 1/4 and 1/2 notes are also a requirement.
You've also got to be able to group notes and rest properly.


I'd say i'm about this level. Is this about the same as grade 2 abrsm? Just like to know because i'm thinking of doing the abrsm instead of these 'mickey mouse' grades.

PS: these grades are actually considered an equivalent of ABRSM...

The syllabus for LCM is not the same as for AB.
If anything from a quick read through your last post I'd say it included more in some areas at least.... so much for Mickey Mouse!
They carry the same accreditation.

In my opinion the best book to help you on the way to grade 5 theory is 'take 5': http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/012049/details.html - this is a great book that explains how everything works etc.

The best workbooks though are the music theory in practice and of course buy some practice exam papers, they very useful so you know what theory you really need to know.

As for practical ablity not sure if trying to get to grade 5 on an instrument you don't already play by the summer is a realistic goal however the guitar seems possible

Good luck with everything