Basically, a few months ago my piano teacher suggested that after doing grade 6 I skip to grade 8 work. I was wondering if anyone has done this and if it worked out ok for them? I've just taken grade 6 so will probably be starting my grade 8 stuff soon. Thanks

If your teacher has suggested this it sounds as though you have taken grade 6 at a point when you are generally playing at a higher level than grade 6/7. Your teacher knows your playing.

Also do you know if the gap in difficulty of pieces is huge?

There's quite a range in technical demands between different Grade 8 pieces. Some could be Grade 7, but at 8 there's an expectation of greater expressive detail. Other pieces are much more demanding in technique.

It's a long time ago but I did Gr 6 to ALCM piano dip in two years. at the same time Gr 6 to Gr 8 organ (ABRSM) in a year and a term.
So it's possible. Good luck !

It depends also how long it has taken you to get to grade 6 and whether you want a pass or distinction at grade 8.

Personally I think there is a HUGE amount of lovely violin repertoire at grade 7 level which it would be a real shame to miss out.

Is there a reason why you need to get to grade 8 quickly?

It's a piano exam, but the reason I want to skip is that I don't want to be taking grade 8 piano and violin and a levels at the same time as I will probably end up doing if I take grade 7 but don't want to do badly at grade 8

Yes that was partly my problem too. We rushed to do the ALCM in lower sixth, but took the Grade 8 organ at same time as A levels., and I hardly practised. Dont know how I got 125 (Pieces were 75/90)

Oops sorry, you did say but I just saw your name Violindreams and assumed violin!

haha yeah I play both!

Hi there violindreams,
Not sure if this helps but I did Grage 8 in singing, piano and clarinet in the Spring session alongside my A levels, it can be done. I found that going to practice was a welcome break to the studying....but that was quite a long time ago now. It worked for me, but appreciate it may not work for everyone. To re-iterate the replies of others, the leap of what they expect performance wise is quite different between Gd 6 & 8, However I skipped Grade 6&7 in singing but def did didn't skip 7 for piano or clarinet, although my first clarinet exam was grade 5...
Good luck with your decisions, only you will know what work load you can accommodate.

How hard did you find it going from grade 7 to 8?

I didn't find it too bad going from 7 to 8, but would have struggled going from 6 to 8 in both as its not necessarily the technical difficulty of the pieces but the aural bits and also the technical requirements of the scales arpeggios etc and the sight-reading. The level of performance expected is significantly higher with Grade 8, I got distinctions in both Grade 7 but narrowly missed out on distinction in grade 8 in both - frustratingly narrow - 2 marks from ABRSM.... I think you also need time to explore other repertoire between the grades as well to get a better insight generally and improve musicianship, but that is just my own optinion, others may have a different view.

Hi,

I'm a Sax Player, so a bit different from Piano, but I skipped straight to Gr.8 after Gr.6 and got Distinction at gr8 so it is possible.

I think you also need time to explore other repertoire between the grades as well to get a better insight generally and improve musicianship,

I tend to learn some other pieces that my teacher recommends in between grades and sometimes when I am learning pieces. Also, I will be waiting for the next syllabus to come out so will probably be learning some pieces at the same time as my scales etc.

i skipped grade 7 piano and still got 127 at grade 8.

I skipped Grade 7 Oboe, and just spent a term or so working on grade 7 standard repertoire, and then managed to get 130 in my Grade 8- I even passed the scales! (still not sure how... )

I know a lot of people who skipped Grade 7, as there isn't a lot of difference between Grade 7 and 8 on quite a few instruments

I went straight from Grade 6 to Grade 8 without doing 7. Basically because I found studying for exams stressful, irritating and expensive. If you have Grade 8 no-one is interested in whether you also passed Grade 7. I agree with others that what matters is to learn and play lots of different repertoire.

Good luck with whatever decision you take.

Don't forget that wind and brass instruments used to only be able to take grades 3,4,5,6 and 8. I think the omission of G7 was due to a shortage of repertoire more than anything else... and of course there are fewer scale options when you can only play one note at a time.