I'm thinking of skipping grade 7 and doing grade 8 in a single year. Now one of m pieces i have already learnt but I want to know if this is advisable?

Thanks

It all depends on how well you did in grade 6 and how ready you are to tackle grade 8, if you're already grade 8 standard (or at least above grade 7) then you may well be okay, otherwise you may struggle. Also consider your reasons for skipping, why do you want to skip? What do you want grade 8 to mean to you when you have it? Skipping doesn't give you any less work, it just means that you'll have done the exam sooner and have to do the work afterwards: which do you prefer?

I was thinking of doing the same thing but wasn't sure whether it would be too much of a jump even though it's only one grade so I would be interested to here the replies on this topic. Sorry I can't be of any help

Tough task, but depends on how much time you can put in to it. I don't think it matters that you skip grade 7, however, you do need to do the work to it. I had 18 months between my grade 7 and 8 and went from a barely there pass at grade 7 to a distinction at grade 8 so obviously you don't really need it but you do need to put a lot of time and effort in. My last 3 months before my grade 8 were intense practise, so it's not gna be easy, but good luck!

Yes, I'd agree with AnotherPianist, it depends how well you did at grade 6. (I wouldn't generally recommend going straight on even to grade 7 for anyone who just scraped a pass!) In particular I'd want to know how well you did in the supporting tests at grade 6, and how well-prepared you felt for these. All round skills are vital, it's not just a matter of learning the pieces.

If your sight-reading and aural were well up to standard, you didn't struggle with either of these and you got good marks, then you might feel able to tackle the stuff for the higher grades. Have a look at the scale requirements and see what's needed too.

If aural and sight-reading lagged behind your pieces at grade 6 then I'd say you have a much harder job on your hands.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Maggie

That's exactly what i did. Actually, I did grade 7 as well but I will pretty much be doing it in a year.

It depends if you are confident or not. If you are really sure that you can do it, then go on. But it also depends if your teacher allows it. I did my Grade 5 last year and now I'm doing my 8. Anyway I wish you the best of luck if you are skipping Grade 7.

I'm interested in doing that, too, but I'm going to leave as much time as I need to feel prepared so that I can get a good mark at grade 8. I wouldn't advise you to attempt to do it in a year and then find that you only get a pass. I'd take my time and aim for a good mark, instead.

hmmmm, interesting.

You seem to be more interested in getting the exams than learning to play the instrument.

Unless you've got a talent given by 'him upstairs', the piano is one the hardest instruments to become accomplished at - there is a lot of hard work, there are no shortcuts.

I would suggest taking a grade when passing is more or less a forgone conclusion - and spend more of your time developing skills in theory, technical discipline and a wide ranging repotoire.

I did grade 6 last summer and am doing grade 8 this december if all goes well. You can do it if you think that you're up to standard and you practise like ######.

Hi there,

I skipped from grade 6 piano to grade 8 piano in the space of just under 3 years! I passed grade 6 paino with something like 108 (can't remember exactly) back in the summer of 2002 and it wasn't until March of this year that I was ready to take my grade 8. I got a decent pass with 114 but I really wouldn't recommend rushing! I did have A'levels on at the time and I am now over half way through a degree so it also depends what other things you have to do!

Hope that helps!

Plummi x

I went from grade 3 to grade 8 in two years and got distinction for it, so it's very achievable to skip grade 7 and just go on to grade 8, if you love your instrument enough then you will have no problems.

Freedom

QUOTE (billy @ May 25 2005, 11:14 AM)

You seem to be more interested in getting the exams than learning to play the instrument.

No, on the contrary, as I said, I would wait till one is really at a good standard on one's instrument before taking the exam. But once one is at that level, why not get a good mark into the bargain?

hey there.........its truly a dilemma that u r in.......
i gave my grade 7 last yr and i am trying for grade 8 this yr in september and my teacher thinks thats its risky gamble.......
yet i want to give it a shot and try my best becase it is really important for me to have a grade 8 degree by this yr and also feel musically capable of being grade 8 standard........
so skipping from 6 to 8 in a yr is also a gamble........it depends upon how important u think it is for u or whether u r just doing it to get a degree fast......

time is relative in music.......1 yr can be compressed and exaggerated....

depends upon the finess.......not how quickly u can pick up the notes......

but if u feel like it then u shld give it.....
just be confident and i am sure u`ll do well!

Ok, thanks for all your advice peeps.

By the way I really would like to get my grades done and over with so that I can move on to playing a lot of pieces. Also I have standard grade next year and the year after so I think I may be running out of time to play the piano.

Anyways, as long as I have confidence and don't slack off I should be fine, right?

Oh yea. What other instrument should I pick up first if I ever do start a second instrument (er...I don't think Primary 7 recorder group counts, does it? )