Okay, I'm a newbie, but I've seen people many people talking about grades. What are grades?

Anyways, what grade would I be, and how many grades are there? I'm currently learning "La Folia" by Corelli and "Allegro" by Fiocco. I'm with a teacher. Anyways, I'm not much at ear-playing, but you give me a piece of music and I'll play it. I'm pretty good at music theory.

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what grade would I be, and how many grades are there?

There are 8 grades. Grade 1 being the lowest and Grade 8 the highest. As a pre-Grade 1 introduction to exams, there is also a Prelimimary Test. After Grade 8, study can be continued with the opportunity to take professional recital or teaching diplomas.

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I'm currently learning "La Folia" by Corelli and "Allegro" by Fiocco....I'm pretty good at music theory.

How long is a piece of string?

Without actually hearing you play it is practically impossible to say what grade standard you are at. Is the Corelli and Fiocco in their original form, or are they simplified arrangements??

Your playing standard wouldn't just be based on what you play, but also how you play it - in respect to giving a musical performance, accuracy of intonation, use of ornaments, vibrato etc. What scales are you working on - are they two or three octaves??

How advanced is your music theory? - can you write counterpoint or harmonise a melody using standard chord notation? Can you write four-part harmony - such as a chorale? What about transposition, modulation, or composing a melody for a particular instrument? Once again, without actually knowing what you can or can't do, it's not possible to put a grading on your abilities.

Why not take music exams?

QUOTE (missfabflute @ May 24 2005, 05:02 PM)

Why not take music exams?

Because I'm an American.

QUOTE (AmandaL @ May 24 2005, 01:03 PM)

QUOTE what grade would I be, and how many grades are there? There are 8 grades. Grade 1 being the lowest and Grade 8 the highest. As a pre-Grade 1 introduction to exams, there is also a Prelimimary Test. After Grade 8, study can be continued with the opportunity to take professional recital or teaching diplomas. QUOTE I'm currently learning "La Folia" by Corelli and "Allegro" by Fiocco....I'm pretty good at music theory. How long is a piece of string? Without actually hearing you play it is practically impossible to say what grade standard you are at. Is the Corelli and Fiocco in their original form, or are they simplified arrangements?? Your playing standard wouldn't just be based on what you play, but also how you play it - in respect to giving a musical performance, accuracy of intonation, use of ornaments, vibrato etc. What scales are you working on - are they two or three octaves?? How advanced is your music theory? - can you write counterpoint or harmonise a melody using standard chord notation? Can you write four-part harmony - such as a chorale? What about transposition, modulation, or composing a melody for a particular instrument? Once again, without actually knowing what you can or can't do, it's not possible to put a grading on your abilities.

I'm playing the original "Allegro" and a arrangement (to make it shorter) of "La Folia."

Doesn't it depend on the brand and which string and what size of violin? (I've never actually truly wondered.

I can harmonise using standard chord notation, and I can transpose, and compose.

I'll try to figure out something.

I was just trying to figure out what the heck people were talking about.

QUOTE (RosieCotton @ May 25 2005, 01:47 PM)

I'm playing the original "Allegro" and a arrangement (to make it shorter) of "La Folia." Doesn't it depend on the brand and which string and what size of violin? (I've never actually truly wondered.

No, it depends on how good you are - technically and musically - at your instrument.

QUOTE (RosieCotton @ May 25 2005, 01:43 PM)

QUOTE (missfabflute @ May 24 2005, 05:02 PM) Why not take music exams? Because I'm an American.

By the way, you can take AB exams in America - possibly other boards too - if you wanted to.

actually there are twelve "grades". There is a PRE grade one (dead simple) and THREE diplomas, (teaching performing and directing an instrument). There are 3 diff levels of these diplomas, ABRSM, FRSM and LRSM. the highest may as well be a degree. Then the normal 8 grades all fit around the diplomas and the pre gd 1!

some depends on instrument and string, rosin etc......... but not as much as your skill. stick with dominant, helicore, etc. strings

QUOTE (acraig252 @ May 26 2005, 04:01 PM)

There is a PRE grade one (dead simple)

its not simple to a beginner

For what it is worth, Rosie, I have accompanied both these pieces in the UK, at grade 5 of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.