Help!
I am currently studying for my grade 5 theory exam in june. I have never done atheory exam before. I only no the basics can you help me? have you done grade 5 teory what should i know? is it hard to pass?

Hi

Im doing my grade 5 theory in june as well, and haven't taken an exam before. If you only know the basics I suggest you start at the grade1/2 books and work upwards to grade 5. In grade 5 you need to be able to transpose which is quite hard at first, so you will need to know all your key signatures that have been covered in the earlier books.

Hope that helps

Nat

Just try your best in your exam.You should more hardworking and listen to the teacher.You will score high mark if you trust yourself.

Tenorhorntom

How about buying some past exam papers - they are available from most / all music shops. Four papers are included in each booklet. Then you will know exactly the format of the questions and how they are likely to be worded etc. You'll learn which different topics you will generally be questioned on.

Rosemary.

QUOTE (Rosemary @ Mar 19 2004, 10:46 AM)

How about buying some past exam papers - they are available from most / all music shops. Four papers are included in each booklet. Then you will know exactly the format of the questions and how they are likely to be worded etc. You'll learn which different topics you will generally be questioned on.

I did this with all my 5 theory papers and currently GVI

I know I must sound like a parrot (I've said this lots of times on various forums! B4 anyone asks, I'm not on commission!! ), but the Theory Time books by David Turnbull are very straight forward and to the point.
They go from GI - GV.

You will be fine if you do the work for the exam and definatley try the past papers. Very useful !

Let us know how you go on.

Fiona

If you do not find reading the AB Guide to Music Theory book too difficult, you may also try the "Music Theory in Practice" grade 1 to 5 published by ABRSM side-by-side. Excercise is very important to understanding the theories.

After completing all five grades practice books (most recommended), you may attempt the past exam papers for 2 to 3 years.

Grade 5 is not difficult, in my opinion. If you can fully understand the practice books, and also be very CAREFUL writing the exams, I would say getting distinction is not difficult too!

Cheers,
Tannie

Hi there.

Do not worry about your theory exam at all.
I take it you are having lessons?

I did my exam last year, i only had a one hour crash course and the odd help session where my teacher looked throuht my work and advised ways of learning. So all in all i had about 5 quick lessons. I just helped myself. I came out with a distinction so i am sure you will be fine! Haven faith inyourself, dont panic and all will go well!

hi. janets daughter here. im currently studying for my grade 5 theory and my mum bought me a book called Take Grade 5 and Pass First Time, which has got all the info you need and easy ways to remember it.
Louise

Hi
I am doing my grade 5 theory too! I did my garde 1 first and it wasn't as bad as it seems (after all my worrying I managed to grab a distinction!). I suppose you should work your way up the grades instead of jumping in and working straight onto a grade 5 book - so try working your way through the books! Don't worry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dizzzzzzzzzzzy!!!!!!!!

QUOTE (JRBailey @ Mar 24 2004, 07:32 PM)

hi. janets daughter here. im currently studying for my grade 5 theory and my mum bought me a book called Take Grade 5 and Pass First Time, which has got all the info you need and easy ways to remember it. Louise

Hello
I bought that book too! It's really good and now my music teacher at school says with all the children in our school using it for revision she must know it cover to cover!!!!!
Dizzzzzzzzzzzzzzyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!

hi tenorhorntom,
passing grade 5 is not difficult. I would agree with the rest though. Get yourself passed papers up to 1999, if you feel you need lots of exam practices. 1998's edition is old and no longer really apply to recent tests anymore. I find the AB guide book (pink) good, and really useful is First Steps in Music Theory, this really small red book. It is basically a summary of all Grade 5 information you can keep refreshing your memory on before the exam. I would also suggest on and off try to memorize the meanings of terms as many as you can. I also bought all the exercise booklets from grade 1-5 and did them each twice just to make sure i know them very well.
But the most important thing is to understand the exam, what each part of the 7 questions are asking about, testing you on. If you know it really well, you won't fail your exam at all and will do really well in fact. So be familiar wtih what Test A, B, or C asks in their 7 part test.

good luck.

-margrave of brandenburg

I hated learning theory, I just found all the exercises in the books terribly boring, but it must have worked cause I came out with a detinction, in grade 5, never having taken any other theory exams.

Past papers were a lot more interesting to do cause all the topics are mixed up.

I think the worst thing about the whole exam was constantly being distracted by people on lower grades leaving, and trying to work out, once I'd finished my own paper, if I should leave myself, or keep checking through!

I'm sure you'll be fine in the exam, good luck!

Grade 5 Theory isn't as difficult as it seems. I did most of the exercises in the practice books for Grades 1-5 and took some previous tests and managed to get distinction.

haha- i probably shouldn't be giving this advice especially since i used to hate theory oh so very much.

but 6 months before i took it, i studied. i took past practice tests and memorized a LOT. and hey - i got distinction (a perfect score!)

i guess the best thing you can do is take things one at a time no matter how little time you have. try to incorporate the things into your mind and if you can't, don't rush. remember - a test's just a test no matter how significant it seems.