Due to an illness I developed 4 years ago I have not been able to take as many grades as I would've liked and have just started getting back into them even though I am still ill. I am in a wheelchair and have to rest quite a lot during the day so college is not an option. I was only able to take 2 GCSE's (Maths & English) with a home tutor but have found out that to get into the university I eventually want to go to when I am better I would need 2 more GCSE's and A levels (I can't remember how many!) I was not able to take that at home with a private tutor but my piano teacher emailed the university to find out if there was another way. The applications advisor said that I would need Grade 8 theory and a diploma as well as 2 more GCSE's which would be considered the same as someone who had taken A levels. So as I am 17 at the moment I don't want to be in my mid-twenties before I go to university which leads me to my question: Could I jump from grade 6 to grade 8 or is it too much of a jump? I just wanted to know as I am due to take grade 6 in november and wondered whether it was worth taking grade 7. Anway, sorry I have gone on a bit but I needed to explain my situation for everyone to understand

I know people who have managed to skip from grade 6 to 8 after starting at grade 4 then skipping to 6 and got good results in each. If youre willing to put alot of work into it then I dont see why not. It is not an easy thing to do and it will take alot of work but it can be done. It might be good to spend some bit of time on grade 7 pieces,scales aurals before getting on with grade 8 stuff.Dunno if this helps but im sure others will have more advice.
Anyway, good luck, and I hope everything works out.

i did grades 1, 3 5 and 6 and now im doing grade 8. I did grade 6 last summer and am doing grade 8 in november.i dont think its easy to get an EXCELLENT mark in this, im just expecting pass or merit at the most but if you practise a lot, maybe you'll do ok.good luck

Lisa,

I have heard of many people who go from grade 6 to grade 8. In fact, I was starting to get the impression that I was the exception when I decided to do grade 7 piano. Indeed, the 'Rockschool' exams don't actually do a grade 7 since hardly anyone takes it. Their grades go from 6 to 8. So, you shouldn't have any trouble.

Good Luck,

Shelton

I suppose you could say that I am skipping grade 7 and going from 6 to 8...but it is a few years since I did grade 6 .

I would think that you do that if you are good enough for grade 8... in which case it may be a waste of time and money to do grade 7 as well.
As long as skipping a grade doesn't mean skipping the experience then there should be no problem.

probably the best advice would be to get your teacher to go through some grade 8 peices, and the scales and aural to show you what there is to it, that would help you see if you were up to the challenge. personally i dont think i would be coping as well with my grade 8 preparations if i hadn't done grade 7, it certainly helps with the scales, but everyone is different.

I think it depends on how you feel your playing is at. Are you ready for the VERY hard work. My friend made a huge jump from i think 5-8 but she managed it.

It just depends on where you think you're playing is at, and where your teacher thinks.

Thanks everyone for your replies, you've all been really helpful In answer to some of your questions, my teacher suggested that I skip grade 7 but she did say that it might be worth going through some of the scales and having a look at some of the pieces to see if there was much of a difference so I guess if she thinks I can do it then it's worth trying. I am prepared to work hard and as I don't go to college I have a lot more time on my hands than other people so will be able to practise more. I'm still not totally sure but I suppose it all depends on how well I do in my grade 6 exam as to whether I will skip or not. Does anyone know roughly how long it takes to learn grade 8? (I know it differs from person to person but I would just like an idea.)

Thanks again, Lisa xxxx

QUOTE (Lisa87 @ May 28 2005, 10:35 AM)

Thanks everyone for your replies, you've all been really helpful In answer to some of your questions, my teacher suggested that I skip grade 7 but she did say that it might be worth going through some of the scales and having a look at some of the pieces to see if there was much of a difference so I guess if she thinks I can do it then it's worth trying. I am prepared to work hard and as I don't go to college I have a lot more time on my hands than other people so will be able to practise more. I'm still not totally sure but I suppose it all depends on how well I do in my grade 6 exam as to whether I will skip or not. Does anyone know roughly how long it takes to learn grade 8? (I know it differs from person to person but I would just like an idea.) Thanks again, Lisa xxxx

Well one time I went to enter some piano students and upon entering them I entered myself for G8 and passed in 4 months time...
Good luck in your exams, practise [pieces and scales] consistently and you will be fine.

Cheerio

I did my grade 8 in a year
But man practice your scales and pieces.. i totally mucked up my scales!!!! but i still passed!!! my pieces were good

Yes you can Lisa

I am jumping gr5 to gr 7

There's no reason why you couldn't skip from grade 6 to 8 without doing the grade 7 exam. It would be a good idea to work on repertoire of grade 7 pieces, technique, sight reading and aural before starting on grade 8 to help bridge the gap between grades 6 and 8. As your teacher has suggested it, then he/she thinks you are capable and will be able to guide you in the right direaction. Good luck.

I jumped from grade 6 to 8-I worked on loads of repertoire and technique in the time-basically my teacher suggested that it would be much more useful to spend the time on this than on another exam. Wise advice! Now I'm teaching, I personally don't think there's a massive gap between 6 and 7 anyway-and it's not necessary for everyone to take every single grade. It's useful to have them there if needed.
As someone else mentioned, Rockschool exams don't do a grade 7 anyway. I have a student who passed grade 6 who is now happily working for grade 8 and having no trouble with the material at all. In her case, it's meant we can spend more time on preparation and improving technique in the meantime.

QUOTE (Lisa87 @ May 28 2005, 02:35 PM)

Thanks everyone for your replies, you've all been really helpful In answer to some of your questions, my teacher suggested that I skip grade 7 but she did say that it might be worth going through some of the scales and having a look at some of the pieces to see if there was much of a difference so I guess if she thinks I can do it then it's worth trying. I am prepared to work hard and as I don't go to college I have a lot more time on my hands than other people so will be able to practise more. I'm still not totally sure but I suppose it all depends on how well I do in my grade 6 exam as to whether I will skip or not. Does anyone know roughly how long it takes to learn grade 8? (I know it differs from person to person but I would just like an idea.) Thanks again, Lisa xxxx

I think the advice you have accumulated is reasonable.

I would also want to learn some pieces etc. in Grade 7- but I would suggest that if there is an opportunity to sit in the next 6 months, sit the examination prior to Grade 8. That is a very orderly approach.

Personally, I think that there is no need to rush through the higher grades. It is amazing what a broad base of technique and repertoire from G5 to G8 will do.

Is there any reason to be dashing so?

QUOTE

Is there any reason to be dashing so?

I don't feel as though I am rushing as it was my teacher who suggested it but the reason I want to get the higher grades done quite quickly is because as I have missed out on so much due to my illness (all of my teenage years) I would like to be able to go to university as soon as I possibly can so I can mix with people of my own age again. Hope that explains everything

Lisa xxx