I have just seen the ABRSM syllabus and I read that you have to pass Grade 5 practical in order to progress to the higher grades (6-8). Why is this?

Cheers

Have you not read it wrong and it says you have to do G5 theory?

It just says "ABRSM Grade 5 must have been passed", but it might apply to the theory as well.

You definitely have to pass G5 theory. I've never take Grade 5 in anything practical wise but have G7 clarinet.

What it says (in my syllabus anyway is)

THEORY OF MUSIC, PRACTICAL MUSICIANSHIP OR SOLO JAZZ SUBJECT: Grade 5 must have been passed.

To go on to the highest 3 grades, you need to have passed grade 5 in one of those disciplines.

I was just wondering, but do you know why it is the case?

practical musicianship is different to practical exams.

Musicianship is like transposing, and part reading.

You need G5 theory OR a jazz exam OR a musicianship exam

No normal practical exam

most people do the theory option

I think it's coz they want to check that you are becoming a proper musician and not just someone who can play pieces. It's not necessarily the case, but I can see why it's there. You learn a lot from G5 theory. For example, one component is transposition, which is useful if you play a transposing intrument to be able to understand.

As Elmo says, the AB want people to have a certain theoretical knowledge of music when they go into the top grades to back up the practical. It does mean that, with the AB at least, you can't get to the highest grades without having at least enough knowledge to pass that theory exam, though I think most people cram the learning for it in at the last minute and then forget it all straight away, sadly. But in theory I think it's a good idea... *wry grin*

lol very funny!

Most people can already do some of the stuff there anyway. If you've learned msuic progressively. Like writing out melodic minor, harmonic minor and major scales, working out time signatures, and working out where things happen in a piece and Italian and other foreign terms that are used.

If you can't do at least some of that before you take Grade 5 theory, look for another teacher lol!

yes!

Oh, I see. Passing Grade 5 gives you the potential to cope with Grade 6 and above. I understand that.

All the same, I'm sure you can transpose a simple melody a tone or semitone up or down on your own instrument, play at sight a single-line melody, improvise at least 8 bars of music, and sing/play back a simple tune, provide a bass for a given melody, and spot differences in the music with the score in hand (which is what practical musicianship tests require) by the time you're grade 5, or you might want to look for another teacher!

It goes some way to showing that you have some understanding of what you are playing.